The Criminal Personality Traits That Could Be Lurking in Your Office

Disney villains, Voldemort, Joe Goldberg from “You”—they all epitomize the classic archetype of ‘evil,’ right? But before you write them off as bad apples, there’s actually a scientific explanation about why they’re just so vile.

All these characters are prime examples of the 'dark triad' of personality—a lethal mix of traits that drive people toward manipulation, antisocial behavior and selfishness.

Far from being the stuff of fiction, people with the dark triad also exist in real life. And as research from King’s College London found, soldiers that scored high in the dark triad were more likely to engage in unethical behavior, including war crimes and morally dubious decisions. Military psychologists judged them to be the “best killers”, the researchers said.

If these traits can lead to extreme actions in a battlefield, just imagine what they can do in the office. That’s right—someone with the dark triad could be your boss, co-worker or client. So, how do you spot them? And more importantly, how do you deal with them? 

The Dark Triad Personality: The Lowdown 

To really get to grips with the dark triad personality, we turned to an expert: Mike Griffiths, a seasoned workplace consultant, author and trainer who’s dealt with more than his fair share of dark triad-esque employees.

Griffiths walked us through each of the three personality traits that make up this toxic trio:

• Narcissism: This involves an inflated sense of self-importance and a deep need for admiration. People with high levels of narcissism often believe they are special and deserve special treatment.
• Machiavellianism: This trait is characterized by a manipulative and cunning approach to relationships. People with high Machiavellianism tend to be strategic. They focus on personal gain, even if it involves deceit—like your typical con man.
• Psychopathy: This involves a lack of empathy and remorse, along with impulsivity and antisocial behaviors. While not all individuals with psychopathic traits engage in harmful behavior, they often have a disregard for others' feelings and social norms.

Could They Be Lurking in the Next Cubicle?

Almost all of us have come across colleagues that are a little selfish, or too impulsive, or had a bad habit of taking credit where it wasn’t due. And let’s be honest, we all have our own toxic traits, too—take our free toxic person quiz to uncover yours.

But does that mean we—or they—exhibit the dark triad? 

According to Griffiths, it’s not the individual traits but the combination of traits that’s important. “These traits vary in severity and are present to some degree in many people. However, individuals with high levels of all three traits fit the dark triad.” 

The King’s College researchers call this combination the “core of darkness.” In practice, that means you're looking for a boss or a colleague that displays all of the following behaviors to some degree: 

Narcissism

People that score high in narcissism are known for “seeking the spotlight and taking credit for others’ work”, Griffiths says. Because they have extremely fragile egos, they are also likely to “react poorly to criticism.” So the narcissism signs you're looking for might include: 

• Constantly talking about their achievements and success.
• Taking credit for your work or ideas.
• Having a hard time acknowledging when they are wrong or apologizing for their mistakes.
• Becoming defensive or hostile when receiving constructive feedback.

The thing about narcissism, though, is that it also tends to come hand-in-hand with superficial charm. 

As Griffiths explains: “It's possible for people to "fly under the radar." They might be charming and confident, making it difficult to see their true intentions. They often know how to present themselves well, making them appear likable or competent.”

Machiavellianism

While narcissism can be tricky to spot, machiavellianism is a little easier. You’re looking for someone who tends to be “strategic, secretic or manipulative to achieve personal goals—possibly at the expense of others.” 

Of course, if you’re being manipulated, you might not even know it. But Griffiths says there’s a few tell-tale signs to help you spot someone with the dark triad in action.

“Look for inconsistencies in their stories or behavior, notice if they often shift blame onto others, or if they use charm to manipulate situations,” he says. “Observing how they treat people when they don't have anything to gain can also be revealing.” 

Psychopathy 

Last but certainly not least, we’ve got psychopathy. People that score high in this trait tend to “show a lack of empathy, be impulsive, and take risky actions without considering the consequences.” They're the person in the office who:

• Lies to get what they want.
• Tugs at your heartstrings to manipulate you.
• Changes their mind on a whim, even if it throws the whole project into chaos.
• Is hungry for power and will step on anyone to get it. 
• Feels no remorse for their actions. 

Like narcissists, psychopaths might appear charming. But there will also be a shallowness to them, explains Griffiths. He says that they will likely “lack genuine connections with others.” 

How to Handle Dark Triad Personalities 

If you think your boss or colleague might be, well, something of a sadist—keep calm. There are plenty of things you can do to maintain your sanity and your credibility. 

1. Resist the urge to label

First, Griffiths recommends channeling a little empathy. That might sound like strange advice given that the research associates this personality triad with war crimes. But it’s important to know that all personality traits exist on a spectrum—you shouldn't assume that someone is going to do something truly horrible just because they exhibit some of these traits. 

 “It's essential to approach this with empathy and caution, as labeling someone can be harmful. The presence of these traits doesn't necessarily mean someone is a bad person, so focus on addressing specific behaviors rather than the person's character.” 

2. Keep a record

People that score high in the dark triad can be slippery characters. This is why it’s so important to “keep interactions professional, and be clear and assertive about your boundaries,” says Griffiths. He also recommends keeping a record of any questionable behavior, as “this can be helpful if issues escalate.”

3. Seek support

If the person in question is trying to make you their next victim, it’s time to take action. “Consider speaking with HR or a trusted supervisor,” says Griffiths. “They can provide guidance and help address the situation.”

4. Take care of yourself

Finally, working with someone who scores high in the dark triad can be downright exhausting. Whatever you do, “be sure to prioritize self-care and seek support from friends, family, or a counselor if needed,” Griffiths says. If things don’t improve, you’re well within your right to seek out another role far away from their toxicity—just make sure your next boss doesn’t have the same traits!