Dark clouds on the horizon: Dark personality traits and the frontiers of the entrepreneurial economy

Abstract

Recent developments in technology and shifting societal patterns threaten to upend norms surrounding the world of work. The present paper introduces the idea of an emerging entrepreneurial economy and describes how it is reshaping our understanding of work, provides a framework for understanding whether and why individuals with dark personality traits may be attracted to careers in this new occupational frontier. Specifically, we will discuss how dark traits shape interest in remote work, the gig economy, social media and podcasting careers, and occupations related to cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies, and crowdfunding. We also note how technologies enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) might contribute to uncertainty concerning how individuals with dark traits may function in these vocational contexts. We finish by making arguments for how future research can be improved in order to attain a more comprehensive understanding of dark personality in the entrepreneurial economy.