Front Psychol. 2024 Apr 18;15:1363399. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363399. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The literature suggests that people can accurately infer dark triad (DT) personality traits from other peoples’ faces. Using a self-report scale, this study investigated the impact of participants’ DT personality traits on their ability to accurately infer other peoples’ DT traits from facial cues.

METHODS: We created composite facial photographs of Japanese people with varying Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism scores. The Japanese participants (N = 170) assessed these three DT traits in the facial photographs and completed a questionnaire that assessed their own DT traits.

RESULTS: The results indicated that the participants could accurately infer all three DT traits from female faces but not from male faces. Male participants showed a positive correlation between accurate inferences of other men’s Machiavellianism and their own DT traits. In contrast, female participants showed a negative correlation between correct inferences of men’s DT traits and their own DT traits.

DISCUSSION: These findings offer novel insights into human evolutionary and social adaptations.

PMID:38699567 | PMC:PMC11063301 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363399