The Dark Triad traits and individual differences in self-reported and other-rated creativity

- The Dark Triad traits were assessed in relation to rating on three Objects Tests.
- Machiavellianism and psychopathy were associated with harm-based creativity.
- Narcissism was associated with more self-reported creativity.
- Narcissism was associated with less other-rated creativity.
- Psychopathy was associated with less fluency and other-rated creativity.

The current study (N = 402) explored the relationship between the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and individual differences in creativity. We measured the Dark Triad traits with the Dirty Dozen and the Short Dark Triad. Participants completed three alternative use tasks that were independently scored by four judges for the number of responses offered (i.e., fluency), the general level of creativity, and the harmfulness of their responses (i.e., using an innocent object for nefarious purposes). We also assessed self-reported creativity with an ad hoc measure of domain-general creative ability. Those high in narcissism reported being more creative than most individuals, but were rated as less creative. Machiavellianism and psychopathy were positively correlated with harm-based creativity; with male-specific correlations in psychopathy. Results are discussed in terms of creativity as an expression of latent biases that characterize the Dark Triad traits.