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Dark personalities—narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism—are collectively referred to as the Dark Triad. What they have in common is “a tendency to callously use others for personal gain.”1 But their differences are significant. Machiavellians know what they want and can be patient long-term awaiting their goals. Narcissists need ego stroking and validation and are drawn to the spotlight. Narcissists minimize others and blame others when their own decision-making goes wrong. Psychopaths, on the other hand, are impulsive and thrill-seeking, live in the moment, pay no attention to rules, and would throw away their whole life for the right kind of excitement.2

Dark traits more evident in men

According to psychologists Dr. Craig Neumann and Dr. Barry Kaufman, dark personalities come in different “shades” and degrees, and “approximately 1-2 percent of individuals in the general population display extremely dark personality features,” while 10-20 percent of individuals have moderately elevated levels. Their analysis concluded that “These traits are far more evident, on average, in men than women.”........

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