Life history strategy and the Dark Triad: A meta-analysis of trait-specific associations

Abstract

Life History (LH) Theory has been increasingly employed as an evolutionary framework for understanding individual differences in the Dark Triad. However, findings remain inconsistent regarding trait-specific associations between LH strategy and the Dark Triad. This meta-analysis synthesized 41 effect sizes from 18 independent samples reported in 16 articles. A three-level random-effects model showed a significant positive overall association between faster LH strategy and Dark Triad traits (Pearson's r = 0.26, 95% CI [0.19, 0.33], p < 0.001). Moderator analyses revealed significant differences among the three traits, with psychopathy showing the strongest association ( r = 0.36), followed by Machiavellianism ( r = 0.25), whereas narcissism showed the weakest association ( r = 0.11). The main effects of LH operationalization, gender composition, sample type, and cultural region were not statistically significant. However, the interaction between Dark Triad trait and LH measurement domain was significant ( Q M (4) = 11.90, p = 0.018), indicating that the pattern of associations across LH measurement domains differed among the three traits. By providing a quantitative synthesis of trait-specific associations between life history strategy and the Dark Triad, this study clarifies current evolutionary accounts of dark personality traits and highlights the importance of differentiating among the three traits.