Article

Assortative mating for Dark Triad: Evidence of positive, initial, and active assortment: Assortative mating for the Dark Triad

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  • University of Rijeka ,Croatia
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Abstract

Hypotheses regarding positive versus negative assortment, initial assortment versus convergence, and active assortment versus social homogamy were tested on a sample of 100 heterosexual dating couples using variable- and couple-centered approaches. A modest to moderate degree of positive assortment was found for all Dark Triad measures, the highest for Machiavellianism, followed by psychopathy and narcissism. Structural modeling also showed a moderate degree of positive assortment for men's and women's latent Dark Triad constructs. Results supported the initial assortment hypothesis, meaning that couples were already similar in the Dark Triad traits at the beginning of the relationship and did not converge over time. Additionally, similarity was not due to background variables such as age and education (i.e., social homogamy), thus supporting the active assortment hypothesis.

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... However, despite the strength of within-couple correlations observed for demographic variables (Blossfeld & Timm, 2003), this resemblance rarely appears to account for similarity across other characteristics. For example, assortative mating has been reported to occur within a range of populations that are relatively demographically homogeneous (Burgess & Wallin, 1943;Godoy et al., 2008;Kardum et al., 2017;Luo, 2009;Luo & Klohnen, 2005;Richards et al., 2022;Tognetti et al., 2014;Wu et al., 2020). Assortative mating could arise through convergence, i.e., couples may grow alike over time due to their interactive experiences and shared environment. ...
... Assortative mating could arise through convergence, i.e., couples may grow alike over time due to their interactive experiences and shared environment. Empirical findings cast doubt on this suggestion, as relationship length does not correlate with couple similarity for most variables that have been examined (Kardum et al., 2017;Luo & Klohnen, 2005;Richards et al., 2022). Furthermore, assortative mating is detectable early in relationships (Luo, 2009), indicating the presence of initial assortment. ...
... As Richards et al. (2021 [Study 1], 2022) administered the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test in a lab study whereas here we utilised online survey methodology, the effect appears to be replicable across settings. These findings also align with wider research in which positive assortment has been reported for characteristics related to socio-perceptual theory of mind ability (Kardum et al., 2017;Śmieja & Stolarski, 2018). It should however be noted that as greater than chance similarity between individuals is found throughout social strata, i.e., not only within the context of romantic relationships (McPherson et al., 2001), our use of snowball sampling will likely have resulted in participants being more alike than chance. ...
Article
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Assortative mating is a phenomenon in which romantic partners typically resemble each other at a level greater than chance. There is converging evidence that social behaviours are subject to assortative mating, though less is known regarding social cognition. Social functioning requires the ability to identify and understand the mental states of others, i.e., theory of mind. The present study recruited a sample of 102 heterosexual couples via an online survey to test if theory of mind as measured using facial expressions (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test) or language (Stiller-Dunbar Stories Task) is associated with assortative mating. Results provide evidence of assortative mating for theory of mind via facial expressions, though there was no such effect for theory of mind via language. Assortative mating for theory of mind via facial expressions was not moderated by length of relationship nor by partner similarity in age, educational attainment, or religiosity, all variables relevant to social stratification. This suggests assortative mating for theory of mind via facial expressions is better explained by partners being alike at the start of their relationship (initial assortment) rather than becoming similar through sustained social interaction (convergence), and by people seeking out partners that are like themselves (active assortment) rather than simply pairing with those from similar demographic backgrounds (social homogamy).
... individuals with similar levels of that trait are more likely than chance to share other characteristics, such as a working environment, which may lead to an increased likelihood of a relationship starting (social homogamy); in addition, individuals may begin relationships with others who are more similar to themselves than expected by chance (initial assortment) or become more similar to their partner over the course of their relationship (convergence) 24,29 . Assortment also occurs in non-romantic relationships, with friends being more alike than chance for many variables 33,34 , including autistic traits 35 . ...
... To investigate whether the within-couple correlations for autism-related variables were explainable by couples being more similar than chance to begin with (initial assortment) or becoming more alike throughout the course of their relationship (convergence), we correlated the sex-standardised within-couple di erence scores for autism-related variables with length of relationship. Essentially, if length or relationship is correlated with the di erence score, it suggests that partners may become more similar (negative correlation) or more dissimilar (positive correlation) over the course of their relationship, and so provides evidence against initial assortment 29 . As both males and females reported the length of their relationship, we correlated these to check for similarity (r[102] = 0.999, p < 0.001) before averaging the two measurements for use in further analyses. ...
... We conducted an a priori power analysis using G*Power 3.1 86,87 to determine the sample size. Assuming a medium e ect size (r = 0.30 68 ) for within-couple correlations on personality variables (e.g., Kardum et al. 29 ) and 80% power, this analysis determined that a sample size of n = 67 couples would be required to observe a statistically signi cant e ect (p < 0.05) with a one-tailed Pearson's correlation test. Adult participants (≥ 18 years) from the UK who were in heterosexual relationships were then recruited from researchers' contacts and via snowball sampling. ...
Article
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It has been hypothesised that romantic partners are more similar than chance in relation to autistic traits. To test this theory, we recruited n = 105 heterosexual couples and examined within-couple correlations for autistic traits [measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)], empathizing [measured using the Empathy Quotient (EQ)], and systemizing [measured using the Systemizing Quotient-Revised (SQ-R)]. For a subsample that attended the lab (n = 58 couples), we also investigated theory of mind via facial expressions using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and attention to detail, a component within systemizing, using the Embedded Figures Task (EFT). Variable-centred analyses revealed positive within-couple correlations for all measures except EQ, although these effects were only statistically significant for unmarried couples and not for married/engaged couples. Follow-up analyses indicated that the observed couple similarity effects are likely consistent with people pairing with those more similar than chance (initial assortment) rather than becoming alike over time (convergence), and to seeking out self-resembling partners (active assortment) rather than pairing in this manner via social stratification processes (social homogamy). Additionally, a significant within-couple correlation for autistic traits was observed at the meta-analytic level. However, it should be noted that the meta-analytic effect size estimate was small (r = 0.153) and indicates that only ~2% of variance in a person’s score on a phenotypic measure of autistic traits can be predicted by that of their partner.
... However, despite the strength of within-couple correlations observed for demographic variables (Blossfeld & Timm, 2003), this resemblance appears not to account for similarity across other characteristics. For example, AM has been reported to occur within a range of populations that are relatively demographically homogenous (e.g., Burgess & Wallin, 1943;Godoy et al., 2008;Kardum et al., 2017;Luo, 2009;Luo & Klohnen, 2005;Richards et al., 2020;Tognetti et al., 2014;Wu et al., 2020). AM could arise through convergence, i.e., couples may grow alike over time due to their interactive experiences and shared environment. ...
... AM could arise through convergence, i.e., couples may grow alike over time due to their interactive experiences and shared environment. Empirical findings cast doubt on this suggestion, as relationship length does not correlate with AM for most variables that have been measured (Kardum et al., 2017;Luo & Klohnen, 2005;Richards et al., 2020). Furthermore, AM is detectable early in relationships (Luo, 2009), indicating the presence of initial assortment. ...
... These findings also align with wider research in which positive assortment has been reported for characteristics related to socio-perceptual ToM ability (e.g., Kardum et al., 2017;Śmieja & Stolarski, 2018). ...
Preprint
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Assortative mating (AM) is a phenomenon in which romantic partners typically resemble each other at a level greater than chance. There is converging evidence that social behaviours are subject to AM, though less is known regarding social cognition. Social functioning requires the ability to identify and understand the mental states of others, i.e., Theory of Mind (ToM). The present study recruited a sample of 102 heterosexual couples via an online survey to test if ToM as measured using facial expressions (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test) or language (Stiller-Dunbar Stories Task) is associated with AM. Results showed existence of AM for ToM via facial expressions, though no such effect for ToM via language. AM for ToM via facial expressions was not moderated by length of relationship nor by partner similarity in age, educational attainment, or religiosity, all variables relevant to social stratification. This suggests AM for ToM via facial expressions is better explained by partners being alike at the start of their relationship (initial assortment) rather than becoming similar through sustained social interaction (convergence), and by people seeking out partners that are like themselves (active assortment) rather than simply pairing with those from similar demographic backgrounds (social homogamy).
... Campbell (1999) also found that narcissists look for prospective partners similar to themselves, that is, self-oriented, rather than otheroriented. Although a small amount of research suggests that there may be positive assortment for narcissism (Kardum et al., 2017;Smith et al., 2014), more research with a relatively large sample size (N > 100 couples) would be valuable. ...
... Fifth, we expected a positive association between partners' levels of narcissism (H5; Kardum et al., 2017;Smith et al., 2014). ...
... Finally, we confirmed our hypothesis of assortative mating for narcissism which is consistent with previous findings (Kardum et al., 2017;Smith et al., 2014). Thus, our results corroborate the broader compatibility literature in the area of romantic relationships (Huston & Houts, 1998), as well as the literature specific to narcissism and compatibility, i.e., narcissists look for prospective partners similar to themselves, that is, self-oriented, rather than other-oriented (Campbell, 1999). ...
Article
The compatibility between partners in romantic relationships has been found for various characteristics, including intelligence. Theoretically, this phenomenon implies that people are able to discern the intelligence of themselves and others. In practice, however, the accuracy of such estimations is influenced by various factors, such as personality traits. Grandiose narcissism has been found to be the strongest personality predictor of self-overestimated intelligence, however, it remains to be determined whether the self-perceived bias generalises to people close to the narcissist, such as their romantic partners. In the current study, in a sample of 150 heterosexual couples, we examined whether grandiose narcissism was associated with self and partner's estimation of intelligence. Additionally, we measured participants' objective intelligence (Raven's test) and relationship satisfaction. First, we found that narcissism was associated with the overestimation of intelligence. Second, narcissistic women overestimated the intelligence of their partners. Furthermore, narcissistic women were perceived as highly intelligent by their partners, even after controlling for objective intelligence. Finally, we found support for assortative mating for narcissism. Thus, intelligence seems to be an important attribute in the way how narcissistic women perceive their partners, as well as how partners view the intelligence of narcissistic women.
