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Review of Economics and Development Studies 
ISSN:2519-9692 ISSN (E): 2519-9706 

Volume 4: No.2,December 2018 

Journal homepage: www.publishing.globalcsrc.org/reads 

 

Dilemmas of Adolescents: Dark Triad and Relational Aggression, Moderated by 

Economic Status 

 
1
Saima Riaz, 

2
Zakia Bano, 

3
Raheel Abbas, 

4
Muhammad Rizwan 

 

1
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat, Pakistan. 

2
Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat, Pakistan.  

3
Assistant Professor, School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. 

raheel.abbas@bzu.edu.pk 
4
PhD Scholar, School of Education Sciences, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing, China. 

 

ARTICLE DETAILS ABSTRACT 

History 

Revised format: November 2018 

Available Online: December 2018 

 

Objective of the present study was to find out the relationship between 

dark triad and relational aggression among adolescents. A sample of 612 

adolescent students with age range 12-19 were selected from different 

educational institute of Gujrat, Pakistan. Dark triad personality scale short 

version and the Urdu version of diverse adolescent relational aggression 

scale were used to measure relational aggression. The findings of the 

current study revealed significant predictive relation of machiavellianism 

with relational aggression [R2 =. 220; F (1, 607) = 171.340, p<.01], 

narcissism with relational aggression [R2 =.189; F (1, 607) = 141.753, 

p<.01] and psychopathy with relational aggression [R2 =.265; F (1, 607) = 

218.635, p<.01]. Conclusion: The present study supported the predictive 

relationship of dark triad with relational aggression. These findings may 

have implication in the future intervention and prevention procedure for 

adolescents. 

 

© 2018 The authors, under a Creative Commons Attribution-

NonCommercial 4.0                                                        

Keywords 

Dark triad, Machiavellianism, 

Narcissism, Psychopathy, 

Relational Aggression, 

Adolescents  

 

JEL Classification:  

A14, D91 

Corresponding author’s email address: raheel.abbas@bzu.edu.pk 

Recommended citation:Riaz, S.,Bano, Z., Abbas, R. and Rizwan, M. (2018). Dilemmas of Adolescents: Dark Triad 

and Relational Aggression, Moderated by Economical Status. Review of Economics and Development Studies, 4 

(2), 209-218 

DOI: 10.26710/reads.v4i2.405 

 

1.  Introduction 
Human aggression is a social behavior. According to Baron and Richardson (1994) aggression is any conduct 

which is aimed at damaging another individual who does not want to be mistreated. Aggression usually appears in 

different forms such as physical violence which involves hurting others bodily like beating, jolting, shooting, or 

stabbing; and oral aggression includes hurting others by degrading words (like name calling, yelling, swearing, and 

screaming). One other form of aggression is relational aggression which is more damaging than physical aggression 

among adolescence. Relational aggression pertains to deliberately damaging another individual’s social relations, 

inclusion within a group, or feelings of acceptance (Crick &Grotpeter, 1995). 

Relational aggression emphases on the utilization of one’s association to disturb the others relations. Efforts are 

made to damage the relationships and these relations are also a target for manipulating someone. The culprit 

exploits his or her links as a basis for attaining power, to gain the social approval, and to distribute violence. 

Victim’s relationships are tried to be managed by these manipulations. Violent conducts possibly would be evident 

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in real actions both physically or verbally. Different verbal means are used such as disseminating rumors, rolling 

eyes, overlooking, making faces, exclusion, gossip, and friendship removal (Cheng, 2009). Generally, relational 

aggression is the basis of psychological and emotive harm that is considered far more damaging as compared to 

physical harm (Young, Nelson, Hottle, Warburton, & Young, 2011). Moreover, relational aggression does not 

belong to a specific country or culture but can be observed across cultural restrictions (Bowie, 2007). In all terms, 

relational aggression damage others by destroying or threats to destroy the relationships by affecting their 

acceptance in group, friendship, or group insertion.  

During the adolescence period social elements become very important. In adolescence era peer group have an 

impact on ones’ evaluation about his or her self.  Relational aggression with teenagers is especially significant as 

they are passing through a transitory period (Siegel, La Greca, & Harrison, 2009). Emotions of anger, jealousy, and 

envy may be underlying children’s wish or need to use social aggression. Recognizing relational aggression in 

school settings is not very simple as relational aggression is not considered aggression by teachers and parents. 

