Psychometric properties of an Arabic Version of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Scale

ABSTRACT

Objective

Few studies have investigated the Dark Triad and its impact on behaviour in Saudi Arabia, mostly due to the lack of validated instruments. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, in the context of Saudi Arabia.

Method

A sample of 1,329 respondents (59.8% female, mean age = 26.79, SD = 8.47) completed a survey containing the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen (DD), the Corruption Propensity Scale and the Propensity to Morally Disengage scale, as well as a demographics questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance across gender, internal consistency reliability analysis, test–retest reliability analysis, and concurrent and convergent validity analyses were performed to validate the DD.

Results

The CFA supported a three-factor model with adequate factor loadings ranging between 0.29 and 0.83 and sufficient fit indices. The scale was gender invariant. The internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability were adequate (0.70–0.86 and 0.58–0.75, respectively). Moderate-to-high Pearson correlations supported the convergent and concurrent validity of the scale.

Conclusion

The Dark Triad Dirty Dozen is a reliable and valid measure that can be used in Saudi Arabia.

Key points

What is already known about this topic:

(1) In the past two decades, there has been considerable attention in the psychological literature to the Dark Triad personality traits in explaining malicious behaviours.

(2) Scales to measure the Dark Triad personality traits in individuals have been developed, among them the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale.

(3) The Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale is widely used and has been validated in many countries, but not in Saudi Arabia.

What this topic adds:

(1) This study presents the results of the first validation of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale in the context of Saudi Arabia.

(2) Results of this study confirmed the psychometric properties of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale in Saudi Arabia, joining previous research in other countries.

(3) The study results indicate that this scale is a valid and reliable tool for practitioners and researchers to assess the Dark Triad personality traits in Saudis.

KEYWORDS:

• Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Scale
• validation
• Machiavellianism
• psychopathy
• narcissism
• Saudi Arabia

Acknowledgments

The author, therefore, acknowledges with thanks to DSR for their technical and financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has funded this project under grant no. PH:008-246-1443.