... However, there is more than one process by which this could operate. For instance, it may be that individuals with similar levels of autistic traits consciously or unconsciously seek each other out as romantic partners (active assortment) or that individuals with similar levels of autistic traits are more likely than chance to share other characteristics, such as a working environment, which may lead to an increased likelihood of a relationship starting (social homogamy); in addition, individuals may begin relationships with others who are more similar to themselves than expected by chance as regards autistic traits (initial assortment) or become more similar to their partner over the course of their relationship (convergence) (Kardum et al., 2017;Luo, 2017). ...
... Assuming a medium effect size (r = 0.30) for intra-couple correlations on personality variables (e.g. Kardum et al., 2017) and 80% power, this analysis determined that a sample size of n=67 couples would be required to observe a statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) with a one-tailed Pearson's correlation test. ...
... To investigate whether the intra-couple correlations for autism-related variables were explainable by initial assortment or convenience, we correlated the standardised withincouple difference scores for autism-related variables with length of relationship. Essentially, if length or relationship is correlated with the difference score, it suggests that partners' become more similar (negative correlation) or more dissimilar (positive correlation) over the course of their relationship, and so provides evidence against there being initial assortment (Kardum et al., 2017). As both males and females reported the length of their relationships, findings therefore indicate that intra-couple correlations for autism-related variables are attributable to initial assortment rather than convergence effects. ...
Preprint
Full-text available
It has been suggested that the children of parents with particular interests and aptitude for understanding systems via input-operation-output rules (i.e. systemizing) are at increased likelihood of developing autism. Furthermore, assortative mating (i.e. a non-random pattern in which individuals are more likely to pair with others who are similar to themselves) is hypothesised to occur in relation to systemizing, and so romantic couples may be more similar on this variable than chance would dictate. However, no published study has yet tested this hypothesis. We therefore examined intra-couple correlations for a measure of autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient [AQ]), self-report measures of empathizing (Empathy Quotient [EQ]), and systemizing (Systemizing Quotient-Revised [SQ-R]), as well as the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Embedded Figures Task (EFT). We observed positive intra-couple correlations of small-to-medium magnitude for all measures except EQ. Further analyses suggest that these effects are attributable to people pairing with those who are more similar to themselves than chance (initial assortment) rather than becoming more alike over the course of a relationship (convergence), and to seeking out self-resembling partners (active assortment) rather than pairing in this manner due to social stratification increasing the likelihood of similar people meeting in the first place (social homogamy). Additionally, we found that the difference in scores for the AQ, SQ-R, RMET and EFT of actual couples were smaller (i.e. more similar) than the average difference scores calculated from all other possible male-female pairings within the dataset. The current findings therefore provide clear evidence in support of the assortative mating theory of autism.
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
I used psychopathy to provide an illustration of how we can explore the evolution of behavioral traits on phenotypic data. But looking at my own work in the field, I never thought that the main contribution of my research is empirical data. I never thought that someone should teach students that psychopathy or any other behavioral trait has fitness-related outcomes based on the data that I collected. This is not only based on the fact that the research designs that I applied have important methodological limitations like nonrepresentative samples and cross-sectional designs. As I mentioned in a chapter where I described the basic tenets of behavioral ecology, we observe only the snapshots of evolution—the data on the associations between behavioral traits and fitness in a certain moment in time in a given population. These data are invaluable for understanding of the microevolutionary processes on behavioral traits but they are hardly sufficient to make reliable conclusions on these processes. In fact, I would like to go even further: even when observing these exact data, we do not see evolutionary processes, we observe potential processes—the ones that may or may not exist in the population (and yes, I think that we see potential processes even if we have representative samples and prospective research designs). These processes are probabilistic and uncertain phenomena (like any others, needless to say), even in the populational state that we speak of them; projecting them into the future carries an even larger margin of uncertainty. But this does not diminish the importance of these processes in any sense—potential realities are important as the real ones (just ask the surrealists). But it does provide us with indications of what main contributions of our research may be.
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
In this chapter I introduce the field of behavioral ecology of personality or evolutionary personality ecology. The main conceptual framework is based on three topics, sometimes called evolutionary puzzles of personality: evolutionary explanations of inter-individual differences in behavior, cross-situational and temporal consistency in behavior, and associations between functionally different personality traits. Afterwards, I present the phenotypic associations between personality traits (based mostly on the Big Five/Five Factor Model of personality) and fertility in humans. The main part of the chapter is dedicated to the application of conceptual models from animal BE in explaining three evolutionary puzzles of personality in humans. At the end of the chapter I describe the extensions of the presented framework to other human behavioral traits like intelligence, psychopathological traits, social attitudes, and values.KeywordsBehavioral ecology of personalityEvolutionary puzzles of personalityBig FiveFive factor modelPersonality and fitness
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
The existence and characteristics of evolutionary tradeoffs in human populations are described in this chapter. Firstly I cover fertility-longevity tradeoff, the problems of its empirical detection and the possible explanation of this problem (a possibility of nonlinear association between these two fitness components), and the implications of the tradeoff for the evolution of menopause. The characteristics of the tradeoff based on the age of first reproduction are presented afterwards: fertility benefits of early reproduction followed by the health costs for females, the links between first and last reproduction, and the detrimental effects of delaying first reproduction after the age of 30. Another major tradeoff is the one between quantity and quality of offspring: I describe the effects of parental care for offspring’s longevity (especially in preindustrial populations), together with a lack of evidence for the link between parental care and offspring’s fertility. Finally, I depict mating-parenting tradeoff and its characteristics in humans.KeywordsFertility-longevity tradeoffAge of first reproduction tradeoffQuantity-quality tradeoffMating-parenting tradeoff
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
This chapter is dedicated to the behavioral ecological analysis of psychopathy. Firstly I describe psychopathy as a behavioral syndrome consisting of several traits (manipulativeness, emotional superficiality, lack of behavioral control, and sometimes antisocial behavior), and the most prominent instruments for psychopathy measurement. Afterwards, I briefly describe the nomological network of psychopathy, by depicting the relations between psychopathy, criminal behavior, aggressiveness, violence, moral behavior, social interactions, psychopathology, intelligence, executive functioning, and career choices. Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental precursors of psychopathy are described as well, with an emphasis on the maltreatment and deprivation in childhood as the facilitators of the psychopathy development. Evolutionary considerations of psychopathy are described: the role of assortative mating, faster life history and pace of life, presence of psychopathy in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and the relations between psychopathy and health. Considering the importance of reproductive success as a core fitness component, I describe the associations between psychopathy and fertility in a separate subchapter. Finally, I analyze the existing empirical data and show the application of behavioral ecological models in explaining the first evolutionary puzzle of personality (the maintenance of inter-individual variation in behavior) as applied to psychopathy.KeywordsPsychopathy definitionPsychopathy measurementNomological network of psychopathyEvolution of psychopathyBehavioral ecology of psychopathy
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
In this chapter, I cover several topics related to evolutionary explanations of the processes emerging in human families. Sex differences in parental care as a part of sex roles are analyzed from a viewpoint of sexual selection. I explain the origins of markedly heightened parental care in humans and the conditions influencing parental investment—ecological conditions, parental characteristics, and offspring traits. I describe the importance of grandparental care for offspring and grandoffspring fitness, the conditions that may bias grandparental investment, and the role of this investment in the evolution of human longevity. Various parent-offspring interactions are described including the parent-offspring conflict (highlighting the parental control in offspring’s mating), the cooperation between parents and offspring, and parental effects in general. Afterwards, I describe reproductive motivation, its importance in exploring the evolution of behavioral traits, and provide examples of how we can empirically measure reproductive motivation. This chapter ends with the more detailed descriptions of the demographic transition’s roots and evolutionary explanations of demographic transition by comparing alternative hypotheses regarding this complex phenomenon.KeywordsParental careGrandparental careParent-offspring conflictReproductive motivationDemographic transition
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
Life History Theory (LHT) represents one of the most prominent conceptual frameworks in evolutionary social sciences—its basic assumptions are described in this chapter with an emphasis on the hypothesized fast-slow continuum. LHT has somewhat different usage in evolutionary psychology, compared to evolutionary biology and HBE; thus, evolutionary psychological view of LHT and its criticisms are presented afterwards. I provide detailed analysis of the covariations between various life history traits (body mass, maturation age, onset of sexual behavior, age of first reproduction, fertility, and parental investment) and the level of their congruence with the continuum. Furthermore, I explore the existing data on the associations between ecological context and life history in light of a hypothesis that harsher environments trigger fast life history trajectory. I present my own approach to life history, namely the network approach, where life history traits and their covariations are viewed as the dynamic systems on a population level. Finally, I address LHT criticisms and unresolved questions—problems of transferring assumptions from the between-species to between-individual level, unsuitability of fast-slow continuum to adequately describe empirical data, and the problem of measurement of life histories in humans.KeywordsLife History TheoryFast-slow continuumHarsh environmentNetwork analysis
... Note that the researchers often assume that the assortative matching in behavior usually emerges as a consequence of mate choice: individuals actively choose similar partners for mating. This has been documented for psychopathy as well (Kardum et al., 2017b). However, similarity may develop during the relationship as well; in fact there are data showing that mismatched partners in convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata, also known as zebra cichlid) that develop behavioral similarity after they have been paired, have elevated fertility compared to pairs that remained dissimilar (Laubu, Dechaume-Moncharmont, Motreuil, & Schweitzer, 2016). ...