Students who are involved in relational aggression deny that nothing has been done by them (Young, Boye, & 

Nelson, 2006).   

Personality denotes to individual variations in distinctive forms of thinking, feeling, and acting. Personality has 

some bright aspects while others are dark. Three facets are the most prominent in this regard, machiavellianism, 

narcissism, and psychopathy. Grouping of these three aspects were proposed by Paulhus and Williams (2002) that 

capture discrete differences in malicious potentials. Further, these personality traits are called the ―dark triad.‖ 

According to them the person’s moral judgments ―fit‖ their personality. The judgments which a person put forth 

match the traits which he or she possesses. The dark triad expresses distinctive associates but share a common core 

of cold-hearted manipulation (Furnham, Richards, &Paulhus, 2013). Previously, the concepts of dark triad have 

captured extensive interests, as huge number of pragmatic studies realized their usefulness in forecasting human 

conduct (Kam& Zhou, 2016).  

The first member of dark triad, machiavellianism represents the propensity to abuse others for one’s own benefit in 

a cynical, manipulative, and dishonest relational style (Wilson, Near, & Miller, 1996). People with high intensities 

of machiavellianism incline to engage in manipulative strategies by implementing tactics that maximize self- 

benefits (Ryckman, Thornton, & Butler, 1994). Further, machiavellianism are related with a disrespect for the 

significance of ethics and the practice of untruthfulness to follow and uphold control (Smith &Lilienfeld, 2013). 

Narcissism, one other notion of dark triad, is marked by magnificence, a sense of being privileged, and an absence 

of empathy (Smith &Lilienfeld, 2013). Extreme self-exaggeration is the symbol of narcissism, which comprises an 

overstated view of a person, imaginations of being a controller, sense of achievement and appreciation, and a wish 

for the endorsement of this self-love believes being reinforced by others (O'Boyle, Forsyth, Banks, & McDaniel, 

2012). The third dimension of dark triad is psychopathy which is basically a personality issue that is about lessened 

remorse, weakened empathy, and significant antisocial conducts (Blair & Viding, 2008; Marsh, 2013).   Being 

impulsive, non-empathetic, self-centered, with marginal emotional responsiveness to hostile stimuli are the key 

features of people who are high in psychopathy (Jones &Paulhus, 2017; Paulhus& Williams, 2002; Patrick, 1994). 

Furthermore, psychopathy is an individual's absence of worry for other persons and societal monitoring 

mechanisms, impulsivity, and an absence of remorse when their activities damage others (O'Boyle et al., 2012). 

Personalities with the traits of machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy are in public aversive but still are 

within the normal range. Prosocial personality traits follow personal growth in the well-liked form as agreeableness 

and conscientiousness, but antisocial personality qualities achieve individual purpose through the ghastly form 

(Jonason& Webster, 2010). These three traits are conceptually distinct but empirically are not separated personality 

variables.  Three sets of interconnected tenets are core to the machiavellian personality: an affirmed trust in the 

efficacy of manipulative strategies in working with other individuals, a pessimistic opinion of human nature, and an 

ethical viewpoint that places convenience and practicality above code of conduct (O'Boyle et al., 2012). 

A study was conducted by Ghim, Choi, Lim, and Lim (2015) to check the causal relations within concealed 

narcissism, internalized humiliation, annoyance contemplation, and relational aggression. Results depicts that 

narcissistic anger was directly linked with relational aggression (Onishi, Kawabata, & Yoshida, 2012). 

Furthermore, research findings revealed that narcissism, and machiavellianism were associated to particular types 

of infantile aggression. Moreover, narcissistic qualities displayed the strong exceptional relationship with explicit 

aggression and relational aggression (Lau &Marsee, 2013). Hence, narcissism was directly linked with unconcealed 

aggression, and relational aggression (Lau, Marsee, Kunimatsu, &Fassnacht, 2011). Additionally, one study 



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demonstrated that narcissism was positively associated with physical aggression as well as relational aggression 

(Ojanen, Findley, & Fuller, 2012).  Psychopathy, one of the units of dark triad also exhibits a positive link with 

relational aggression. Psychopathy has a protruding effect on how people justify their deceitful conducts. It was 

found that the dark triads act as influential psychological precursors to deceptive behaviors. (Harrison, Summers, 

&Mennecke, 2016). Relationship of psychopathic qualities with violence were also discovered in a research on the 

sample of grade five to grade nine school children. In addition, these qualities were gauged by both teacher as well 

as self-report evaluations. Association was found between psychopathic qualities and aggression (Marsee, 

Silverthorn, & Frick, 2005). 

