J Appl Psychol May 2012 PMID 22023075

A meta-analysis of the Dark Triad and work behavior: a social exchange perspective.

Ernest H O'Boyle, Donelson R Forsyth, George C Banks, Michael A McDaniel

Mentions

73
Peak: 2 in Oct 2025
across 4 sources since May 2021

Extended reach

7,637
potential audience

Total likes

37

Video views

1,085

Mentions per month

May 2021 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News64 articles
  • Blogs5 articles
  • X / Twitter2 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions focus on how dark personality traits are associated with harmful work behaviors, with examples like theft and abusive supervision emphasizing the practical implications of the research. The tone and word choices reflect both agreement with the findings and interest in real-world applications, but lack deep analysis of the underlying mechanisms.

AgreementModerate agreement

The discussion acknowledges the research findings, noting that dark traits are linked to counterproductive behaviors, which aligns with the publication's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Participants demonstrate high interest, discussing specific behaviors such as theft and abusive supervision, indicating engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

The mention of concrete examples like theft and abusive supervision suggests moderate depth of discussion, but the overall tone is straightforward and not overly detailed.

ImpactModerate impact

The recognition that dark traits influence workplace misconduct highlights the research's relevance, though the conversation remains somewhat surface-level in terms of broader influence.

Abstract in brief

  • The meta-analysis examined how the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) traits relate to work behaviors like job performance and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB), using data from over 43,000 individuals across various studies from 1951 to 2011.
  • The findings indicated that higher levels of Machiavellianism and psychopathy are linked to poorer job performance, while all three traits are associated with increased counterproductive behaviors, though these effects can be influenced by factors like authority and cultural context.
  • Although the Dark Triad traits are interrelated, they are also distinct enough to be treated separately in research, and they explain a moderate portion of counterproductive work behavior but have less impact on overall job performance.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Anxo Fernández Dopico
@Carnaina · X

9) En general, las personas con rasgos oscuros se involucran en comportamientos laborales más contraproducentes, como el robo y la supervisión abusiva. https://t.co/p67nlb9JYV

May 3, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 6,147 followers View post →
CRUX Psychology
@cruxpsychology · X

(O'Boyle et al., 2012) https://t.co/dAnb5yChYU

Oct 15, 2025 · 404 followers View post →

All mentions

CRUX Psychology
@cruxpsychology · X

(O'Boyle et al., 2012) https://t.co/dAnb5yChYU

Oct 15, 2025 · 404 followers View post →
Anxo Fernández Dopico
@Carnaina · X

9) En general, las personas con rasgos oscuros se involucran en comportamientos laborales más contraproducentes, como el robo y la supervisión abusiva. https://t.co/p67nlb9JYV

May 3, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 6,147 followers View post →