... Pairs that are similar on behavioral traits can have fitness benefits due to elevated behavioral compatibility, expressed as coordination of behavior, cooperation, and synchronizing behavior to a greater extent (Schuett et al., 2010). Previous research found that relationship satisfaction is higher in pairs that are assortatively mated on psychopathy (Kardum et al., 2017b). This is quite important because we can plausibly assume that couples that are satisfied and content in their relationships may have earlier first reproduction and consequently higher overall reproductive success. ...
Chapter
Full-text available
This chapter covers evolutionary behavioral sciences in general, both animal and human disciplines. Firstly I briefly sketch the historical development and basic research tenets of (animal) behavioral ecology. Afterward, I depict human behavioral ecology (HBE) and its conceptual foundations; I use The Tsimane Health and Life History Project as the example of ethnographic research in HBE and provide arguments for the existence of natural selection in contemporary human populations. I present critiques of HBE and major unresolved questions including the accusations of a rigid view on human nature, the lack of connection with animal BE and cultural evolution research, a potential problem with fertility estimates, and an issue of phenotypic gambit. Afterwards, the conceptual foundations of Evolutionary Psychology (EP) are presented (the view of brain as a computer, massive modularity principle, Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness, adaptive lag and evolutionary mismatch, search for human universals) followed by the major criticisms of this discipline (the problem of declaring a trait as an adaptation, problem of inferring evolutionary processes on available data, and problem of Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness). Finally, I compare HBE and EP and highlight both the differences between the fields and their complementarity in the exploration of behavioral evolution.KeywordsEvolutionary social sciencesBehavioral ecologyEvolutionary psychology
... Moderate positive assortment for Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and overall DT, and modest negative assortment for narcissism were found on a small sample of dating couples (Smith et al., 2014), whereas limited evidence of positive assortment for all DT traits was found using a dating advertisement paradigm (Jonason, Lyons, & Blanchard, 2015). Modest to moderate degree of positive assortment was found for all DT traits on dating couples, the highest for Machiavellianism, followed by psychopathy and narcissism (Kardum et al., 2017). Machiavellianism shows the highest assortment probably because it is a better indicator of individuals' values and beliefs, characteristics showing higher positive assortment (Luo, 2017). ...
... Partners' similarity in psychopathy and narcissism was slightly lower, but at the highest level obtained for other personality traits (e.g., Watson et al., 2004). Similarity in DT traits was somewhat higher than in previous studies, especially for Machiavellianism and narcissism (Kardum et al., 2017;Smith et al., 2014). These differences may be due to the type of relationships, because previous research used dating couples, whereas we used married and cohabiting couples. ...
Article
As the Dark Triad (DT) has been rarely examined from different rater perspectives, there is a lack of insight about important questions on assessment and understanding of these traits. The present study explores real similarity (assortment), reciprocity, assumed similarity and self-other agreement for the DT traits on 188 heterosexual romantic partners using self-reports and partner-reports. By using variable-centered and couple-centered approach and various analytic tools, moderate to high positive assortment was found for all DT traits, the highest for Machiavellianism. The levels of assumed similarity and self-partner agreement were similar or somewhat higher than those usually obtained for other personality traits. We discussed the implications of the results obtained concerning measurement and interpersonal relevance of the DT traits.
... In line with this notion, several researchers have shown that couples tend to have similar levels of Machiavellianism (Kardum et al., 2017; but see also Buss, 1984). There is, likewise, evidence to suggest that those scoring high in Machiavellianism discount warmth and agreeableness in their partners (Ináncsi et al., 2016)-traits that they, themselves, do not seem to possess (e.g., Collison et al., 2018). ...
... These exceptions notwithstanding, the overall pattern of results provides support for the idea that those with aversive personality traits prefer others who are also high in aversive personality traits (i.e., positive assortment; Buss, 1984). This is consistent with some (e.g., Kardum et al., 2017), but not all (e.g., Jonason et al., 2015;Veronica Smith et al., 2014), of the prior literature. One reason for the relatively straightforward effects identified in the present study is the highly-controlled, albeit ecologically-limited, method used. ...
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Across two studies (NTOTAL = 933), a person’s willingness to engage in a relationship with those scoring high in each of the Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) was examined as a function of their own levels of the Dark Triad traits and the relationship type in question (i.e., a one-night stand, a dating relationship, or a marriage). There were three notable findings. First, those scoring high in Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were more willing to engage in a relationship with a person who was also high in Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, respectively. Second, as the commitment level of the relationship increased, so did a narcissistic individual’s willingness to engage in a relationship with a fellow narcissist. Third, psychopathic people were generally interested in having one-night stands, seemingly without concern for the personality traits of the other person involved. Results are discussed in relation to assortative mating.
... It may be that the antagonistic and apathetic nature of antisociality disrupts a partner's ability to regulate affect as emotion regulation is a process influenced by social factors (Barthel et al., 2018;Brandão et al., 2020). Alternatively, or in addition, individuals higher in antisociality may seek out partners who are already emotionally dysregulated (Kardum et al., 2017). It is important to note that the cross-sectional nature of the study prevents us from definitively establishing the nature or direction of this potential influence. ...
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Objective: Antisociality, a constellation of antagonistic personality styles, has been shown to increase conflict in romantic couples. However, the malleable mechanisms that underpin how antisociality drives conflict within both partners in couples remain less explored. Method: Using a dyadic framework, the present study examined whether emotion dysregulation and/or hazardous drinking explained the association between antisociality and dyadic conflict among married and cohabitating couples (N = 962). An actor–partner interdependence mediation model was used to evaluate intrapersonal and interpersonal influences. Results: Several parallel pathways emerged involving emotion dysregulation, with higher levels of actor antisociality associated with (a) greater actor conflict perpetration through actor emotion dysregulation, (b) greater actor conflict perpetration through partner emotion dysregulation, (c) greater partner conflict perpetration through actor emotion dysregulation, and (d) greater partner conflict perpetration through partner emotion dysregulation. No evidence of chained mediation was obtained. Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that emotion dysregulation and hazardous drinking are important mechanisms underlying the association between antisociality and couples’ conflict; however, the lack of chained mediation suggests that their influences are exerted independently rather than sequentially. Results also emphasize the importance of interventions adopting both a dyadic perspective to account for the interpersonal nature of the links of antisociality with conflict through emotion dysregulation and hazardous drinking in couples.
... AM for socially undesirable personality traits has been rarely explored. Moderate positive assortment has been obtained for all Dark Triad traits, a cluster of three antisocial personality traits, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism (Kardum et al. 2016). Machiavellianism has shown the highest degree of assortment probably because this trait is a more attitude-like concept, and attitudes, as already mentioned, show a higher degree of positive assortment. ...
... The results of studies that employed this method are mixed. While some studies reported that random couples are more similar than real couples, others reported that the random couples correlation is around zero, and others still reported positive correlations, although lower than the ones for real couples (Bleske-Rechek et al., 2009;Kardum et al., 2017b;Winch, 1955). Another way to examine this artefact is by removing the normative responding from the data. ...
... It is common in non-human animals (340), but humans also mate assortatively according to age, height, race, education level, and personality traits (341,342). Regarding personality, the strongest concordance has been found for sensation seeking, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism (343)(344)(345)(346). This would produce homozygosity for these traits and, consequently, more extreme presentations in the progeny. ...
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Personality disorders (PDs) are currently considered dysfunctions. However, personality differences are older than humanity and are ubiquitous in nature, from insects to higher primates. This suggests that a number of evolutionary mechanisms—other than dysfunctions—may be able to maintain stable behavioral variation in the gene pool. First of all, apparently maladaptive traits may actually improve fitness by enabling better survival or successful mating or reproduction, as exemplified by neuroticism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Furthermore, some PDs may harm important biological goals while facilitating others, or may be globally beneficial or detrimental depending on environmental circumstances or body condition. Alternatively, certain traits may form part of life history strategies: Coordinated suites of morphological, physiological and behavioral characters that optimize fitness through alternative routes and respond to selection as a whole. Still others may be vestigial adaptations that are no longer beneficial in present times. Finally, variation may be adaptative in and by itself, as it reduces competition for finite resources. These and other evolutionary mechanisms are reviewed and illustrated through human and non-human examples. Evolutionary theory is the best-substantiated explanatory framework across the life sciences, and may shed light on the question of why harmful personalities exist at all.
... The indirect effects indicated that wives' perceptual similarity of psychopathy can negatively relate to their respective communication and then impact their marital quality. Although there is still controversy about whether personality similarity is beneficial to relationship satisfaction (Decuyper et al., 2012;Kardum et al., 2018;Smith et al., 2014), previous research has shown that dissimilarity of some of the psychopathy components, such as interpersonal manipulation and erratic lifestyle, leads to dissatisfaction (Kardum et al., 2017): dissimilarity of psychopathy as an integrative trait may be harmful to marriage (Kardum et al., 2018). Our findings are inconsistent with the previous studies mentioned above. ...
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Previous studies have shown that psychopathy, one of the Dark Triad personality traits, is associated with relationship dissatisfaction. However, the similarity of psychopathy among romantic couples remains uncertain with regard to relationship outcomes. This study examined the effect of the perceptual similarity of psychopathy on marital quality in a sample of 245 heterosexual married couples, using intraclass correlation coefficients as the method for assessing couples' similarity. This study also explored the possible mediating role of couple communication based on the Actor–Partner Interdependence model. The results reveal that husbands' self‐rating and wives' partner‐rating of psychopathy showed negative effects on marital quality, whereas wives' perceptual similarity of psychopathy exerted both actor and partner effects on marital quality via couple communication. The current study enriches the theoretical framework of personality and relationship outcomes and emphasizes the importance of communication in a close relationship.
... A positive relationship regarding aggressive humor can mean that people using status-building strategies through aggressive domination can form long-term relationships. In fact, partners' Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism) scores are positively correlated (Kardum et al., 2017) and our result may relate to the manifestation of Dark Triad traits in everyday joking behavior. Both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles among couples may serve as indirect ways of managing conflict (Campbell et al., 2008). ...
