Understanding Relationships Among the Dark Triad Personality Profile and Romantic Partners’ Conflict Communication

Abstract

Consistent with calls from prior research, the aim of this study was to understand how reports of the Dark Triad (e.g., subclinical narcissism, subclinical psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) related to conflict communication in romantic relationships. Results indicated that individuals reporting higher levels of the Dark Triad personality structure also reported more frequent disagreement that was also intense and hostile. Moreover, Dark Triad personality reports were directly related to the use of contempt, criticism, stonewalling, and defensiveness, messages collectively known as the Four Horsemen as they predict relational termination (e.g., Gottman, 1993; Gottman & Levenson, 1992). Machiavellianism and subclinical psychopathy were better predictors of conflict communication compared to subclinical narcissism. Findings reinforce that personality is important in understanding conflict communication. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Keywords::

• Conflict
• Contempt
• Criticism
• Dark Triad
• Defensiveness
• Four Horsemen
• Stonewalling

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sean M. Horan

Sean M. Horan (Ph.D., West Virginia University, 2009) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University.

Trey D. Guinn

Trey D. Guinn (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 2012) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at University of the Incarnate Word.

Scott Banghart

Scott Banghart (M.A., DePaul University, 2013) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara.