The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? A Triarchic Perspective on Psychopathy at Work

Abstract

Does psychopathy have an upside in vocational contexts? Applying the triarchic model of psychopathy, we propose that the dimensions of boldness, disinhibition, and meanness have different relations to workplace outcomes. Focusing on boldness and in line with socioanalytic personality theory, we propose that political skill moderates the relation between boldness and job performance. Using a sample of 477 target-coworker pairings, we found interaction effects of boldness and political skill on contextual and task performance, and the buffering of counterproductive work behavior. Furthermore, political skill moderated the relation between boldness and adaptive performance. Disinhibition and meanness were positively correlated with counterproductive work behaviors, thereby reflecting the dark core of psychopathy. In sum, boldness is a trait linked to career success in the absence of the other traits that make up psychopathy as a whole. Furthermore, we encourage the use of the triarchic model as an overarching framework in vocational contexts.

Forty years of political skill and will in organizations: a review, meta-theoretical framework and directions for future research

“…More specifically, Hogan and Shelton (1998) suggested that social skill moderates the relationship between personality and job performance (and other work outcomes). Following this theoretical lineage, a number of studies have investigated the interactive effects of personality and political skill (Blickle et al, 2020;Blickle et al, 2010;Sun and van Emmerik, 2015;Dietl et al, 2017;Kranefeld and Blickle, 2021;Sch€ utte et al, 2018). Indeed, the literature presents a dynamic relation between dispositional or personal ability factors and political skill.…”

Understanding dark side personality at work: Distinguishing and reviewing nonlinear, interactive, differential, and reciprocal effects

“…Next, the large majority of this study examined psychopathy facets of the triarchic model in relation to a broad range of objective and subjective work outcomes (Blickle et al, 2018; Du & Templer, 2022; Kranefeld & Blickle, 2022; Neo et al, 2018; Schütte et al, 2018; Sutton et al, 2020; Vergauwe et al, 2021). Although each of these studies yield a unique set of findings, one common thread is that boldness is often found to be associated with more positive work‐related outcomes, whereas disinhibition and especially meanness generally demonstrate negative effects on people's performance or, in the case of managers, subordinate performance.…”

All Walks of Life: Editorial for the Special Issue on “The Impact of Psychopathy: Multidisciplinary and Applied Perspectives”

“…For instance, Fanti et al (2021) reported that the level of parental impulsive-irresponsibility traits specifically predicted increased risk of psychopathology in adolescent children. Notably, in one study ( Kranefeld et al, 2022 ), the different components of psychopathy—at least as conceptualized in the triarchic model—bore opposite relations with outcomes in the workplace. Specifically, while meanness and disinhibition had positive relations with counterproductive work behavior, boldness traits had positive associations with career success (although this was contingent on high levels of political skills as well).…”

“…Further, Polaschek et al (2021) reported that the link between recidivism and the triarchic component of disinhibition was partially explained by poorer subjective well-being. Crucially, these mediating or moderating roles appear to differ across context, age, and individual components of the broader psychopathy constructs (e.g., Kranefeld et al, 2022 ). Research on mediators and moderators of the impact of psychopathy is vital to inform theoretical models of its developmental pathways, and to facilitate the development of targeted preventive and treatment efforts.…”

“…To this end, while only two of the papers included in the Special Issue focused on forensic samples (and more specifically on treatment and recidivism; Polaschek et al, 2021 ; Rojas & Olver, 2022 ), all 10 papers have nonetheless offered a clear focus on the detrimental impacts that individuals with psychopathic traits can impart within society. Indeed, included manuscripts focused on the impact of psychopathy within romantic relationships (in both middle and older adulthood; Andersen et al, 2022 ; Forth et al, 2022 ; Uzieblo et al, 2022 ), within parent-child dyads ( Fanti & Lordos, 2022 ; Kuay et al, 2022 ), within the workplace ( Kranefeld et al, 2022 ; Stewart et al, 2022 ), and within society at large ( Jurjako et al, 2022 ). Across these studies, the significant, detrimental impact that individuals with heightened psychopathic traits impart is highlighted, not only for their victims, but also for their family, friends, and colleagues.…”