The Dark Triad Traits and Problematic Internet Use:
Their Structure and Relations
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Publication date: 2020-12-16
Polish Sociological Review 2020;212(4):477-496
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ABSTRACT
The term “problematic Internet use” (PIU) refers to excessive online activities and is a major social
concern. Despite various sociological, psychological, and interdisciplinary studies, the risk factors related to PIU
remain unclear. As psychological traits are associated with online behavior, they are often seen as potential risk
factors of PIU. However, the dark personality traits (which include narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy)
and their relation to problematic Internet use are only partially recognized. These traits are commonly known
as the Dark Triad, and even though they have been widely researched their structure is still under discussion. This
study investigates both the structure of the Dark Triad and the triad’s relation to PIU. A total of 384 participants
were surveyed by online questionnaire. Our results suggest that the 3-component structure of the dark traits may
be more suitable for research into online activity than a dark dyad. Moreover, the Dark Triad traits are related to
high PIU levels.