Predicting perceived harmful intent from the Dark Tetrad: A novel cognitive account of interpersonal harm

The Dark Tetrad (DT) is a constellation of four personality constructs (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism) that share tendencies toward harming others. Many theoretical accounts have attempted to explain this tendency, but only few have emphasized subjective judgments of behavior. The, present research proposed and tested a novel cognitive account which argues that subjectively perceiving ones behavioral intent as less harmful to others may partially explain DTs higher proclivity for interpersonally-harmful behavior. Participants read scenarios in which a friend vs. non-friend target experienced failure (Study 1) and success (Study 2). Participants then rated the likelihood of verbalizing various feedback to the target and the perceived helpful intent of expressing that feedback. DT constructs, particularly psychopathy and sadism, predicted a greater likelihood of expressing covert (ironic) and overt (direct) criticism to a target after failure and success. However, these effects generally corresponded with and were partially explained by greater perceived helpful intent in criticism-based responses. Findings contribute preliminary support for a perceived-helpful-intent account and highlight the possibility that dark-personality verbal behavior may not be purely a manifestation of malevolent intentions, socially-aversive emotional states, or moral deficits.