From Personality to Perception: Investigating Moral Disengagement as a Pathway Linking Dark Triad Traits to Intimate Partner Violence Attitudes
By Tazmeen Nabi,
London Metropolitan University.
This study examined the role of moral disengagement in the relationship between the dark triad and intimate partner violence (IPV) attitudes. Individuals with experience in romantic relationships (N = 74) completed an online questionnaire comprised of three standardised, self-report scales examining the dark triad, moral disengagement and IPV attitudes. The dark triad was used as three independent measures, whereas moral disengagement and IPV attitudes were treated as single measures. Three separate mediation models were created for each independent variable (psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism), with moral disengagement as a mediator and IPV attitudes as the outcome. The results demonstrated that each facet of the dark triad significantly predicted moral disengagement, with psychopathy being the strongest predictor. Each mediation model showed significant indirect effects through the mediator. The direct effects of psychopathy and narcissism on IPV attitudes remained significant, indicating partial mediation. The direct effect of Machiavellianism of IPV attitudes was non-significant, suggesting full mediation through moral disengagement. These findings demonstrate how the dark personalities, particularly Machiavellianism, operate cognitively to justify IPV behaviours. The identification of moral disengagement as a central mechanism extends theoretical understanding into practical insight, informing prevention and intervention strategies of IPV.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21432585