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While people value a good sense of humor in their potential romantic partners, we know comparatively less about the function of humor in long-term relationships. Using the survey method, we measured the production, appreciation, and quality of humor along with humor styles and dyadic adjustment in long-term relationships among 149 heterosexual couples. Men produced more jokes than women, but the sexes responded to their partners' jokes at the same frequency. Men also rated their jokes as funnier than the jokes of their partners. Partners were matched in aggressive and self-defeating humor styles. Laughing and humor quality ratings as well as humor styles had effects for men's and women's dyadic adjustment. We conclude that in long-term, romantic relationships, a sense of humor is part of the mechanisms involved in building relationships.
... It may simply indicate that they desire to remain in a relationship with their partners. Moreover, considering that individuals partner with people who are similar to them (Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, & Covic, 2017), it may be that women higher on the Dark Triad traits may be subjected to more costinflicting mate retention tactics because they are in a relationship with men higher on the Dark Triad traits who are more likely to use costinflicting mate retention tactics (Jonason, Li, & Buss, 2010). ...
Article
We investigated whether women (n = 223) higher in the Dark Triad traits (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) are subjected to greater cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors by their long-term romantic partners, and we considered women's desire for marriage as a moderator. We found that women higher in narcissism reported lower levels of verbal insults associated with “derogating value as a person” inflicted by their partners. Women higher in psychopathy reported higher levels of verbal insults associated with derogating physical attractiveness, derogating value as a partner, accusations of sexual infidelity, and general cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors inflicted by their partners. Women higher in psychopathy and who also reported a higher desire for marriage were subjected to more cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors than women higher in psychopathy that reported a lower desire for marriage. In this context, mate retention behaviors may reduce the likelihood of infidelity by decreasing the self-worth of women higher on the Dark Triad traits so that they conclude they are unable to compete successfully for other partners.
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
... Co ciekawe jednak, ludzie mają również tendencję do poszukiwania partnerów/partnerek podobnych do nich pod względem społecznie niepożądanych cech, takich jak neurotyczność czy zaburzenia psychiczne (Mathews, Reus, 2001), a nawet tendencji do antyspołecznych zachowań i cech z tzw. Mrocznej Triady (psychopatii, makiawelizmu i narcyzmu; Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, Covic, 2017). Wydaje się zatem, że spójność między partnerami jest bardzo ważnym czynnikiem determinującym to, z kim stworzymy związek. ...
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Jedna z najczęściej pojawiających się w literaturze definicji inteligencji opisuje ją jako zdolność, która ułatwia człowiekowi przystosowanie do środowiska. Badania psychologiczne prowadzone już od drugiej połowy XIX w. (m.in. przez Francisa Galtona) zdają się potwierdzać adaptacyjny charakter inteligencji. Od samego początku badacze łączyli sprawność intelektualną z funkcjonowaniem szkolnym. W kontekście badania uczniów szkoły średniej zrodziła się koncepcja czynnika inteligencji ogólnej zaproponowana przez Charlesa Spearmana. Nowo powstałe testy inteligencji u progu XX w., początkowo stworzone dla celów edukacyjnych przez Alfreda Bineta, szybko wzbudziły zainteresowanie pracodawców, ponieważ stanowiły efektywne narzędzie wyboru najlepszych kandydatów do pracy. Proces rozpowszechniania się testów inteligencji przyspieszyła I wojna światowa i potrzeba szybkiej selekcji kandydatów do służby wojskowej na różnych stanowiskach. Szkoła i praca, niewątpliwie ważne obszary aktywności człowieka, nie wyczerpują jednak dziedzin, w których inteligencja okazała się ważna. Późniejsze badania, prowadzone m.in. przez zespół szkockiego badacza Iana Deary’ego, pokazały znaczenie inteligencji dla zdrowia i długości życia. Inteligencja jest ogólną zdolnością, która przesądza o sprawności funkcjonowania poznawczego człowieka. Praktycznie każda aktywność ludzka angażuje w jakimś stopniu procesy poznawcze. Nie dziwi zatem fakt, że inteligencja ma znaczenie w niemal każdej sferze życia, od samoregulacji, osobowości, przekonań o świecie, kontroli niepożądanych zachowań i emocji, po aktywność fizyczną, preferencje dobowe i funkcjonowanie w związkach. W niniejszym zbiorze przyglądamy się niektórym z tych obszarów, wskazując na różnorodność wątków związanych z inteligencją. (...) W pierwszej części książki znalazły się rozdziały odwołujące się bezpośrednio do adaptacyjnego charakteru inteligencji oraz związanymi z nią funkcjami poznawczymi. Pierwszy rozdział autorstwa Marcina Zajenkowskiego stanowi wprowadzenie do całego zbioru i przedstawia rys historyczny dociekań nad inteligencją, jej definicję oraz przegląd badań nad znaczeniem inteligencji dla osiągnięć szkolnych, funkcjonowania w pracy oraz zdrowia i długości życia. Następne trzy rozdziały opisują rolę zdolności poznawczych dla adaptacyjnego zachowania w zakresie samoregulacji (Jan Jędrzejczyk), agresywnego zachowania (Marta Bodecka) oraz uzależnień (Iwona Nowakowska, Karolina Lewandowska, Karol Lewczuk). Druga część zbioru obejmuje teksty, w których przedyskutowano związki inteligencji i zdolności poznawczych z przekonaniami i emocjami. Marcin Zajenkowski i Oliwia Maciantowicz wskazują na wagę przekonań o własnej inteligencji dla różnych obszarów życia. Kinga Szymaniak przedstawia badania nad związkami gniew–poznanie, wskazując na najnowsze teorie z zakresu psychologii emocji. Paweł Łowicki omawia powiązania inteligencji i zdolności emocjonalno-społecznych z przekonaniami religijnymi. Maria Ledzińska prezentuje obszerny przegląd badań nad metapoznaniem, a więc wiedzą na temat własnych procesów poznawczych, jej związkami z inteligencją i codziennym funkcjonowaniem. W trzeciej części zbioru przedstawiono rozdziały opisujące rolę inteligencji w specyficznych obszarach życia. Wojciech Waleriańczyk i Maciej Stolarski zebrali informacje na temat roli inteligencji w sporcie. Konrad Jankowski przedstawia badania nad związkami zdolności poznawczych z chronotypem, cechą opisującą preferencje pory dnia dla aktywności człowieka. W ostatnim rozdziale Maria Leniarska i Marcin Zajenkowski dokonują przeglądu badań nad inteligencją ogólną oraz inteligencją emocjonalną i funkcjonowaniem osób w bliskich związkach.
... Actual similarity in moral disgust sensitivity was similar in magnitude to actual similarity in honesty-humility, which suggests that people assort with others who are alike in their moral character as well as their responses to moral violations. These findings are consistent with past evidence of positive assortment based on honesty-humility , Dark Triad personality (Kardum et al., 2017), and actual altruistic behavior (Tognetti et al., 2014). Future work may disentangle which manifestations of these traits contribute most to assortment based on honesty-humility and moral disgust sensitivity. ...
Article
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A broad literature indicates that pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust sensitivity relate to, among other things, political attitudes, moral condemnation, and symptoms of psychopathology. Consequently, disgust sensitivity has been widely assessed across subfields of psychology. Yet, no work has examined whether self-reports in disgust sensitivity reflect systematic trait variation that is detectable by others, and the extent to which such variation is distinct from broader personality. Here, we present the first study to examine self-other agreement in pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust sensitivity. Romantic partners (n₁ = 290), friends (n₂ = 212), and acquaintances (n₃ = 140) rated each other on these three domains of disgust sensitivity and on HEXACO personality. Correlations between dyad partners' self and other ratings were calculated to estimate the magnitude of self-other agreement. We found self-other agreement in all domains of disgust sensitivity (rs of .46, .66, and .36 for pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust sensitivity, respectively), with this agreement weakly to moderately inferred from personality perceptions (percentages mediated by HEXACO were 15%, 7%, and 33% for pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust sensitivity, respectively). These results suggest that pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust sensitivity reflect systematic trait variation that is detectable by others and distinct from broader personality traits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
... For example, individuals high in psychopathy were most attracted to an ideal romantic partner high in psychopathy. This finding is consistent with previous research that has found this assortative mating effect across all Dark Triad traits (Ináncsi, Láng, & Bereczkei, 2016;Kardum et al., 2017;Lyons & Blanchard, 2016;. However, because our focus was on relationship predictors, and concerns over multicollinearity, we excluded self-reported Dark Triad traits from multivariate analyses. ...
Article
The current research investigated the association between different relationship orientations (e.g., insecure attachment, sociosexuality, emophilia) and attraction to individuals high in different Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism). Although research has focused on general attraction to antisocial partners, less attention has been paid to traits that affect that attraction. One understudied construct in predicting relationship-relevant attraction is emophilia, which is the tendency to fall in love fast and often. Across two studies (N = 452), we found that emophilia had a strong and unique relationship with attraction to individuals high in dark personality traits. In Study 1, participants completed an assessment of the Dark Triad as they would want their “ideal romantic partner” to complete it. Participants in Study 2 rated the attractiveness of different dating profiles generated by people who varied in the Dark Triad. Participants in both studies filled out self-assessments of emophilia, sociosexuality, and attachment styles. Across both studies, people high in emophilia were the most attracted to any target, including targets high in the Dark Triad traits, even when controlling for other relationship-relevant traits. The findings have implications for relationship research, personality research, and potential risk factors for becoming involved with antisocial partners.
... A significant correlation for 2D:4D between romantic partners could imply that assortative mating occurs in relation to characteristics of the foetal hormonal environment or on the morphology of the hands. That is, it would provide evidence that individuals select partners in a non-random manner in which they are more similar to each other than would be predicted by chance (see Kardum et al. [22]). In this example, it appears likely that a significant intra-couple correlation would reflect phenotypic assortment and dissimilarity avoidance for other traits and phenotypes associated with 2D:4D [2,23]. ...
