The aim of this research was to determine whether the person-centered or the variable-centered approach is better at describing the covariance between the Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad traits in the community sample. On the sample of 624 participants (48.2% males), the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen (DTDD), the Short Sadistic Impulse Scale (SSIS) and the Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies Scale (VAST) were used for measuring the dark traits, while the Reactive Proactive Questionnaire (RPQ) and the questions about alcohol use were applied for criteria validation. In order to test whether the variable-or the person-centered approach better described covariance among the dark traits, the latent profile analysis was used. The results revealed one profile or two quantitatively different profiles (low and high dark traits), suggesting that the variable-centered approach is more appropriate than the person-centered for describing the dark traits. In the case of the Dark Tetrad, profile membership largely depended on the used sadism measure, i.e. profile agreement was moderate. High dark traits profile based on the combination with the SSIS sadism scale was characterized by both higher aggression and alcohol use, while the same profile based on the combination with the VAST sadism measure was characterized only by higher aggression.

Introduction: Suicide is a substantial public health burden, particularly among veterans. Risk factors have been delineated for suicide; however, the dynamic interrelations between risk factors have not been fully examined. Such research has the potential to elucidate processes that contribute to suicide risk between individuals with a past suicide attempt (attempters) and those without a past suicide attempt (nonattempters). Methods:In the current study, network analysis was used to compare networks between attempters and nonattempters in a high-risk veteran sample (N = 770; M age = 32.3 years, SD = 6.8; 326 with a past suicide attempt) who were followed over 1 year. Networks were estimated to examine (1) concurrent relations of suicide risk factors at baseline and (2) predictability of prospective suicidal behavior (SB).Results: There were no differences in the overall connectivity of attempter and nonattempter networks. Perceived burdensomeness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were most central in the attempters' network, whereas PTSD symptoms and insomnia were most central in the nonattempters' network. The risk factors prospective SB in either network. However, attempters were more likely to engage in SB over the course of the study. Conclusion:These findings highlight the difficulty in predicting who will attempt suicide.

Previous studies have shown that exposure to adverse life events is positively associated with a tendency towards antisocial behavior. However, results concerning relationships between antisocial behaviour and internal factors, such as personality traits, are not so consistent. The present study aimed to examine the effects of negative life events and Dark Tetrad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism) on different antisocial behaviors, including norm-breaking, aggression, vandalism, and drug use. The sample included 221 high school students (66% females) from three cities in Serbia. Results showed that negative life events significantly predicted norm-breaking, aggression, and vandalism, while such life events? power to predict drug use ceased once the dark traits were added to the regression model. In the case of dark traits, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism positively predicted norm-breaking and aggression, while sadism also predicted vandalism. Machiavellianism did not significantly predict any of the antisocial behaviors. ?he results suggest that norm-breaking is largely explained by both negative life events and personality traits. Aggression, on the other hand, is better explained by personality traits. Finally, the examined factors contribute much less to the explanation of vandalism and drug use.The results are discussed in the context of possible prevention of antisocial behavior in adolescents.