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Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Short Dark Triad (SD3) in Italian Adults and Adolescents

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Abstract

The term Dark Triad refers to three socially aversive personality dimensions (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) that are evident in the normal range of personality. Jones and Paulhus (2014) developed the Short Dark Triad (SD3) as a 27-item measure of the three constructs. To assess the psychometric properties of the Italian translation, 678 adult university students and 442 adolescent high school students were sampled. Cronbach's α values for the subscales were acceptable in both samples. Subscale intercorrelations ranged from.29 to.55 in adults and.29 to.53 in adolescents. Although subscale means were higher in the adolescent sample, the two item correlation matrices did not differ significantly. A confirmatory factor analysis using multidimensional full-information item response theory showed that a three-correlated-factor model provided the best fit in both adults and adolescents. When controlled for overlap, SD3 subscales showed adequate convergent and discriminant validity coefficients in both samples. The current research contributes to the literature on dark personalities in two ways: (a) It provides detailed psychometric support for the Italian translation of SD3 and (b) it directly compares SD3 performance in younger and older students.
SD3.1.1 – 27 item
Per favore, valuti il suo accordo o disaccordo con ciascuna affermazione utilizzando le
seguenti linee guida.
1
2
3
4
5
Discordo
Fortemente
Discordo
Nè Concordo,
Nè Discordo
Concordo Concordo
Fortemente
Sottoscala Machiavellismo
1. Non è saggio che racconti i tuoi segreti.
2. Mi piace utilizzare un’astuta manipolazione per riuscire a persuadere gli altri a fare ciò che
voglio.
3. Devi tirare dalla tua parte le persone importanti, a qualsiasi costo.
4. Evita i conflitti diretti con gli altri perché potrebbero esserti utili in futuro
5. E’saggio tenere traccia delle informazioni che puoi utilizzare successivamente contro le
persone.
6. Devi attendere il momento giusto per vendicarti delle persone.
7. Ci sono cose che devi tenere nascoste alle alter persone perché non è necessario che le
sappiano.
8. Accertati che i tuoi piani avvantaggino te, non gli altri.
9. La maggior parte delle persone può essere manipolata.
Sottoscala Narcisismo
1. Le persone mi vedono come un leader naturale
2. Detesto essere al centro dell’attenzione. (R)
3. Molte attività di gruppo tendono ad essere noiose senza di me.
4. So di essere speciale perché tutti continuano a dirmelo.
5. Mi piace avere a che fare con persone importanti.
6. Mi sento in imbarazzo se qualcuno mi fa dei complimenti. (R)
7. Sono stato paragonato a persone famose.
8. Sono una persona come tante. (R)
9. Insisto per ottenere il rispetto che mi è dovuto.
Psicopatia
1. Mi piace prendermi una rivincita sulle autorità.
2. Evito le situazioni pericolose. (R)
3. La vendetta deve essere rapida e crudele.
4. Le persone dicono spesso che sono fuori controllo.
5. E’ vero che posso essere cattivo con gli altri.
6. Le persone che si cercano guai con me se ne pentono sempre.
7. Non mi sono mai messo nei guai con la legge. (R)
8. Mi da soddisfazione fare sesso con persone che a mala pena conosco.
9. Direi qualsiasi cosa per ottenere ciò che voglio.
CALCOLO DEI PUNTEGGI E CARATTERISTICHE PSICOMETRICHE
Invertire il punteggio degli item inversi (contrassegnati da R). Quindi calcolare la media dei 9 item
in ciascuna sottoscala I seguenti dati normative si basano su un campione di 387 studenti
universitari di I livello.
DATI NORMATIVI
Media D.S. Alfa
Machiavellismo 3.1 .76 .78
Narcisismo 2.8 .88 .77
Psicopatia 2.4 1.0 .80
INTERCORRELAZIONI
Machiavellismo Narcisismo Psicopatia
Machiavellismo -- .23 .37
Narcisismo -- .20
Psicopatia --
PUBBLICAZIONI
Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2014). Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A brief measure of
dark personality traits. Assessment, 21, 28-41.
Corresponding author: somma.antonella@hsr.it
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