Do we need “dark” traits to explain materialism? The incremental validity of the Dark Triad over the HEXACO domains in predicting materialistic orientation

•The Dark Triad predicted 21–36% of materialism and its facets.•Narcissism and Machiavellianism were positive predictors of materialism.•The relationship between triarchic psychopathy and materialism was inconsistent.•Narcissism and Machiavellianism predicted materialism over and above the HEXACO.

The relationships between the Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) and materialism were investigated in a sample from the general population (N = 378). The triarchic psychopathy model (comprising meanness, boldness and disinhibition) was used in this study. The Dark Triad predicted 21–36% of materialism and its facets and the most powerful positive predictors were narcissism and Machiavellianism. The associations of the psychopathy constructs with materialism were weaker and inconsistent – positive for meanness and disinhibition and non-existent or negative (when controlling for narcissism) for boldness. The HEXACO traits significantly predicted 29–51% of materialism variance and the strongest negative predictor was Honesty-Humility. Narcissism and Machiavellianism added incrementally to the prediction of materialism, beyond the variance accounted for by the HEXACO domains.