Patterns of parental conflict after separation: Links with the Dark Triad

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to uncover patterns of parental postseparation conflict and to investigate possible links to the personality factors of the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy).BackgroundStudies revealed different postseparation coparenting patterns that explain why some parents face long‐lasting conflicts after separation. However, the role of legal disputes and links to parental personality traits have mostly been neglected so far.MethodThe analyses included 486 separated parents from the German Family Panel “pairfam” in year 2020–2021. We aimed to identify postseparation patterns of conflict, including coparenting and legal conflict, by using latent profile analysis. Possible links between latent profiles and the Dark Triad were assessed.ResultsThree postseparation conflict profiles were found: a cooperative, a parallel‐derogating, and a conflictual profile. Links between these profiles and the Dark Triad could be found for narcissism, with membership to the conflictual profile being more likely with higher narcissism values.ConclusionThe findings show that a significant proportion of separated families is affected by postseparation conflict and that parents' personality plays a role here.ImplicationsThe results indicate that interventions targeting families affected by postseparation conflict should take parental personality traits into account.