Article
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Background It has been hypothesised that the ratio of length between the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D), commonly employed as an indicator of foetal sex hormone exposure, may be positively correlated between heterosexual partners. Aims As previous evidence has been conflicting, our study aimed to determine whether intra-couple correlations exist for digit ratio variables, and if so, to estimate the size and direction of these effects. Study design We present a preregistered (osf.io/6jg8p) correlational study and quantitative meta-analysis of the available literature, and attempted to locate further published and unpublished data (i.e. ‘grey literature’) by contacting n = 244 researchers in the 2D:4D and related fields. Subjects n = 58 heterosexual dating couples from the UK took part in our empirical study, and the meta-analysis included data from k = 11 samples. Outcome measures We measured digit ratio for the right hand (R2D:4D), left hand (L2D:4D), and average of both hands (M2D:4D), as well as the right-left-difference (D[R-L]). Results We found no evidence of significant positive intra-couple correlations in our own data, but a significant (positive) meta-analytic effect size estimate emerged for R2D:4D (r = 0.072, p = 0.014). The meta-analytic effects for L2D:4D (r = 0.043, p = 0.303), M2D:4D (r = 0.070, p = 0.225), and D[R-L] (r = 0.028, p = 0.649) were all in the same direction but not statistically significant. However, if the sample from Klimek et al. (2014, 2016) were omitted, meta-analysis would also yield a significant positive correlation for M2D:4D (r = 0.128, p = 0.001). Conclusions Although our findings are based on a fairly small range of studies, which themselves provide a relatively small sample of participants, they do imply the intriguing possibility of small effects of positive assortment in relation to characteristics associated with the prenatal hormonal environment.
... Clearly, our results are consistent with the "similarity-attraction" hypothesis, which posits that people are attracted to potential partners who are similar to them because they validate their beliefs about the world and reduce the risk of interpersonal conflicts (e.g., Lucas, Wendorf, & Imamoglu, 2004;Morry & Gaines, 2005). They are also consistent with the evidence of positive assortment for Dark Triad traits that has emerged in previous studies (e.g., Ináncsi et al., 2016;Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Mehic, & Pilek, 2018;Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, & Covic, 2017;Lyons & Blanchard, 2016). Finally, they are consistent with the general conclusion that in mate selection, similarity in personality-even in regard to undesirable traits-is clearly more important than complementarity (Savard, Sabourin, & Lussier, 2011). ...
Article
In this study, we replicated and expanded on previous work on the associations between the Dark Triad and ideal romantic partner preferences using an underrepresented sample from Iran (N = 195). First, we explored the role of the Dark Triad traits in how individuals evaluate the moral values of their ideal romantic partner, as measured by a modified version of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (Graham et al., 2011). The results indicated that individuals high in psychopathy and Machiavellianism preferred romantic partners who, similarly, had lower moral values. In contrast, narcissism emerged as a predictor of preference for higher moral values in an ideal romantic partner, but this effect disappeared after controlling for the variance related to the demographic and Big Five variables. Second, we replicated the previously examined relationships between the Dark Triad and ideal romantic partner characteristics measured by the Ideal Standards Model (Fletcher, Simpson, & Thomas, 2000). Narcissism predicted high standards for an ideal romantic partner on all dimensions (warmth/trust-worthiness, attractiveness/vitality, status/resources), whereas Machiavellianism predicted preference for lower warmth/trustworthiness in ideal romantic partner. Overall, our findings both support and extend previous findings regarding assortative mating and mate preferences in the Dark Triad.
... To this point, the correlation between self-reported psychopathy scores and perceived friend psychopathy scores was extremely high. Although there is evidence for assortative pairing across Dark Triad constructs both in friend and mate choice (see Kardum, Hudek-Knezevic, Schmitt, & Covic, 2017;Maaß, Lammle, Bensch, & Ziegler, 2016), the magnitude of the correlation in Study 2 (r ¼ .817) is higher than expected. Because we were unable to collect data from both the participant and their friend, we are unable to tell whether this relationship is accurate, or whether it is inflated as an artifact of participant perception of their friends being more similar to them than they actually are. ...
Article
Background: Although a large body of research has examined the impact of peer influence on substance use, little is known about the psychology of who influences others to use substances and why. The Dark Triad is a set of personality traits that may inform the characteristics of people who influence others to use substances. Objective: The aim of the present two studies was to examine potential associations between Dark Triad personality traits, especially psychopathy, and influencing others to use substances. Methods: Two samples of 162 and 161 Mechanical Turk workers were recruited for Study 1 to complete an online survey that assessed Dark Triad traits, history of influencing others to use substances, and motivations for doing so. Similarly, 303 Mechanical Turk workers were recruited for Study 2 to complete an online survey that assessed personal substance use as well as psychopathy levels of participants’ closest friends. Results: Study 1 found that individuals high in psychopathy were more likely to have provided illegal substances to others and indicated a willingness to do so in the future. Study 2 found that participants reported a higher likelihood of using substances if they indicated that their best friend was high in psychopathy and had themselves used substances in the past. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that psychopathy has a unique association with influencing others to use substances. These findings have implications for intervention targets.
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Individuals’ psychopathic personality traits can have negative effects on the people around them. This research investigated whether the negativity of someone’s psychopathic personality crosses over to their partner and then spills over into their partner’s workplace. Using a nationally diverse community sample of 490 employed romantic couples from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses examined the associations among psychopathy facets (fearless dominance, self-centered impulsivity, and coldheartedness), relationship satisfaction, and professional success. Cross-sectional dyadic modeling indicated that an individual’s coldheartedness was negatively associated with their partner’s occupational prestige, although there was no evidence that partner’s relationship satisfaction mediated this link. Furthermore, the associations between psychopathy and professional success at the individual level were partially mediated by a person’s own relationship satisfaction. Longitudinal dyadic modeling suggested that an individual’s self-centered impulsivity negatively predicted their partner’s relationship satisfaction and positively predicted their partner’s occupational prestige over time. Collectively, this research suggests that an individual’s psychopathic traits may foster negativity in relationships that spills over into their own workplaces but do not cross and spill over to their partner’s workplace.
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In this chapter I present the empirical data used in order to illustrate how we can empirically explore psychopathy in a behavioral ecological context. The goal of the study was to examine the associations between psychopathy traits in parental pairs and fertility-longevity tradeoff, quantity quality tradeoff, to explore interactive phenotypes on psychopathy and parental effects related to psychopathy. I measured psychopathy using the rating measures that participants provided for their parents; participants provided additional data regarding their own life history and reproductive motivation. The results showed indices of quantity-quality tradeoff and these effects were particularly pronounced in males. However, fertility-longevity tradeoff was not detected, quite the contrary, the same psychopathy traits that showed indications of elevated fertility produced associations with heightened longevity as well. Interactive phenotypes on psychopathy are detected: fathers’ psychopathy predicted mothers’ fertility and vice versa. Interactions that reflect both assortative and disassortative mating on psychopathy in the prediction of maternal fitness have been captured. Psychopathic parental effects were expressed in the associations between parental psychopathy, lack of tendency to provide help for potential or existing grandchildren, and manipulation regarding offspring’s mating. However, these effects were somewhat inconsistent, while, on the other hand, parental psychopathy had direct links with reproduction-related outcomes in offspring. I provide interpretation of obtained results using evolutionary personality ecology and family ecology as the conceptual frameworks.KeywordsPsychopathyEvolutionary tradeoffsInteracting phenotypesParental effects
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Across two studies, we apply self-regulation theory to test nonlinear relationships between founder Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy and new venture performance. Our hypotheses are supported for Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but contrary to our theorizing, we find a positive relationship between narcissism and performance. Furthermore, we identify an important explanatory mechanism in knowledge sharing, which mediates the curvilinear relationships at moderate and high levels. Our research has implications for how we understand the influence of problematic founder personality traits and how behavioral differences at varying levels of these traits can explain relationships with performance, and it presents a nuanced perspective to trait-based explanations for destructive entrepreneurial actions.
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Background: Psychopathy is closely related to many negative interpersonal outcomes in daily life, including violence. Therefore, psychopathy intervention in subclinical individuals has significant application value. Objective: Guided by the personality-relationship transaction model and social investment theory, this study examined how marital quality affects self- and partner-rated psychopathy. We also used the actor-partner interdependence mediation model to explore the mediating effect of communication. Methods: We examined self-reports and partner reports of psychopathy, marital quality, and communication among 260 married Chinese couples. Results: The results indicated that marital quality directly influenced couples' self-rated psychopathy, with both actor and partner effects on husbands' psychopathy and actor effects on wives' psychopathy. Moreover, verbal communication had mediating effects at time 2 between marital quality at time 1 and partner-reported psychopathy at time 3. Meanwhile, the mediating effect of nonverbal communication was not significant. Conclusion: Our investigation of relationship effects on psychopathy revealed that the underlying mechanisms differed between self- and partner-rated psychopathy. The findings can highlight directions for exploring potential intervention strategies for subclinical psychopathy.
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Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to truthfully perceive and appraise our emotions and express them in effective ways so as to maintain harmonious interpersonal relationships. The family is where we first learn about relationships. It is where we form emotional bonds and learn about social interactions. The continuous, evolving dynamics of family relationships require us to develop skills, knowledge, practice and emotional intelligence to support, love and care for our family members. Developing EI in family relationships helps us to become more aware of our own needs, and our roles and responsibilities in providing family members with a feeling of security, a sense of belonging and a pride in being valued, loved and respected.
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The aim of this research was to clarify the nature of experiencing relationships in connection with the dark aspects of personality-Dark Triad. The study was conducted on a sample of 293 young adults (M age = 22.9, SD = 3.4), 53.6% of females and 46.4% of males. The Slovak version of Short Dark Triad-SD3, the Slovak version of The Sternberg Triangular Love Scale (STLS) and the Slovak version of Experience in Close relationship-Revised were administered. The model of complex relationships of the Dark triad, components of love and attachment style explained 83% of the variation of the attachment style in a close relationship. The Dark triad had a direct negative effect on the love components and a direct positive effect on the attachment style in a close relationship. The components of love had a direct negative effect on the attachment style in a close relationship. In the model, gender differences were found.
