In the second of two podcasts about personality, Mike and Elizabeth discuss a series of experimental studies that linked a group of traits often referred to as the “dark triad” (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) to claims of victimhood and virtue signaling. We talk about the validity of the dark triad as a construct and the suggestion that those who score high in dark triad traits may be more inclined to make exaggerated claims of harm.
References:
Ok, E., Qian, Y., Strejcek, B., & Aquino, K. (2021). Signaling virtuous victimhood as indicators of Dark Triad personalities. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 120(6), 1634–1661.
and
Campbell, B. & Manning, J. (2018) The rise of victimhood culture: Microaggressions, safe spaces and the new culture wars. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillian.