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A trio of dangerous traits -

Coined in 2002 by researchers Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams, the term "dark triad" refers to a trio of malevolent traits, which can overlap to create damaging and toxic personality profiles.

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Dangerous traits -

People with dark triad traits will display signs of narcissism, psychopathy, and/or Machiavellianism, often with overlapping characteristics. It's a combination that makes for callous, manipulative, and even cruel individuals.

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Narcissism -

Narcissism suggests a sense of preening vanity, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Narcissistic individuals are typically arrogant and self-centered, and have a tendency to be emotionally—or sometimes physically—abusive.

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Psychopathy -

Perhaps the 'darkest' of the dangerous trio, psychopathy is characterized by a lack of remorse or empathy.

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Machiavellianism -

Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by manipulative, deceptive behavior and trickery. Based on the political theories of 16th-century writer Niccolò Machiavelli, people with Machiavellian traits are often of very high intelligence.

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Disregard for others -

All three personality types share a common disregard for other people, and a willingness to exploit others in order to get ahead.

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Red flags to watch out for -

Each of the dark triad traits are unpleasant and potentially dangerous in themselves. When they overlap, the combination can be even more toxic. But what are the red flags?

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Workplace bullies -

Dark triad individuals lack a 'moral compass' and typically will not hesitate to bully, belittle, or betray others in order to succeed. It can make them extremely unpleasant to work alongside.

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Relationship 'victims' -

If your new partner has a backstory of failed relationships in which they frame themselves as a victim to somebody else's wrongdoing, watch out. Dark triad personality types tend to specialize in emotional abuse and gaslighting, while presenting themselves as the innocent party.

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Inconsistent storytellers -

People with dark triad personalities tend to be convincing liars. But they can eventually get caught in their own web of deceit, and you might start to spot holes or inconsistencies in their backstories.

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Arrogance and vanity -

The extreme arrogance and vanity associated with narcissism is common among dark triad individuals, even if they don't have a diagnosed narcissistic personality disorder. A need to display dominance in work and personal life is common.

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Untrustworthy individuals -

Although dark triad personality types often present a mask of charm, they rank low on personality tests measuring 'agreeableness' traits such as trustworthiness, unselfishness, kindness, and modesty.

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Inability to sustain relationships -

Dark triad personality types consistently cut people off: in love, the workplace, and even relationships with friends and family. Watch out for a long list of people that have been ex-communicated for supposed wrongdoing.

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Intense need to be fulfilled -

People with a dark triad personality value their own needs above others, and may become angry and abusive if they feel their needs are not being met. 

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Exploitative by nature -

People with dark triad personalities are exploitative by nature, and will feel little or no remorse if their success comes at somebody else's expense. Watch out for individuals who consistently point the finger of blame at others.

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Disregard for social rules -

People with dark triad personalities have little regard for playing by society's rules. They often engage in impulsive or even dangerous behavior, which can sometimes extend into criminal activity.

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"High Mach" personalities -

Of the three undesirable dark triad traits, Machiavellianism is perhaps the least widely known. It isn't a mental health diagnosis, but rather a word to describe a manipulative individual. In psychologist-speak, a "High Mach" individual is highly manipulative.

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Identifying triad personality traits -

It can be hard to know just how many people fit the dark triad personality description, because it isn't an official psychiatric diagnosis under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

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Anti-social behavior -

Like psychopathy, which again is not a mental health diagnosis in itself, people with dark triad personality traits are sometimes compared to people with antisocial behavior disorder, sometimes called sociopathy.

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Hostility and aggression -

Sociopathy tends to go hand in hand with aggressive, hostile behavior and an alarming lack of empathy.

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Personality changes -

Dark triad personalities are probably more common than most people would like to think, and they can be confusing to deal with. Many people with these traits will be charming, flattering, and charismatic on first appearances. With time, the mask slips.

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Charming and charismatic -

Many dark triad personality types hide in plain sight. Narcissistic traits, in particular, can help somebody appear charming on first meeting, as they come across as self-confident and charismatic.

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Snappy dressers -

While care for one's appearance is certainly no cause for alarm, narcissist traits often extend to dressing extremely well, or even provocatively.

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Refusal to accept blame -

People with dark triad personalities are often unwilling to own up to their mistakes. Even when caught in an act of betrayal or deceit, they will often flip the tables so that it is somebody else's fault.

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Dark triad relationships -

Embarking on a relationship with somebody who has a dark triad personality is unlikely to end well. The chances of them changing, or even wanting to change, are highly unlikely, and the relationship can have a heavy emotional toll.

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Emotional burden -

Interactions with a dark triad individual may leave you feeling emotionally and/or physically depleted. This might even extend to your finances. If this applies to somebody you spend time with, it might be time to examine their behavior.

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Take a step back -

People with dark triad personality traits are unlikely to see their behavior as something that they need to change. If you spot dark triad personality traits, step away. And where that's not possible, seek advice from a therapist or counselor.

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Dark triad traits at work -

A boss or colleague with dark triad traits can be deeply unpleasant to work with. If you spot these toxic traits in the workplace, or find yourself the victim of them, raise the issue with HR or somebody else in a position to deal with it.

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Dark triad family members -

While it can be possible, if hard, to report a work colleague or end a fledgling relationship, dealing with a family member can be a lifelong challenge. Reach out to friends, other family members, and mental health professionals to get the support you need.

Sources: (Psychology Today) (Health.com)

See also: Recognizing 'Cluster C' personality disorders

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