Adolescence is considered a period in which an individual goes through tremendous changes like physical, 

emotional and psychological. Present research would play a vigorous role to help out the parents and teachers so 

that they should stress on the development of healthy personality and minimizing the relational aggression 

consequences. 

Narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy predicted relational aggression (Knight, 2016). Besides, a research 

scrutinized the association amongst relational aggression and psychopathic qualities amongst a sample of confined 

adolescent females (Marotta, 2016).Economic status of an individuals is an important demographic indicator of 

different behavioral problems and is long established and well accepted (McGrath & Elgar, 2015).Like it has link 

with aggression (Tippett&Wolke, 2014).  

The material conditions in which individuals develop and live have a long-term influence on their peculiar and 

social personalities. This influences both the way they think and feel about their social environment and key aspects 

of their social behavior. Moderated effect of economic status has also been investigated in the present research. 

Conceptual frame work has been depicted in the following figure 

Figure 1: Conceptual framework of current research 

 

2. Method 
2.1 Participants 
612 adolescent students with age ranges 12 to 19 years were randomly selected from different educational institutes 

of District Gujrat, Pakistan. Informed consent was assured before data collection. At the end respondent were 

thanked and acknowledged for their help and cooperation in the study.Besides, permission was also taken from the 

head of all institutes from where data were collected.  Participation was voluntary and confidentially was assured. 

2.2 Measures 

2.2.1 Dark Triad of Personality (D3-Short)  
Dark triad personality scale short version (D3-short), originally constructed by Paulhus (2013) and translated by 

Gul-E-Sehar and Fatimah (2016) was used to measure dark triad of personality. It is a 5 point Likert type scale with 

three subscales Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy. Each sub-scale comprises of 9 items and total scale 

comprise of 27 items. Alpha reliabilities for the SD-3 subscales are .71, .77, and .80 for machiavellianism, 

narcissism, and psychopathy respectively. 

2.2.2 The diverse adolescent relational aggression scale 
The Urdu version of diverse adolescent relational aggression scale (Riaz, 2014) originally developed by Horton 

(2010) was used to measure relational aggression. The scale consisted of27 items to illustrate relational aggression, 

acts and effects. There is no reversely scored item. All items are worded positively to rate the relational aggression. 

Responses have been rated on four-point Likert type format ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Scale 

has a composite score; all the items are totaled for getting a score for relational aggression with high scores 

showing more relational aggression. Score range of the scale is 27-108. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability for the scale is 



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.78, and the split half reliability is .7. 

 

3. Results 
Linear regression was conducted to find out the predictive relationship between Moral disengagement and 

relational aggression. Results showed that all three members of dark triad are significant predictor of relational 

aggression.   

Table 1:  Summary of Linear Regression Analysis of Sub Dimensions of Dark Triad as Predictor of 

Relational aggression among Adolescent Students (N=612) 

 

Finding of linear regression mentioned in above table revealed that machiavellianism explained the 22% variance in 

the relational aggression while one-unit increase in machiavellianism will increase score on relational aggression by 

.469. Narcissism is significant predictor of relational aggression. Narcissism explained the 18.9% variance in the 

relational aggression while one-unit increase in Narcissism will increase score on relational aggression by .435. 

Psychopathy is also a significant predictor of relational aggression in adolescent students. Psychopathy explained 

the 26.5% variance in the relational aggression while one-unit increase in Psychopathy will increase score on 

relational aggression by .515. 

Table 2: Summary of Multiple Regression Analysis of Sub Dimensions of Dark Triad as Predictor of 

Relational aggression among Adolescent Students (N=612) 

 

Table 3:  Coefficients of Multiple linear regression of Sub dimensions of Dark triad as Predictor of 

relational aggression in Adolescent Students (N=612) 

Variables 
Un standardizedCoefficients StandardizedCoefficients 

B SE β t p 

Constant .866 .099  8.756 .000 

Machiavellianism .182 .020 .299 9.123 .000 

Narcissism .176 .024 .244 7.411 .000 

Psychopathy .218 .020 .358 10.918 .000 

 

Finding of multiple linear regression mentioned in above table revealed that Machiavellianism, Narcissisms and 

Psychopathy are significant predictor of relational aggression in adolescent students. All three collectively account 

for 42.3% variance in the relational aggression. 