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Objective: The growing evidence show that romantic partners' personality traits mutually influence each other's health. The research on relationship between personality and health behaviours should include both partner's perspectives - relations between individuals' traits and their own outcomes (actor effects), and relations between individuals' traits and their partners' outcomes (partner effects). The objective of this study was to examine the actor and partner effects of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism) on the health protective behaviours (HPB) in romantic couples. Design: A convenience sample of 188 heterosexual romantic couples participated in a cross-sectional round-robin study. Three predictor measures were Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III, Narcissistic Personality Inventory and MACH-IV inventory, whereas HPB inventory was used as criterion variable. Results: Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The results suggest that men's psychopathy, and to a lesser extent men's Machiavellianism exert deleterious effects on their own and their partner's HPB. The majority of these effects replicated across both self-reports and partner-reports. Women's DT traits exerted weaker actor and partner effects on the HPB than men's DT traits. Conclusions: Findings show that men's psychopathy and Machiavellianism have detrimental effects on their own as well as their partner's HPB.
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Self- and other-ratings on the Big Five and a comprehensive inventory of trait affect were obtained from 74 married couples, 136 dating couples, and 279 friendship dyads. With the exception of Surprise, all scales showed significant self–other agreement in all 3 samples, thereby establishing their convergent validity. Consistent with the trait visibility effect, however, the Big Five consistently yielded higher agreement correlations than did the affectivity scales. Conversely, the affective traits consistently showed stronger evidence of assumed similarity (i.e., the tendency for judges to rate others as similar to themselves) than did the Big Five. Cross-sample comparisons indicated that agreement was significantly higher in the married sample than in the other 2 groups; however, analyses of 3 potential moderators in the dating and friendship samples failed to identify the source of this acquaintanceship effect.
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Past research on married couples has documented positive assortment on cognitive abilities, attractiveness and physical features, attitudes and values, and, to a lesser degree, personality. in the current study, we proposed that if partners mate assortatively rather than converge over time, then assortative mating coefficients for dating couples should be similar in magnitude to those found for married couples. Second, as per filter models of relationship development, we hypothesized that similarity in dating partners' political and religious attitudes (as opposed to personality) would be associated with staying together over time. With a sample of 51 heterosexual dating couples, we found a pattern of assortative mating coefficients that mirrored the pattern found among married couples. As expected, couples still together at the 11-month follow-up had more similar attitudes at studyonset compared to those who had broken up.
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Previous research on the Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) has focused solely on the role the Dark Triad traits played in mate choice of actors. The current study (N = 336) extends this by manipulating the apparent levels of Dark Triad traits in targets and correlating mate choice in these targets with individual differences in the Dark Triad traits in actors. As expected, both sexes preferred partners low in the Dark Triad traits for long-term mating, while those high in these traits were preferred for one-night stands. However, women high in psychopathy considered the Dark Triad traits in potential male partners more physically attractive and desirable for an one-night stand, as well as a potential husband. Men who were high on psychopathy were likewise attracted to psychopathy in potential mothers. Our findings are discussed from an evolutionary personality paradigm.
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The Dark Triad (DT: sub-clinical narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) is argued to facilitate a male short-term mating strategy. The trait constellation in women and its potential adaptive benefits has received less attention. We examined the prevalence and correlates of DT in a large community sample (N = 899). Despite finding expected sex differences in Sensation-seeking, Competitiveness, strength of sexual motivation, recreational sex behaviors and neuroticism, we found no sex difference in DT scores. Furthermore, within-sex multiple regressions identified the same predictors of DT score with similar weightings. Moderation analysis confirmed regression equations did not differ by sex. We propose that focus on DT as a male adaptation to short-term mating has been overstated and that men's greater preference for casual sexual encounters is not explained by DT traits.
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Although the Dark Triad traits – narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy – have been studied in individuals, little is known about their roles in dating relationships. Forty-five heterosexual undergraduate couples (N = 90) reported measures of the Dark Triad and relationship commitment and satisfaction. Within couples, assortative mating was slightly negative for narcissism, marginally positive for Machiavellianism, and significantly positive for psychopathy. Using actor–partner interdependence models, we explored the extent to which satisfaction mediated the direct associations between the Dark Triad and commitment. Men’s satisfaction marginally mediated the women’s Dark Triad → men’s commitment negative association. Among the three Dark Triad subscales, satisfaction marginally mediated both of the actor-effect-based psychopathy → commitment negative associations. We discuss possible implications for couples’ relationship strategies.
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Does the quality of the relationship one has with their parents influence the development of “dark” personality traits? We examined (N = 352) the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and their components in relation to a measure of parental care and a measure of attachment. Machiavellianism was the most susceptible to variance associated with low quality or irregular parental care and attachment patterns. Low quality parental care for narcissism and psychopathy had effects localized to components of each trait and specific to the sex of the parent. Path modeling suggests the quality of parental care leads to attachment patterns which may then lead to different aspects of the Dark Triad.
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While previous studies have correlated the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) with a preference for short-term relationships, little research has addressed possible correlations with short-term relationship sub-types. In this online study using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk system (N = 210) we investigated the manner in which scores on the Dark Triad relate to the selection of different mating environments using a budget-allocation task. Overall, the Dark Triad were positively correlated with preferences for short-term relationships and negatively correlated with preferences for a long-term relationship. Specifically, narcissism was uniquely correlated with preferences for one-night stands and friends-with-benefits and psychopathy was uniquely correlated with preferences for booty-call relationships. Both narcissism and psychopathy were negatively correlated with preferences for serious romantic relationships. In mediation analyses, psychopathy partially mediated the sex difference in preferences for booty-call relationships and narcissism partially mediated the sex difference in preferences for one-night stands. In addition, the sex difference in preference for serious romantic relationships was partially mediated by both narcissism and psychopathy. It appears the Dark Triad traits facilitate the adoption of specific mating environments providing fit with people’s personality traits.
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The current study (N = 242) seeks to establish the relationship between traits known collectively as the Dark Triad – narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism – and mating standards and preferences. Using a budget-allocation task, we correlated scores on the Dark Triad traits with mate preferences for a long-term and short-term mate. Men scoring high on the Dark Triad may be more indiscriminate than most when selecting for short-term mates in order to widen their prospects. Furthermore, those high on the Dark Triad – psychopathy in particular – tend to select for mates based on self-interest, assortative mating, or a predilection for volatile environments. We assessed these correlations when controlling for the Big Five and the sex of the participant. We also tested for moderation by the sex of the participant and mating context. Ramifications and future directions are considered.Highlights► Men high on the Dark Triad traits have quite low standards in short-term mates. ► Standards in long-term mates were robust to scores on the Dark Triad traits. ► The Dark Triad traits we inversely correlated with preferences for a kind mate.
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The current studies examined how the Dark Triad personality traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) facilitate the strategic structuring of an individual's social environment in terms of same- and opposite-sex friends. In one study using normative questions (N = 267) and another using a budget-allocation task (N = 114), we found that the Dark Triad traits were associated with choosing friends for strategic purposes and to create a volatile environment. Narcissistic individuals reported relatively more reasons to form friendships, such as shared interests, makes me feel good, and intelligence. Women high in narcissism chose same-sex friends who were attractive and women high on Machiavellianism chose same-sex friends who have social status. Men high on psychopathy devalued traits associated with good social relationships in favor of friends who could facilitate their mating efforts and to offset risks incurred in their life history strategy. Results are discussed using the selection-manipulation-evocation framework for explaining how personality traits interact with social environments and integrated with findings from evolutionary biology.
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ABSTRACT Although personality characteristics figure prominently in what people want in a mate, little is known about precisely which personality characteristics are most important, whether men and women differ in their personality preferences, whether individual women or men differ in what they want, and whether individuals actually get what they want. To explore these issues, two parallel studies were conducted, one using a sample of dating couples (N= 118) and one using a sample of married couples (N= 216). The five-factor model, operationalized in adjectival form, was used to assess personality characteristics via three data sources—self-report, partner report, and independent interviewer reports. Participants evaluated on a parallel 40-item instrument their preferences for the ideal personality characteristics of their mates. Results were consistent across both studies. Women expressed a greater preference than men for a wide array of socially desirable personality traits. Individuals differed in which characteristics they desired, preferring mates who were similar to themselves and actually obtaining mates who embodied what they desired. Finally, the personality characteristics of one's partner significantly predicted marital and sexual dissatisfaction, most notably when the partner was lower on Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect-Openness than desired.
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This survey (N = 224) found that characteristics collectively known as the Dark Triad (i.e. narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism) were correlated with various dimensions of short-term mating but not long-term mating. The link between the Dark Triad and short-term mating was stronger for men than for women. The Dark Triad partially mediated the sex difference in short-term mating behaviour. Findings are consistent with a view that the Dark Triad facilitates an exploitative, short-term mating strategy in men. Possible implications, including that Dark Triad traits represent a bundle of individual differences that promote a reproductively adaptive strategy are discussed. Findings are discussed in the broad context of how an evolutionary approach to personality psychology can enhance our understanding of individual differences. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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The Dark Triad – narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy – have traditionally been considered to be undesirable traits. However, emerging work suggest that not only may there be a positive side to possessing these traits but they may also serve important adaptive functions, even if the strategies associated with them are viewed as socially undesirable. In an online survey (N = 336), we investigated the costs and benefits of the Dark Triad within the domain of mating psychology. The social style and lower order personality traits of the Dark Triad traits facilitated increased mateships in the form of poaching mates from others and being poached oneself to form mateships, pointing to possible benefits of possessing the Dark Triad traits. However, the costside was evidenced with rates of mates abandoning their current relationship for a new one. Mate retention is a problem faced by those with these traits and the tactics used to retain mates were characteristic of the Dark Triad: aggressive and narcisstic. Results are discussed using an adaptionist paradigm.
