Judgments of the Dark Triad based on Facebook profiles

This study investigates observer accuracy for the Dark Triad (DT) traits - narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism - based on Facebook profiles. In a round-robin design, 145 individuals in 34 groups provided DT self-ratings and rated their group members on these traits based on Facebook profiles. Social Relations Model analyses revealed significant observer accuracy for narcissism, but not for psychopathy or Machiavellianism. Variance component estimates suggested that unique perceiver-target relationships account for a majority of variance in ratings of the DT. Finally, Brunswik lens model analyses suggested that, for narcissism and psychopathy, there is a moderate association between the cues observers utilize in making judgments of the DT traits and the cues that correspond to targets' personality.