Table 4:  Summary of Multiple Regression Analysis of Sub Dimensions of Dark Triad as Predictor of 

Relational Aggression Moderated by Economic Status in Adolescent Students (N=612 

Note: Dependent variable: Relational aggression, Predictors: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy  

 

Results mentioned in table 3 and 4 revealed that economic status has a moderated effect on the relationship of dark 

triad and relational aggression among adolescent students. 

Variables R R
 2
 B SE β F P 

Machiavellianism .469 .220 7.690 .588 .469 171.340 .000 

Narcissism  .435 .189 8.450 .710 .435 141.753 .000 

Psychopathy .515 .265 8.445 .571 .515 218.635 .000 

Variables R R
 2
 F P 

Machiavellianism,  Narcissism,  Psychopathy with 

relational Aggression 

.654 .428 151.526 .000 

Variables R R
 2
 F P 

Less than 15,000 .751 .564 49.934 .000 

15,000 to 30,000 .672 .451 57.607 .000 

Above 30,000 .613 .375 52.872 .000 



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Table 4:  Coefficients of Multiple linear regression of Sub dimensions of Dark triad as Predictor of 

relational aggression moderated by economic status in Adolescent Students (N=612) 

Ranges Variables 
Un standardizedCoefficients StandardizedCoefficients 

B SE β t p 

Less than 

15,000 

Machiavellianism .269 .042 .415 6.398 .000 

Narcissism .220 .046 .314 4.805 .000 

Psychopathy .218 .044 .323 4.983 .000 

15,000 to 

35,000 

Machiavellianism .129 ..033 .214 3.953 .000 

Narcissism .163 .042 .234 4.070 .000 

Psychopathy .237 .033 .425 7.253 .000 

Above 

35,000 

Machiavellianism .204 .032 .329 6.354 .000 

Narcissism .148 .039 .194 3.827 .000 

Psychopathy .219 .032 .349 6.949 .000 

 

4. Discussion 
Present research found out the association between dark triad and relation aggression among adolescents. Dark triad 

is a combination of attributes of machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy that contain the propensity to 

pursue respect and unusual handling, to be heartless and indifferent and to regulate others. Dark Triad personalities 

have an unbalanced opinion of themselves which may depict the violence intrinsic in the dark triad.  Dark triad 

personality traits are highly prevalent among adolescents. Webster and Jonason (2013) document an average score 

of 36 of college students on the dark triad while anyone scoring above 45 would be viewed as very high on the dark 

triad. It was hypothesized that machiavellianism would be a significant predictor of relational aggression among 

adolescents. According to the results of regression analysis machiavellianism explained the 22% variance in the 

relational aggression [R =. 469; F (1, 607) = 171.340, p<.01] while one-unit increase in Machiavellianism will 

increase score on relational aggression by 7.69. 

The reason of this significant finding was that the individual with machiavellian trait are unlikely to take unsafe 

probabilities as they have a more precise insight of their likelihoods of triumph. So, machiavellians are perhaps less 

probable to practice explicit violence to attain their objectives, and more probable to utilize indirect and concealed 

strategies, like relational aggression to acquire what they desire. As mention earlier, machiavellianism is a 

personality attribute that is categorized by scheming and abusive approach concerning others, absence of sympathy, 

and a cynical understanding of human nature, representing at least an immoral if not terrific way of operating on 

others to achieve one's goals (Calhoon, 1969). Machiavellianism preach that one of the primary methods for 

obtaining and maintaining power is to manipulate others with absolute disregard of emotions and moral principles 

(Makijaveli as cited in Simić et al. 2015). So, People with strong machiavellian attitudes utilize other individuals as 

an instrument to attain their personal objectives. Individuals who are high on machiavellianism, score low on 

conscientiousness as compared to persons with a low machiavellian mind set (Austin, Farrelly, Black, & Moore, 

2007). Thus, people with machiavellians attributes are much more target concerned as compared to people-oriented. 

