Recent research published in the Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior has uncovered a connection between certain dark personality traits and irrational beliefs related to work. Therapy. The study found that traits like Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, often referred to as the “Dark Triad,” are linked to specific irrational beliefs about work. For instance, people with Machiavellian traits tend to have irrational fears about failure.
Work plays an important role in shaping our identities, self-esteem, and social standing. But for some people, the way they think about work becomes irrational, leading to stress and potentially harmful behaviors like workaholism—a compulsive need to work excessively. Previous research has shown that personality traits influence these irrational beliefs, but most studies have focused on the more neutral or positive aspects of personality, like the Big Five traits (extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness).
The new study sought to better understand whether the darker aspects of personality—the so-called Dark Triad—are also linked to these irrational work beliefs. Understanding this relationship could help in developing better strategies for managing workplace stress and improving overall mental health.
“In my counseling practice, I primarily work with adolescents and young adults—college students—and I already observe the emergence of workaholism among them, which I consider very dangerous,” said study author Radka Čopková, a professor and the head of the Center for Social and Psychological Support at the Technical University of Košice and psychologist at Children Helpline.
“Even during high school, I encounter clients who experience anxiety and even depressive states due to the perceived pressure to perform. These clients sometimes perceive unreasonable expectations from their parents and feel that if they do not achieve good results in school, they are not good enough. They often sense that their parents’ love is conditional on excellent performance.”
“This is how their irrational beliefs related to work are born,” Čopková explained. “They are taught that a busy person is desirable, ambitious, determined, important, appears more representative, and is more competent, autonomous, and needed by others. Naturally, these clients carry these beliefs with them to college. In my counseling practice at this level, I also notice that clients base their self-worth on performance, compare themselves with peers, and suffer from feelings of inferiority. In addition to studying, many of them work and intern. Increasingly younger people are seeking a psychologist because they cannot find a balance between work, school, and leisure time—they are overwhelmed but, on the other hand, obsessed with performing.”
“Even at this age, they already feel guilty if they are not being productive, believing they are wasting time. At the same time, research addresses the phenomenon of so-called corporate psychopaths, discusses the narcissistic epidemic in society, and it has become very popular and important to study these aversive traits in the non-clinical population. The research highlights many negative consequences of dark personalities, but managerial psychology emphasizes the adaptive side of dark personalities in the workplace. I was therefore interested in whether people with more pronounced dark traits might also have a distorted view of work and what could potentially motivate them to develop irrational beliefs about work.”
The study involved 355 employed individuals, ranging from 18 to 67 years old, with an average age of 36.5 years. The participants were fairly evenly split between men and women and worked in both private and public sectors. The researchers used online questionnaires to gather data, ensuring anonymity and voluntary participation. Participants completed two key questionnaires: one that assessed their irrational beliefs about work and another that measured their levels of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy.
The questionnaire on irrational beliefs focused on four areas: performance demands (the belief that one must always perform at a high level to feel satisfied), co-workers’ approval (the belief that one needs others’ approval to perform well), failure (catastrophizing the consequences of mistakes), and control (a compulsive need to have control over work situations). The Dark Triad traits were measured using a standard psychological scale that includes statements like “I enjoy using clever manipulation to achieve my goals” (Machiavellianism), “I know I am special because people constantly tell me so” (narcissism), and “People who cross me always regret it” (psychopathy).
The findings revealed significant, though weak, correlations between Dark Triad traits and irrational work beliefs. Machiavellianism was positively associated with irrational beliefs about failure and control. This means that people who score high on Machiavellianism are more likely to believe that they must avoid failure at all costs and maintain strict control over their work environment.
Narcissism, on the other hand, was linked to an irrational need for co-workers’ approval. Narcissists tend to believe that they need to be seen as highly competent by others to feel good about themselves.
Interestingly, psychopathy showed a positive correlation with irrational beliefs related to control but a negative correlation with performance demands. This suggests that individuals with psychopathic traits might feel a strong need to control their work environment but are less concerned with performing at high levels to feel satisfied.
“The research highlights the importance of recognizing how these darker aspects of personality can shape one’s work attitudes and behaviors, which can affect both personal well-being and workplace dynamics,” Čopková told PsyPost. “No one is safe from irrational beliefs because many factors contribute to their development.”
“Be careful to praise people, especially children, not only for what they do but also for who they are. This will help prevent them from developing the belief that they are defined solely by their performance. And even though people’s actions may seem rational, this is not always the case. It’s great if someone enjoys their work, but it should not replace regular social interactions or come at the expense of other aspects of life.”
Future research could expand on these findings by including a more diverse range of work environments and by exploring how these irrational beliefs interact with other aspects of life, such as work-family conflict. Expanding on these findings could offer insights not only within workplace contexts but also in broader areas of life where the Dark Triad traits might exert influence.
“I have been studying the Dark Triad for several years, linking it with helping professionals, parental burnout, relationships, decision-making processes, self-licensing, assertive and defensive self-presentation, boreout syndrome, career choice, and professional intentions,” Čopková said. “Currently, my focus is on the consumer behavior of individuals with dark personality traits, such as their perception of product prices and the purchase of luxury and counterfeit goods.”
“My goals remain to explore further interesting contexts in which the dark personality structure may play a role. In light of the current societal situation, I plan to focus on the connection between the Dark Triad and environmental issues, such as environmental responsibility and environmental anxiety.”
The study, “When the Dark Employee Takes an Irrational Turn: Exploring the Intersection of Dark Personality Traits and Work-Related Beliefs,” was published July 9, 2024.
