Early social exclusion linked to loneliness and rise in Dark Triad traits, study finds

A study in China reported that early social ostracism, being ignored and excluded by others, may lead to loneliness. In turn, loneliness may foster the development of Dark Triad personality traits. These traits may develop as coping mechanisms in response to prolonger social stress and vulnerability. The research was published in the Journal of Personality.

The Dark Triad refers to three socially aversive personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Narcissism is characterized by excessive self-focus, a sense of superiority, and a constant need for admiration. Machiavellianism involves manipulation, deceit, and a cynical view of human nature. Psychopathy is marked by impulsivity, lack of empathy, and antisocial behavior.

Although these traits are distinct, they often overlap and share a tendency toward self-interest at the expense of others. Individuals high in Dark Triad traits are more likely to engage in exploitative, deceptive, or aggressive behaviors. These traits are linked to poor interpersonal relationships, unethical decision-making, and, in some cases, short-term social success.

Study authors Junwei Pu and Xiong Gan aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of Dark Triad traits. They hypothesized that social ostracism (the perception of being ignored or excluded), loneliness, and Dark Triad traits would be positively associated across different time points. They also proposed that social ostracism leads to loneliness, which in turn fosters the development of these traits.

The study included 294 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18, recruited from three public middle schools in Jingzhou City, China. Of the participants, 168 were boys. Data were collected across three waves between October 2022 and April 2023. During this period, 64 participants dropped out, leaving a final sample of 230 for analysis.

At each time point, participants completed assessments of social ostracism (using the Ostracism Experience Scale for Adolescents; e.g., “I felt excluded from a group”), loneliness (using the UCLA Loneliness Scale), and Dark Triad traits (using the Dark Triad Scale).

The results showed that social ostracism at the first time point was associated with increased loneliness and higher levels of Dark Triad traits at later time points. Statistical analyses supported the hypothesis that early experiences of social ostracism can lead to loneliness, which may subsequently promote the development of Dark Triad traits.

“The results revealed a unidirectional effect from social ostracism (T1) to Dark Triad traits (T3), with loneliness (T2) acting as a mediator. This suggests the crucial role of early experiences of social ostracism and loneliness in the development of Dark Triad traits,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the developmental underpinnings of Dark Triad traits. However, the data were collected at relatively close time points and all participants came from three middle schools in the same city. Results of longer longitudinal studies and studies on other demographic groups might differ.

The paper, “The Potential Roles of Social Ostracism and Loneliness in the Development of Dark Triad Traits in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study,” was authored by Junwei Pu and Xiong Gan.