The Association between Psychopathy and Influencing Others to Use Substances

Abstract

Background: Although a large body of research has examined the impact of peer influence on substance use, little is known about the psychology of who influences others to use substances and why. The Dark Triad is a set of personality traits that may inform the characteristics of people who influence others to use substances.

Objective: The aim of the present two studies was to examine potential associations between Dark Triad personality traits, especially psychopathy, and influencing others to use substances.

Methods: Two samples of 162 and 161 Mechanical Turk workers were recruited for Study 1 to complete an online survey that assessed Dark Triad traits, history of influencing others to use substances, and motivations for doing so. Similarly, 303 Mechanical Turk workers were recruited for Study 2 to complete an online survey that assessed personal substance use as well as psychopathy levels of participants’ closest friends.

Results: Study 1 found that individuals high in psychopathy were more likely to have provided illegal substances to others and indicated a willingness to do so in the future. Study 2 found that participants reported a higher likelihood of using substances if they indicated that their best friend was high in psychopathy and had themselves used substances in the past.

Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that psychopathy has a unique association with influencing others to use substances. These findings have implications for intervention targets.

Keywords:

• Dark Triad
• psychopathy
• peer influence
• substance use