Hello I m Darren Magee and today s questions are asking, What is the dark personality? What are
the common characteristics of someone who has a dark personality? And, Is the dark personality
just another term for narcissism? And these are interesting questions because sometimes we
might meet someone who can be difficult. They can be selfish, they can be manipulative and
we ll just say they are narcissist. Now they could well be narcissistic however narcissism
is only one of nine traits to be found on the dark personality. Researchers Zettler,
Moshagen and Helbig found common tendencies that run through all nine traits, and they call them
the D-Factor. Those tendencies being to maximise themselves while disregarding, disempowering
and even malevolently provoking others. Also justifying their behaviour due to their belief
that it's okay to, because others are below them. Although we see different traits, a lot
of the behaviours can be very similar if not the same. However, the reasons behind the behaviour,
the motivations can differ. For example, someone explodes into rage over something trivial,
it could be because they just enjoy intimidating others, they love the fear that that causes. So
there we would see sadism. Or maybe they feel their ego has been bruised somehow. So there
we would see narcissism and this would often be referred to as narcissistic rage. Or there could
be no anger there at all. It is just an act to get them what they want. So there we would see
manipulation. So I'm going to look at the nine traits of the dark personality, and if someone has
one of them, according to the research, chances are they'll have more. Then I m going to look at
how these behaviours manifest themselves whenever these traits co-occur together. And as I go
through the nine traits try to remember it is not a one-size-fits-all, because some of these traits
can be stronger, they can be more dominant than others. Other traits, maybe not so much. Maybe
they only come and go in certain situations. So first of all, there is egoism. Now this could be
characterised by being extremely selfish. It is an excessive preoccupation with their own advantage,
their own status, their own happiness, regardless of and sometimes even at the expense of others.
Even in friendships, even in partnerships, they can be very disagreeable and very competitive.
They are the most intelligent, they are the most important, they are most accomplished,
the most attractive. And if they see any of these traits or any of these characteristics in other
people, they can feel threatened. Secondly, there's Machiavellianism. Now this is being
manipulative and scheming, but not necessarily in a clumsy, silly, haphazard kind of way. This can
be very calculated and strategic. For example they know how to delay their gratification. Situations
are there to be exploited, other people are there to be taken advantage of, and that includes those
closest to them. If they do something that is generous or kind, it is only if there is something
in it for them. If they are cold, callous, are cruel, it's not necessarily for their pleasure,
it's to get them closer to what it is they want. If you will, the end justifies the means.
Thirdly, there is moral disengagement. Now this is thinking and behaving anyway they like without
the constraints of feeling guilt or distress. Someone who is morally disengaged Here's is the
ethics and rules don't apply to them. There can be no thought as to what s right or what s wrong, so
act without conscience and have little concern for consequences. Number four is narcissism and this
is characterised by being self absorbed. There is a sense of superiority and self importance.
There are delusions of grandeur, there's being disagreeable. There is also a lack of empathy
and an extreme need for attention and validation from others. They can be very envious of others
and believe that others are or should be envious of them. They can also be highly resistant to
criticism and look down upon others with contempt. Number five, there is psychological entitlement.
Now this is a strong belief that they are better than everyone else. They are special and therefore
deserve the best or special treatment. Again we see a selfishness. Their own demands are
more important than everybody else's needs. Number six, psychopathy. Now this can include
dishonesty, pathological lying, sensation seeking behaviours, and again, there is a lack of empathy.
There is also aggression and callousness and a lack of humility. They don't feel emotions
the way other people do so often act without conscience, remorse or regret. And there can
be a level of self-control, however, there can also be a level of impulsiveness. Number seven
is sadism. Now this is characterised by being antagonistic, deriving pleasure from inflicting
physical or mental harm on others or dominating others through intimidation and humiliation. And
the sadism can be verbal, it can be physical. Or it can be vicarious, meaning they just enjoy
seeing other people in pain, even if they didn't cause it. Number eight is self-interest. Now
this is a desire not only to further but to highlight their own status, be that social,
financial, or their accomplishments. Anything they do, even acts of kindness, are for their
own benefit just like with Machiavellianism. Any sacrifice, any altruism, usually has an audience.
If they can't improve themselves somehow, they may try to sabotage others who are trying to improve
themselves in case they lose their perceived status. Which leads me on to the last one,
number nine and that s spitefulness, and this can be being very destructive towards others.
There is a willingness to harm, to sabotage or destroy others out of envy, out of jealousy,
or just for fun. Sometimes that spitefulness might be for no other reason than they just see someone
else who is happy. It can be very resentful of others, but sometimes that resentment can be
actually quite self-destructive, as the old expression goes, cutting off their nose to
spite their face . They can get hurt while trying to hurt others and yet still blame the victim.
So they are the nine traits of the dark personality. Now, as I said a moment ago,
if someone has one of these traits, the research suggests they will have other traits as well. So
what do they look like when they are co-occurring together? Well, if someone is narcissistic, they
might also exhibit spiteful behaviours. If someone is manipulative they may be morally disengaged. If
someone exhibits a certain malevolent behaviour such as causing and enjoying other peoples pain,
there is a high likelihood they will behave another malevolent ways such as lying and
cheating. I think we might see people who are high in extroversion, and low in agreeableness. People
who can be very controlling, very domineering. I think there can be an arrogance, a ruthlessness
and fantasies over being powerful. They lie and scheme either because it furthers their agenda,
or they just enjoy fooling others. I have found that people with high narcissistic traits,
especially when some of these other traits are present as well, can be very destructive. They
tend to destroy things from the inside, things like relationships, workplaces and organisations.
But when they can no longer destroy things from the inside, they tend to try to destroy them from
the outside. And I think that's where we see the spitefulness. And although they may lack empathy,
that does not mean no empathy. What we often see is a cognitive empathy. In other words, they
understand emotion, they understand feelings, and they can read people quite well. So they know how
to flatter as well as how to hurt. And they know how to excite as well as high to shame. They also
know how to exploit a sense of victimhood as a means to both dominate and excuse their behaviour
at the same time. So there are we see the manipulation. And it can be difficult to reason
with or to try to help someone with these kinds of traits because, well first of all they may be
unaware of them. If they are aware of them, maybe they think they're fine they don't need any help,
they are perfectly justified in what they're doing. There we would see the psychological
entitlement. Any attempt to address these behaviours can bring about a rage. Or they may
even take pride in these qualities, actually enjoy being the way they are and enjoy the pain and the
misery they leave in their wake. There we would see the sadism. Now that being said, there are
always exceptions. Sometimes there can be a level of awareness. They may be quite high functioning
and recognise they are hurting themselves as well as hurting others. And with the right kind of
help, the right kind of support they can change, but it takes time it takes commitment and it takes
hard work. It also requires them having to be honest with themselves. So that's a brief outline
of the nine traits of the dark personality. If there's anything you'd like the add please use
the comment box below, there are some interesting conversations start around these videos. But if
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