EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 11, Special Issue 1, 2019
Title
Dark Parenting: Parents Who Score as High in the Dark Triad Demonstrate Sub-Optimal Parenting Styles
Author(s)
Geher, G., Di Santo, J. M., Planke, J. A., Durso, G., Goldstein, A., Akmadi, F., Griffin, M., Primavera, N. J., Rausch, Z. M., Rodriguez, K., Thomson, G., & Weintraub, J.
Abstract
The Dark Triad of personality, including the traits of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, have been shown to strongly predict a broad array of social and behavioral outcomes—particularly in the domain of mating. From an evolutionary perspective, the parenting domain of life is just as critical as is the mating domain: Parenting behaviors bear directly on long-term reproductive success. In spite of this fact, little past research has examined the relationship between the Dark Triad and parenting behaviors. We administered a measure of the Dark Triad along with three different parenting style measures to 251 parents (211 women, 39 men; mean age = 39.15, SD = 9.63). Participants also completed a measure of the Big Five personality scale and adult attachment styles. Analyses revealed that each facet of the Dark Triad was predictive of at least one of the non-authoritative parenting styles (including neglectful/uninvolved). Implications regarding the social psychology of parenting are discussed.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/JWFX6154
How to cite this article:
Geher, G., Di Santo, J. M., Planke, J. A., Durso, G., Goldstein, A., Akmadi, F., Griffin, M., Primavera, N. J., Rausch, Z. M., Rodriguez, K., Thomson, G., & Weintraub, J. (2020). Dark parenting: Parents who score as high in the dark triad demonstrate sub-optimal parenting styles. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 11, Sp. Iss. (1), 116-143.
