Teasing Friends and Family: Dark Tetrad Traits Predict Interference in Romantic Relationships of Disliked Couples

https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211001127

Explanation

Certain disapproval of friends and family may interfere with the romantic relationships of others by undermining the commitment process.

This study was designed to assess whether friends' and family members' scores on personality traits such as narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism predict relationship interference.

In Study 1, 206 participants selected friends with whom they were currently in a disliked or disapproved romantic relationship, then indicated how often they interfered with the relationship of the couple they disliked, their experience completing the Dark Tetrad measure, and additional measures of interest.

In Study 2, 180 participants were asked to select a family member with whom they were currently or previously in a disliked relationship before completing the same measures as in Study 1.

Both studies found that overall dark personality and closeness to friends and family were positively correlated with interference in relationships, and when controlling for overall dark personality and other dark Dark Triad traits, sadism specifically predicted interference in friends' relationships.

With high narcissism, those with low Machiavellianism predicted interference in family relationships, explaining the dark personality traits and their impact on relationships. Low Machiavellianism predicted interference in family relationships. Describes dark personality traits and their impact on relationships.