Conventional values correlate with particular “dark-side” personality traits

New research published in the Journal of Human Values provides evidence that individuals who strongly endorse the values of tradition and security are more likely to show modest associations with certain personality traits that psychologists consider “dark-side” tendencies. These include traits linked to narcissism, obsessiveness, dependency, and avoidance, as well as lower levels of traits like psychopathy and novelty-seeking.

Non-clinical “dark” personality traits refer to socially aversive characteristics that resemble clinical personality disorders but are found at subclinical levels in the general population. These traits do not typically rise to the threshold of psychiatric diagnosis, but they can still impact interpersonal functioning, decision-making, and group dynamics.

Psychologists have often grouped these traits into categories such as narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and more broadly into patterns that reflect dysfunctional ways of relating to others—such as being overly suspicious, emotionally volatile, risk-seeking, or obsessively rule-bound. Although many of these traits have negative connotations, researchers also acknowledge that they can have adaptive features in certain environments, particularly in professional or competitive settings.

The concept of “dark-side” traits gained traction with the development of tools like the Hogan Development Survey, which assesses 11 subclinical traits derived from the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders. The survey was designed not to diagnose mental illness but to identify potential behavioral risks, especially in the workplace, that may emerge under stress or when individuals are not actively managing their impressions.

The rationale for the new study stems from a long-standing interest in the psychological foundations of ideological beliefs, particularly those associated with political and social conservatism. Past research has linked conservatism to attitudes like authoritarianism, dogmatism, and ethnocentrism, but relatively little is known about how personality traits, especially dark-side traits, align with the underlying values that support conservative worldviews.

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The new study sought to examine how two values closely tied to conventionalism (tradition and security) might be associated with specific dark-side traits. The goal was to better understand the personality profiles of people who strongly endorse these values, and to explore whether certain traits make individuals more likely to prefer environments characterized by structure and predictability.

“I have long been interested in this topic which is at the interface of personality and social psychology,” explained study author Adrian Furnham, a professor of psychology at BI Norwegian Business School.

The study was based on data from 2,279 adults, most of whom were middle managers in the United Kingdom. The participants had been assessed over a ten-year period as part of professional development programs, and they agreed to let their anonymized data be used for research purposes. Nearly 90 percent of the sample held managerial positions, with an average age of approximately 39 years. The gender distribution included 1,474 men and 805 women.

To assess values, Furnham used the Motives, Values and Preferences Inventory. This tool includes a specific focus on “tradition” and “security” values. People who score highly on the tradition scale tend to prefer conventional moral codes, family values, and rituals rooted in history or religion. Those scoring high on the security scale prioritize predictability, safety, financial stability, and a structured lifestyle.

To measure dark-side personality traits, Furnham employed the Hogan Development Survey, a widely used tool that evaluates 11 subclinical traits associated with dysfunctional interpersonal behavior. These include “diligent” (associated with obsessive tendencies), “dutiful” (associated with dependency), “bold” (associated with narcissism), “mischievous” (associated with psychopathy), “cautious” (associated with avoidance), and others such as “sceptical,” “excitable,” “reserved,” and “imaginative.”

The results revealed that the two values of tradition and security were moderately correlated with each other. Yet, the pattern of personality trait associations was largely similar for both.

For the value of security, the strongest positive predictors were “diligent,” “dutiful,” “sceptical,” “cautious,” and “bold.” These traits tend to reflect people who are orderly, compliant, vigilant, and self-assured. In contrast, people high in “mischievous,” “imaginative,” and “excitable” traits were less likely to endorse security values. This suggests that rule-breaking, novelty-seeking, and emotional volatility may be at odds with a desire for predictability and control.

The value of tradition showed a similar pattern, though with weaker associations overall. It was positively associated with the same traits—diligent, dutiful, cautious, sceptical, and bold—and negatively associated with mischievousness and excitability. The regression models explained about 33 percent of the variance in security scores but only 9 percent of the variance in tradition scores.

“Those who are hard-working, compliant, and cautious endorsed these values, but they could also be seen as potentially obsessive, conflict-avoidant, and risk-averse,” Furnham told PsyPpst.

Perhaps the most surprising finding was the positive relationship between the “bold” trait—associated with narcissism—and both tradition and security. This suggests that individuals with high self-regard, confidence, and a sense of entitlement may still gravitate toward traditional or security-driven values, even if these values are often associated with humility or conformity. One interpretation is that narcissistic individuals may view structured environments as platforms to assert dominance or receive admiration.

“Sub-clinical narcissists want to be liked, admired, respected, attended to, praised, complimented, and indulged,” Furnham said. “Their most important and obvious characteristic is a sense of entitlement, excessive self-esteem and an expectation of success that often leads to real success. They are so colorful and engaging, they often attract followers. At present, there appear to be a number of very bold, conservative political leaders who express no doubt in the validity of their ideology.”

The trait of mischievousness—associated with subclinical psychopathy—showed a strong negative relationship with both values. These individuals tend to seek stimulation, reject authority, and enjoy bending rules. Their aversion to tradition and security fits with a personality style that thrives in unpredictability and resists social constraints.

As with all research, there are limitations. Most notably, the participants’ actual political beliefs were not assessed. This leaves open the question of how tradition and security values translate into political behavior or party affiliation.

Additionally, the sample was composed almost entirely of working professionals in the United Kingdom, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other demographic groups or cultural contexts. The study also does not explore how these associations might differ for people who endorse liberal or progressive values.

Furnham suggests that future research should explore the personality traits associated with liberal values using similar frameworks. He also expresses interest in the concept of “tolerance of ambiguity”—a psychological construct describing how comfortable people are with uncertainty, complexity, or contradiction. This may provide a broader understanding of why some individuals seek order and stability, while others embrace novelty and change.

“The concept of ambiguity tolerance, variously called uncertainty avoidance, ambiguity avoidance, or intolerance of uncertainty, can be traced back nearly 70 years,” Furnham said. “The basic concept is that people may be understood on a dimension that refers to their discomfort with, and hence attempts to avoid, ambiguity or uncertainty in many aspects of their lives. Those who are intolerant of ambiguity are described as having a tendency to resort to black-and-white solutions and are often characterized by rapid and overconfident judgement, often at the neglect of reality.”

The study, “The Dark Side of Conventionalism: Dark-side Personality Traits and the Values of Security and Tradition,” was published online July 30, 2025.