Lies in the dark: An analysis of dark personality traits and dishonesty

Abstract

Previous research examining the link between dishonesty and malevolent personality traits has focused on the dark triad of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism (Jonason et al., 2014; Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Recent research has proposed a broader model of dark traits, the dark core of personality (Moshagen et al., 2018). This correlational study aimed to investigate the connection between various types of lying behavior and the dark core of personality including the Lying Profile Questionnaire (Makowski et al., 2023), the 24-Hour Lie Question (Hart et al., 2019), the Revised Lie Acceptability Scale (Oliveira & Levine, 2008), the Three Factor Lying Scale (Hart et al., 2020), the D70 (Moshagen et al., 2020), the honesty-humility scale from the HEXACO-60 (Ashton & Lee, 2009), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability short form (Crowne & Marlowe, 1960; Reynolds, 1982). 537 participants completed questionnaires about lying behaviors and dark core personality trait measures. Results indicated that those with dark personality traits tend to lie more often and accept lying in everyday situations. Additionally, dark traits were correlated with an increased frequency of telling self-serving and vindictive lies but not altruistic lies. Specific themes within the dark core also had predictive power for specific types of lies. The results of this study suggest that dark traits are not universal predictors of lying; they are associated with a greater tendency to lie malevolently, but not benevolently.