Birds of a “bad” feather flock together: The Dark Triad and mate choice

• Assessed mate choice in relation to the Dark Triad traits in fictitious dating ads.
• People high on the Dark Triad traits are undesirable in the long-term.
• People high on the Dark Triad traits are desirable in the short-term.
• The Dark Triad may equip individuals with mating-relevant cognitive biases.

Previous research on the Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) has focused solely on the role the Dark Triad traits played in mate choice of actors. The current study (N = 336) extends this by manipulating the apparent levels of Dark Triad traits in targets and correlating mate choice in these targets with individual differences in the Dark Triad traits in actors. As expected, both sexes preferred partners low in the Dark Triad traits for long-term mating, while those high in these traits were preferred for one-night stands. However, women high in psychopathy considered the Dark Triad traits in potential male partners more physically attractive and desirable for an one-night stand, as well as a potential husband. Men who were high on psychopathy were likewise attracted to psychopathy in potential mothers. Our findings are discussed from an evolutionary personality paradigm.