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Mate value discrepancies, the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction: A Euclidean distances approach.

ABSTRACT: We used a Euclidean algorithmic method of calculating mate value discrepancies to test the hypothesis that mate value discrepancies would mediate a negative association between the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction. Participants (N = 211) rated themselves, their partner, and their ideal partner on a set of traits known to be important in mate selection. They also completed Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction measures. We found an indirect, negative association between the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction mediated by the Partner-Potential Partner mate value discrepancy. The higher on the Dark Triad, the more alternative partners there were that were closer to the participant's ideal mate preferences than their current partner, which was associated with decreased relationship satisfaction. This study contributes to our understanding of how the Dark Triad relates to mating psychology. These findings also highlight the utility of employing a Euclidean algorithm to understand associations between individual differences and relationship outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Goetz CD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6003719 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mate value discrepancies, the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction: A Euclidean distances approach.

Goetz Cari D CD Meyer Kelsey B KB

Evolutionary psychological science 20170927 2

We used a Euclidean algorithmic method of calculating mate value discrepancies to test the hypothesis that mate value discrepancies would mediate a negative association between the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction. Participants (<i>N</i> = 211) rated themselves, their partner, and their ideal partner on a set of traits known to be important in mate selection. They also completed Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction measures. We found an indirect, negative association between the Dark ...[more]

PMID: 29916459

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Project description:Malevolent character traits (i.e., the Dark Triad: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are associated to emotional frigidity, antagonism, immoral strategic thinking, betrayal, exploitation, and sexual promiscuity. Despite the fact that character is a complex adaptive system, almost every study has solely investigated the linear association between malevolent character and attitudes towards both swearing and sociosexual orientation (i.e., behavior, attitude, and desire regarding promiscuous sexual behavior). In contrast, the aim in this set of studies was to evaluate these associations in relation to specific profiles of malevolent character (i.e., the Dark Cube). In two studies participants responded to the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, the Taboo Words' Offensiveness and Usage Inventories (i.e., attitudes towards 30 swear words' level of offensiveness and usage) (Study 1: N 1 = 1,000) and the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory Revised (Study 2: N 2 = 309). Participants were clustered according to all eight possible combinations based on their dark trait scores (M/m = high/low Machiavellianism; N/n = high/low narcissism; P/p = high/low psychopathy). The results of this nonlinear approach suggested that the frequent usage, not level of offensiveness, of swear words was associated to Machiavellianism and narcissism. In other words, individuals with high levels in these traits might swear and are verbally offensive often, because they do not see swearing as offensive (cf. with the attitude-behavior-cognition-hypothesis of taboo words; Rosenberg, Sikström & Garcia, 2017). Moreover, promiscuous sociosexual attitude and desire were related to each dark trait only when the other two were low. Additionally, promiscuous sociosexual behavior was not associated to these malevolent character traits. That is, individuals high in the dark traits are willing to and have the desire to engage in sexual relations without closeness, commitment, and other indicators of emotional bonding. However, they do not report high levels of previous sexual experience, relationships, and infidelity. Hence, they approve and desire for it, but they are not actually doing it. The use of person-centered and non-linear methods, such as the Dark Character Cube, seem helpful in the advancement of a coherent theory of a biopsychosocial model of dark character.

Dataset Information

Mate value discrepancies, the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction: A Euclidean distances approach.

Publications

Mate value discrepancies, the Dark Triad and relationship satisfaction: A Euclidean distances approach.

Similar Datasets

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