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Exploring Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism in Youth: Examination of Associations with Antisocial Behavior and Aggression

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Abstract

We sought to explore the differential associations of callous–unemotional (CU) traits, narcissistic traits, and Machiavellian traits with overt aggression, relational aggression, delinquency, behavioral dysregulation, and emotional dysregulation in a community sample of boys and girls (ages 11–17). Results indicated that the three personality traits were significantly correlated with each other, yet distinct. CU traits, narcissistic traits, and Machiavellian traits demonstrated different unique associations with behavior problems. Specifically, narcissistic traits showed the strongest unique associations with overt aggression, relational aggression, behavioral dysregulation, and emotional dysregulation. CU traits showed the second strongest unique associations with overt aggression, delinquency and behavioral dysregulation, but were not associated with relational aggression or emotional dysregulation. Lastly, Machiavellian traits showed a strong unique association with emotional dysregulation, but were not uniquely associated with externalizing behavior problems. These findings have implications for intervention with aggressive and antisocial youth.

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Notes

  1. Given the theoretical rationale of the current study, we chose to study the associations between the three personalities and overt and relational aggression as an initial step in understanding the differential relations among these variables. However, for exploratory purposes, we also conducted regression analyses using the reactive and proactive scales of the PCS as dependent variables. Given the very high correlation between the reactive and proactive scales (r = .81, p < .001), we controlled for the alternate subtype in the first step of the analyses (similar to those shown in Table 4). The personality variables were not associated with reactive aggression after controlling for proactive aggression. After controlling for reactive aggression, CU traits (β = .16, t = 2.67, p < .01, R 2 = .02), and narcissistic traits (β = .25, t = 4.09, p < .001, R 2 = .04) were significantly associated with proactive aggression, whereas Machiavellian traits (β = −.08, t = −1.25, p = .215, R 2 = .00) were not. These results are very similar to the results for overt aggression shown in Table 4.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    Katherine S. L. Lau & Monica A. Marsee

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Lau, K.S.L., Marsee, M.A. Exploring Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism in Youth: Examination of Associations with Antisocial Behavior and Aggression. J Child Fam Stud 22, 355–367 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9586-0

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