Devils, Demons, and Self-Proclaimed Deities: Defining Dimensional Boundaries of The Dark Triad

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Abstract: Researchers, practitioners, and lay audiences are fascinated with Dark Triad research. However, all types of enthusiasts make errors when discussing the concept. There is indeed overlap among the traits. This overlap leads some to argue that there is a “Dark Triad” personality. Others have taken this overlap to mean the opposite; that there is no such thing as the “Dark Triad.” Drawing on categorization theory and person perception prototypes, I differentiate the Dark Triad using a boundary-based model. Because some traits are mutually exclusive (e.g., deliberation vs. impulsivity), they cannot exist within the same person. Thus, anchoring mutually exclusive features, which cannot be shared across traits, clarifies trait boundaries. This procedure allows for the clear identification of which Dark Triad trait is most dominant in a given individual. This dominant trait then guides what characteristics of an individual are: possible, likely, and unlikely.