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Could measurement level be a factor worth considering when studying the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism)? In two studies (N = 465), we compared the relative fit of two Dark Triad models: one that treats the three measures as separate-yet-related personality traits and another that treats the measures as tapping a single, latent construct. Mid-level personality traits, such as mate-retention strategies (Study 1) were best explained by a three-measure model, whereas the higher-order trait of sociosexuality (Study 2), were best explained by a single, latent-factor model. When considering mid-level measurement in personality, the three traits may provide independent effects for interpersonal relationships, whereas at the higher-order level, the three traits may function as a single entity relating to other higher-order traits. We suggest one should consider level of measurement between the predictor and criterion variables to better predict correlations among variables such as the Dark Triad. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v2i1_jonason
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The current diagnostic system suggests that personality disorder categories be applied to children and adolescents in rare circumstances because of expected changes in personality pathology across development. The present study examined the stability in personality pathology, specifically psychopathy, across childhood and adolescence. Using a short form of the CPS and mixed models incorporating fixed and random effects, we examined the reliability, individual stability, mean-level stability, and predictive utility of juvenile psychopathy as a function of age (i.e., from 7 to 17 years old) in over 1,500 boys from the three cohorts of the Pittsburgh Youth Study. If adolescent development contributes to instability in personality pathology, large age-related fluctuations in reliability, stability, and predictive utility should be observed, particularly in the latter part of adolescence when normative changes are hypothesized to influence levels of psychopathy. Such fluctuations were not observed. In general, juvenile psychopathy could be reliably assessed beginning in childhood, was fairly stable across short and long intervals, showed little mean-level fluctuation, and predicted delinquency across adolescence. These results suggest that concerns about large changes in personality pathology across childhood and adolescence may be overstated. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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We examined patterns of trait similarity (assortative mating) in married couples in four cultures, using both self-reports and spouse ratings on versions of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. There was evidence of a subtle but pervasive perceived contrast bias in the spouse-rating data. However, there was strong agreement across methods of assessment and moderate agreement across cultures in the pattern of results. Most assortment effects were small, but correlations exceeding .40 were seen for a subset of traits, chiefly from the Openness and Agreeableness domains. Except in Russia, where more positive assortment was seen for younger couples, comparisons of younger and older cohorts showed little systematic difference. This suggested that mate selection, rather than convergence over time, accounted for similarity. Future research on personality similarity in dyads can utilize different designs but should assess personality at both domain and the facet levels.
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We examined the internal and external validity of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Study 1 explored the internal structure of the NPI responses of 1,018 subjects. Using principal-components analysis, we analyzed the tetrachoric correlations among the NPI item responses and found evidence for a general construct of narcissism as well as seven first-order components, identified as Authority, Exhibitionism, Superiority, Vanity, Exploitativeness, Entitlement, and Self-Sufficiency. Study 2 explored the NPI's construct validity with respect to a variety of indexes derived from observational and self-report data in a sample of 57 subjects. Study 3 investigated the NPI's construct validity with respect to 128 subject's self and ideal self-descriptions, and their congruency, on the Leary Interpersonal Check List. The results from Studies 2 and 3 tend to support the construct validity of the full-scale NPI and its component scales.
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This study examined spouse correlations in a sample of 93 married couples with respect to 16 interpersonal dimensions using three different data sources: self-report, spouse ratings, and independent interviewer-observer ratings. Results across all three sources supported the previously obtained low positive correlations between spouses. Partial correlations using age and hierarchical multiple regressions using length of marriage do not support the alternative hypothesis that obtained spouse correlations are due to age, to cohort, or to convergence over the course of marriage. Initial assortment is implicated as a probable cause of obtained spouse correspondence.
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Although personality characteristics figure prominently in what people want in a mate, little is known about precisely which personality characteristics are most important, whether men and women differ in their personality preferences, whether individual women or men differ in what they want, and whether individuals actually get what they want. To explore these issues, two parallel studies were conducted, one using a sample of dating couples (N = 118) and one using a sample of married couples (N = 216). The five-factor model, operationalized in adjectival form, was used to assess personality characteristics via three data sources-self--report, partner report, and independent interviewer reports. Participants evaluated on a parallel 40-item instrument their preferences for the ideal personality characteristics of their mates. Results were consistent across both studies. Women expressed a greater preference than men for a wide array of socially desirable personality traits. Individuals differed in which characteristics they desired, preferring mates who were similar to themselves and actually obtaining mates who embodied what they desired. Finally, the personality characteristics of one's partner significantly predicted marital and sexual dissatisfaction, most notably when the partner was lower on Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect-Openness than desired.
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Using a couple-centered approach, the authors examined assortative mating on a broad range of variables in a large (N = 291) sample of newlyweds. Couples showed substantial similarity on attitude-related domains but little on personality-related domains. Similarity was not due to social homogamy or convergence. The authors examined linear and curvilinear effects of spouse similarity on self and observer indicators of marital quality. Results show (a) positive associations between similarity and marital quality for personality-related domains but not for attitude-related domains, (b) that similarity on attachment characteristics were most strongly predictive of satisfaction, (c) robust curvilinear effects for husbands but not for wives, (d) that profile similarity remained a significant predictor of marital quality even when spouses' self-ratings were controlled, and (e) that profile-based similarity indices were better predictors of marital quality than absolute difference scores.
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The authors compared male and female same-sex and different-sex couples in the Netherlands with respect to age and educational homogamy. Because many same-sex couples in the Netherlands are married, differences between married and cohabiting couples were analyzed for all 3 groups. Analyses of data from the Dutch Labor Force Surveys 2001–2007 (N = 184,999 couples) showed that male same-sex couples are less homogamous in terms of age and education than different-sex couples. Female same-sex couples are less homogamous in terms of age, but not in terms of education. No meaningful differences were found between married couples and cohabiting couples. Partnership status appeared less important than the sex composition of the couple. Given the relatively tolerant climate toward homosexuals in the Netherlands, the similarity of the results with those yielded by studies conducted in the United States may be considered striking.
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The authors describe and illustrate 6 factors that affect the size of a Pearson correlation: (a) the amount of variability in the data, (b) differences in the shapes of the 2 distributions, (c) lack of linearity, (d) the presence of 1 or more "outliers," (e) characteristics of the sample, and (f) measurement error. Also discussed are ways to determine whether these factors are likely affecting the correlation, as well as ways to estimate the size of the influence or reduce the influence of each.
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Sample correlations converge to the population value with increasing sample size, but the estimates are often inaccurate in small samples. In this report we use Monte-Carlo simulations to determine the critical sample size from which on the magnitude of a correlation can be expected to be stable. The necessary sample size to achieve stable estimates for correlations depends on the effect size, the width of the corridor of stability (i.e., a corridor around the true value where deviations are tolerated), and the requested confidence that the trajectory does not leave this corridor any more. Results indicate that in typical scenarios the sample size should approach 250 for stable estimates.
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Drawing on a representative sample of 140 young couples, the study aimed to assess the distribution and correlates of psychopathic personality traits in a community sample. A related objective was to determine whether psychopathic traits contribute to men-reported and women-reported couple satisfaction, psychological aggression, neuroticism and psychological distress. Both partners completed self-report measures of psychopathic traits, couple satisfaction, psychological aggression, neuroticism and psychological distress. Results for both men and women showed moderate or elevated psychopathic personality traits in a significant proportion of the sample. Actor–partner interdependence analyses (APIM) showed that global psychopathy significantly predicted couple satisfaction through an elevation of personal distress. APIM analyses for primary psychopathy showed the same pattern of results but only in men. Finally, there was a direct negative path from secondary psychopathy to couple satisfaction, but this association was partially mediated by personal distress and psychological aggression. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Phenotypic assortment is assumed to be the principal mechanism of spouse similarity in most biometrical studies. Other assortment mechanisms, such as social homogamy, may be plausible. Two models are presented that consider phenotypic assortment and social homogamy simultaneously (i.e., mixed assortment), where selective associations between social background factors (Model I) versus selective associations between total environments (Model II) distinguish the models. A series of illustrative analyses was undertaken for education and fluid ability available on a sample of 116 Swedish twin pairs and their spouses. On the basis of several fit criteria Model I was preferred over Model II. Both social homogamy and phenotypic assortment may contribute to spouse similarity for educational attainment and fluid ability. Furthermore, spouse similarity for fluid ability may arise indirectly from social homogamy and phenotypic assortment for educational attainment. Power analyses indicated greater observed power for Model I than Model II. Additional power analyses indicated that considerably more twin-spouse sets would be needed for Model II than Model I, to resolve social homogamy and phenotypic assortment. Effects of misspecification of mechanisms of spouse similarity are also briefly discussed.
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The aim of this study was to assess the relative contributions of psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic traits to delinquent behaviors in adolescents. Participants were 615 high-school students who completed self-report questionnaires. Psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic traits were moderately correlated suggesting they may be overlapping but distinct constructs. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to control for other socio-familial or psychopathological risk factors. Psychopathic and sadistic traits were independent predictors of delinquent behaviors in boys only. These findings suggest the importance of studying the role of sadistic traits in juvenile delinquency.
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Numerous studies proved that people tend to select partners that are similar to them with regard to many social and psychological variables. Even though this effect was also found for personality, results are inconsistent and reveal convergence coefficients ranging from negative over zero- to positive correlations. The present study thus aims to investigate personality congruence between spouses and to examine (a) which dimensions show a high degree of congruence and which do not and (b) in how far this congruence is moderated by the marriage duration. Analyses were based on 6,909 couples who are representative for the German adult population. Results reveal that among the Big Five dimensions, there are strong differences in spouses’ congruences. While for Extraversion and Emotional Stability, congruence is close to zero, correlations averaging at .30 are found for Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. The spouses’ congruences in these three dimensions also increase over marriage duration from a mean of r = .22 to r = .40.
