Individualism / Collectivism vs. Dark Triad in Different Cultural Contexts
https://doi.org/10.21603/sibscript-2026-28-2-303-311
EDN: SULUAT
Abstract
Cultural context, determined by individualism or collectivism, modulates the phenotypic manifestations, social acceptability, and expression of Dark Triad traits. This systematic review provides a comparative and crosscultural analysis of 25 years of peer-reviewed international and regional psychological studies. Dark Triad manifestations differ in destructive effects and degrees of severity. For instance, a culture of individualism correlates with greater tolerance and even encouragement of adaptive (subclinical) manifestations of narcissism and Machiavellianism, which are perceived as social dominance and competence. In collectivistic cultures, the same traits are more often assessed negatively as violating group harmony. Psychopathy, especially its affective component, demonstrates the most universally negative correlates in all cultural contexts. Thus, the social acceptability and destructive potential of Dark Triad traits are largely mediated by cultural norms, which must be taken into account in diagnostic and consultative practice. The development of culture-sensitive diagnostic tools and interventions seems to be a promising area of further research.
About the Author
Gennady G. Butorin
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Chelyabinsk
Competing Interests:
The author declared no potential conflict of interests regarding the research, authorship, and / or publication of this article.
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For citations:
Butorin G.G. Individualism / Collectivism vs. Dark Triad in Different Cultural Contexts. SibScript. 2026;28(2):303-311. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21603/sibscript-2026-28-2-303-311. EDN: SULUAT
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