The Dark Triad traits and views of time in three countries

•Traits linked to hedonistic and limited future concern time perspectives•Psychopathy and Machiavellianism linked to fatalism•Psychopathy acted as a mediator for sex differences in time perspectives.•Narcissism acted as a weak suppressor for sex differences in time perspectives.

In samples drawn from Australia, Japan, and Russia (N = 1032) we replicated an extended work on the relationships between the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and individual differences in time perspectives. We documented that narcissism was associated with recollections of favorable pasts, whereas psychopathy and Machiavellianism were associated with recollections of unfavorable pasts. Consistent with life history models of the Dark Triad traits, the Dark Triad traits were associated with hedonism and limited future concerns. Country-wise comparisons suggested that narcissism was associated with less future concerns in Australia and Russia but more future concerns in Japan. Sex differences in future concerns were mediated by individual differences in psychopathy but suppressed by individual differences in narcissism. Results are discussed using a life history framework.