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Assortative mating for psychiatric characteristics has significant implications for treatment as well as genetic studies. This paper presents data on spouse similarity for personality and temperament traits as well as psychiatric symptomatology from a non-clinical sample. Second/third and sixth/seventh grade school children of several communities as well as their parents (N=376 couples) completed self-rating scales on personality (EPQ), temperament (DOTS-R) and psychiatric symptomatology (SCL-90R). Significant positive but rather low spouse associations were found for psychiatric symptomatology and the personality trait Psychoticism, while positive statistical trends were observed for several temperament dimensions. Spouse similarity for psychiatric symptomatology was independent of similarity for personality traits and that for personality traits was independent of underlying temperament traits. Spouse similarity was symmetric between husbands and wives and did not significantly depend on psychiatric symptomatology or demographic variables. In conclusion, our non-clinical data support the existence of significant spouse similarity for psychiatric symptomatology and personality as suggested by clinical studies. In addition, a trend for temperament resemblance was also observed. Our finding that spouse similarity for temperament, personality and psychiatric symptomatology were largely independent highlights the necessity of simultaneous assessment of these psychiatric domains in the search for the underlying characteristics conditioning non-random mate selection.
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As part of a longitudinal follow-up of now-adult offspring from the original Hawaii Family Study of Cognition (HFSC), 59 spouse pairs of Caucasian ancestry (AEA), 37 spouse pairs of Japanese ancestry (AJA), and 50 spouse pairs of mixed ethnicity (Caucasian and Japanese ancestry HFSC subjects who married outside their own racial/ethnic group) completed a set of personality (Adjective Check List, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), social attitude (Mach V, Comrey Social Attitudes Scale), and language use measures. A subset of these couples were also tested on the HFSC cognitive abilities test battery. AEA subjects who married outside of their racial/ethnic group were significantly smaller in physical size than those who married within group, while AJA subjects who married across groups had higher verbal abilities than those marrying within group. Use of “pidgin” English significantly differed for AEA and AJA subjects marrying within vs those married outside of their own racial/ethnic groups. Spouse correlations were essentially zero for cognitive abilities and low for personality measures, but were substantial for social attitudes and language use. These findings were discussed in terms of the importance of cultural factors in assortative mating.
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We investigated whether spousal similarity for personality traits results from convergence (i.e., couples becoming more similar to one another over time) or selection (i.e., individuals selecting partners with similar traits) in a sample of 1,296 married couples. Personality was assessed using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire. We evaluated whether similarity increased with increasing length of marriage. Evidence of spousal convergence was inconsistent across analyses, arguing against this mechanism as a compelling explanation for spousal similarity. Accordingly, selection processes may better explain spousal similarity in these data. The one exception might be for aggressive aspects of personality.
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Openness to Experience is one of the 5 broad factors that subsume most personality traits. Openness is usually considered an intrapsychic dimension, defined in terms of characteristics of consciousness. However, different ways of approaching and processing experience lead to different value systems that exercise a profound effect on social interactions. In this article, the author reviews the effects of Openness versus Closedness in cultural innovation, political ideology, social attitudes, marital choice, and interpersonal relations. The construct of Openness and its measures could profitably be incorporated into research conducted by social psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, and historians.
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Do people mate assortatively for antisocial behavior? If so, what are the implications for the development and persistence of antisocial behavior? We investigated assortative mating for antisocial behavior and its correlates in a sample of 360 couples from Dunedin, New Zealand. We found substantial assortative mating for self-reports of antisocial behavior per se and for self-reports of couple members' tendencies to associate with antisocial peers (0.54 on average). Perceptions about the likelihood of social sanctions for antisocial behavior (e.g., being caught by the authorities or losing the respect of one's family) showed moderate assortative mating (0.32 on average). However, assortative mating for personality traits related to antisocial behavior was low (0.15 on average). These findings suggest that, whereas assortative mating for many individual-difference variables (such as personality traits) is low, assortative mating for actual antisocial behaviors is substantial. We conclude that future family studies of antisocial behavior should endeavor to measure and understand the influence of assortative mating. In addition, we outline a testable behavior-genetic model for the development of antisocial behavior, in which genes and environments promoting or discouraging antisocial behavior become concentrated within families (due to assortative mating), giving rise to widely varying individual developmental trajectories that are, nevertheless, similar within families.
Article
Self- and other-ratings on the Big Five and a comprehensive inventory of trait affect were obtained from 74 married couples, 136 dating couples, and 279 friendship dyads. With the exception of Surprise, all scales showed significant self-other agreement in all 3 samples, thereby establishing their convergent validity. Consistent with the trait visibility effect, however, the Big Five consistently yielded higher agreement correlations than did the affectivity scales. Conversely, the affective traits consistently showed stronger evidence of assumed similarity (i.e., the tendency for judges to rate others as similar to themselves) than did the Big Five. Cross-sample comparisons indicated that agreement was significantly higher in the married sample than in the other 2 groups; however, analyses of 3 potential moderators in the dating and friendship samples failed to identify the source of this acquaintanceship effect.
Article
Assortative mating, or the tendency for individuals with similar phenotypes to mate more frequently than expected by chance, has been reported for a variety of complex traits, including many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although assortative mating has been reported in affective disorders, the studies done to date have been inconclusive. This study attempts to assess the degree of assortative mating in individuals with affective disorders using systematic review and meta-analytic techniques. Studies on assortative mating in affective disorders were identified by a computerized literature search and by bibliographic assessment of published studies and reviews. Studies were selected if they had a case-control design and if they reported rates of affective disorders in the spouses of probands and controls. Of the 17 studies reviewed, six were selected for meta-analysis. All studies were blinded. Details of study design, patient characteristics, and rates of affective disorders were assessed by two independent reviewers. Twelve of the 17 studies assessed reported an increase in assortative mating. Results of the meta-analysis supported these findings, and indicated that assortative mating occurs in both bipolar disorder and major depression. Although most studies examined reported an increase in assortative mating among individuals with affective disorders, the degree of assortative mating reported varied widely. Meta-analysis with six controlled studies showed evidence for assortative mating, and suggested that the degree of assortative mating is higher for individuals with bipolar disorder than for those with major depression. These results support the previously reported findings, and may have important implications for genetic studies.
Article
Although people can bring personal attributes to their relationships that affect how satisfying and enduring those relationships are, it is more often personal attribute interaction that directly determines romantic relationship outcomes. In this study, three general perspectives on personal attribute interaction-similarity, complementarity and exchange perspectives-were contrasted empirically in their ability to predict dating relationship outcomes. Based on questionnaires completed by a sample of 44 heterosexual dating couples, feelings of relationship satisfaction were most closely associated with the interaction of socially valuable attributes, generally supporting the exchange perspective. Similarity of personal attributes was also connected with relationship satisfaction; however, this association was in the negative direction. That is, couples with dissimilar personality traits, attachment styles and sexual strategies were significantly more satisfied with their dating relationships. Complementarity of personal attributes had no link to satisfaction, but complementary couples experienced significantly higher ratings of relationship commitment, especially couples with complementary personalities. Discussion focused on the differences between personal attribute connections with romantic satisfaction and commitment and on the limitations of the present study.
Article
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of assortative mating (i.e., the similarity between wives and husbands on a given characteristic) in a newlywed sample. These newlyweds showed (a) strong similarity in age, religiousness, and political orientation; (b) moderate similarity in education and verbal intelligence; (c) modest similarity in values; and (d) little similarity in matrix reasoning, self- and spouse-rated personality, emotional experience and expression, and attachment. Further analyses established that similarity was not simply due to background variables such as age and education and reflected initial assortment (i.e., similarity at the time of marriage) rather than convergence (i.e., increasing similarity with time). Finally, marital satisfaction primarily was a function of the rater's own traits and showed little relation to spousal similarity.
Article
Assortative mating -- the tendency for mate selection to occur on the basis of similar traits -- plays an essential role in understanding the genetic contribution to psychiatric illness. It also carries significant impact on clinical prognosis and is an important mechanism explaining spousal concordance. This study uses a family study design ascertaining 225 probands with substance abuse/dependence, anxiety disorders, and controls to address: (1) Is there spousal concordance or cross-concordance for substance use and/or anxiety disorders? (2) Is the spousal concordance or cross-concordance associated with worse clinical outcomes? (3) What is the mechanism of the concordance or cross-concordance? Results show a high magnitude of spousal concordance for substance use disorders with a third of the substance probands' spouses also substance dependent. In contrast, there was no spousal concordance for anxiety disorders. Couples were also concordant for having "no disorders." Both substance use and anxiety disorder concordance were associated with poorer global functioning and persistent illness. Assortative mating is a likely mechanism for spousal concordance given the elevated rate of substance use disorders among the relatives of spouses' of substance probands. Implications for family/genetic studies and the transmission of substance use disorders and "no disorders" include: (1) at the individual level, spousal concordance influences probands' course of illness, couples' marital functioning, and offspring's genetic and environmental context; and (2) at the population level, it shifts the general distribution of substance use disorders and "no disorders" by reducing the "average" couple concordance and increasing the number concordant and discordant couples at extremes of the distribution.
LISREL 8 user's reference guide
  • K G Jöreskog
  • D Sörbom
Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1999). LISREL 8 user's reference guide. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International.
Manual for the self-report psychopathy scale
  • D L Paulhus
  • J D Hemphill
  • R D Hare
Paulhus, D. L., Hemphill, J. D., & Hare, R. D. (2012). Manual for the self-report psychopathy scale. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
Birds of a "bad" feather flock together: The Dark Triad traits and mate choice. Personality and Individual Differences
  • P K Jonason
  • M Lyons
  • A Blanchard
Jonason, P. K., Lyons, M., & Blanchard, A. (2015). Birds of a "bad" feather flock together: The Dark Triad traits and mate choice. Personality and Individual Differences, 78, 34-38.