Publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Place of Publication
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Abstract
The Dark Triad personality traits—Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—are widely recognized for their association with negative workplace outcomes (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). While previous research has explored the direct relationship between these traits and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs), meaning deliberate actions that directly harm an organization and its members, the potential moderating role of organizational power remains largely unexplored (e.g., Cohen, 2016; Preston et al., 2021; Ellen III et al., 2021; Baka, 2019). This study aims to investigate how an individual's level of power within an organization may influence this relationship, hypothesizing that increased organizational power will strengthen the positive correlation between Dark Triad traits and CWBs, with the exception of Machiavellianism due to the occurrence of above-average impulse control and being strategic in a different way than the other two traits in that being liked may prove valuable. To accomplish this, we will recruit participants via Prolific to complete a self-report survey measuring their Dark Triad traits, occurrences of CWBs, and both perceived and actual organizational power. The survey, designed in Qualtrics, will also gather demographic information, including recent full-time employment, education level, and current industry. The collected data will be analyzed to explore the interaction effects among these three key concepts: dark personality traits, CWBs, and power. Understanding the relationships between these factors is essential for fostering organizational cohesiveness and success while enhancing employee satisfaction and well-being. The expected outcomes of this study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on dark personality traits by clarifying the role of power in strengthening their negative effects. As noted by Marcus et al. (2018), empirical interest in the Dark Triad has increased considerably since the term was coined by Paulhus and Williams (2002), highlighting the importance of continued research in this area. This study will also identify potential risk factors for CWBs in organizational settings and inform human resource practices and leadership development programs. Findings may help organizations implement more effective screening processes for leadership positions, develop tailored training programs to address the impact of dark personalities, and create organizational structures that limit the potential for abuse of power. By examining the moderating effect of power on the relationship between Dark Triad traits and CWBs, this research aims to provide valuable insights that can foster healthier and more productive work environments.
Date
11-9-2024
Subject
Industrial and organizational psychology
Document Type
posters
Language
English
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Final Poster Copy
Included in
The Dark Triad and Counterproductive Work Behaviors: Power Moderator
The Dark Triad personality traits—Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—are widely recognized for their association with negative workplace outcomes (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). While previous research has explored the direct relationship between these traits and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs), meaning deliberate actions that directly harm an organization and its members, the potential moderating role of organizational power remains largely unexplored (e.g., Cohen, 2016; Preston et al., 2021; Ellen III et al., 2021; Baka, 2019). This study aims to investigate how an individual's level of power within an organization may influence this relationship, hypothesizing that increased organizational power will strengthen the positive correlation between Dark Triad traits and CWBs, with the exception of Machiavellianism due to the occurrence of above-average impulse control and being strategic in a different way than the other two traits in that being liked may prove valuable. To accomplish this, we will recruit participants via Prolific to complete a self-report survey measuring their Dark Triad traits, occurrences of CWBs, and both perceived and actual organizational power. The survey, designed in Qualtrics, will also gather demographic information, including recent full-time employment, education level, and current industry. The collected data will be analyzed to explore the interaction effects among these three key concepts: dark personality traits, CWBs, and power. Understanding the relationships between these factors is essential for fostering organizational cohesiveness and success while enhancing employee satisfaction and well-being. The expected outcomes of this study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on dark personality traits by clarifying the role of power in strengthening their negative effects. As noted by Marcus et al. (2018), empirical interest in the Dark Triad has increased considerably since the term was coined by Paulhus and Williams (2002), highlighting the importance of continued research in this area. This study will also identify potential risk factors for CWBs in organizational settings and inform human resource practices and leadership development programs. Findings may help organizations implement more effective screening processes for leadership positions, develop tailored training programs to address the impact of dark personalities, and create organizational structures that limit the potential for abuse of power. By examining the moderating effect of power on the relationship between Dark Triad traits and CWBs, this research aims to provide valuable insights that can foster healthier and more productive work environments.
Department
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dept. of Psychology