People high in machiavellian qualities recommend relational tactics that support self-centeredness, dishonesty and 

operating on others (Jakobwitz& Egan, 2006).  

Further, the machiavellian resides high preference on money, authority, and rivalry (Stewart & Stewart, 2006). Due 

to self-centered behavior, extra concern for obtaining goals and less empathetic attitudes towards others 

machiavellians adolescents involved in relational aggression. A study findings supported the current research 

outcomes that machiavellianism showed positive association with relational aggression among youngsters 

(Kerig&Stellwagen, 2010). The reason of this positive association, may be that adolescence is an age of personality 

development, during this era teenager compare themselves with their peers, wants to be liked and be powerful, and 

for attaining desired aims they adapt some negative behaviors which leads to negative outcomes like relational 

aggression.  An evolving line of investigation has been dedicated to the inspection of both positive and negative 

consequences of relational aggression. In this line a varied array of current researches directs that relational 

aggression is associated with a multitude of undesirable progressive outcomes (Card, Stucky, Sawalani, & Little, 

2008). Furthermore, there is a study which talked about the association between machiavellianism and indirect 



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aggression (Knight, 2016). While other research has endorsed the notion that there is a direct relationship between 

machiavellianism and relational aggression (Pursoo, 2013).    But one study conducted by Matt and Krawczyk 

(2017) has little bit different findings. According to them machiavellianism, did not have a significant impact on 

cyberbullying behavior. 

Narcissism, the second member of dark triad, is also a significant predictor of relational aggression among 

adolescents. Narcissism explained the 18.9% variance in the relational aggression. Tracey and Robbins (2003) 

claim that they protect themselves against the sentiments of feeling inferior and disgrace by making external 

attributions for their letdowns, which leads to the sentiments of aggression and annoyance towards other persons. In 

the same line, Morf and Rhodewalt (2001) have stated that while the egotistical sense of personality is clearly 

exaggerated, which is also highly susceptible to unwanted conducts. Individuals with narcissism are continually 

worried and strive to uphold their exaggerated self-assurance by a range of personal and social tactics. Furthermore, 

narcissism is regarded as a detachment between an insentient sense of inadequacy and a conscious sensation of 

supremacy. Furthermore, narcissists are by means extremely self-centered people.  They’re so principally absorbed 

on their individual wishes and worries that they give little consideration to the distresses of others.  

As mentioned earlier, in adolescence period relationally aggressive behaviors is very common. Relational bullying 

includes an inequity of control, in which a student or a group of students oppresses another student who is 

incapable to efficiently protect him/herself (Raskauskas&Stoltz, 2004). The undesirable deeds that are combined in 

relational aggression can be verbal or nonverbal, and displayed openly or indirectly, and comprise of harmful 

intimate and social associations to upset one another. These deeds can comprise of wicked conversation, social 

segregation (Werner & Nixon, 2005) and can be one in which relational intimidation happens. Further in this age, 

formations of self and a solid purpose to hold self-esteem are pertinent to narcissism. Current study emphases on 

narcissism as a personality attribute on which persons in the common population differ (Raskin& Terry, 1988). 

Though, one investigation revealed that it is likely to consistently and meaningfully measure ―normal narcissism‖ 

in children and teenagers (Thomaes, Bushman, Stegge, Olthof, 2008). Undeniably, a study has exposed that 

narcissists involve in diverse self-control policies to be able to retain their exaggerated self-opinion 

(Morf&Rhodewalt, 2001).  

Early adolescents are conscious about themselves and their behavior is directed by a numberless behavioral 

standard, and their self-views are extremely dependent on other’sattitudes (Harter, 2006; Reimer, 1996; Rosenberg, 

1965). Zimmer-Gembeck, Trevaskis, Nesdale, & Downey (2014) stated that indirect violence touches the heights in 

the period of late childhood and teenage years, owing to the developmental signs (i.e., the growth of higher oral 

abilities, social consciousness) practiced in this age.  

Findings of the present research are consistence with preceding researches. Research findings revealed that 

narcissism was positively linked with relational aggression through domination goals for both genders, in 

youngsters (Ojanen, Findley & Fuller, 2012; Ghim, Choi, Lim, & Lim, 2015).  In the same line another study 

conducted in japan on adolescent students revealed that narcissistic rage is positively associated with relational 

aggression (Onishi, Kawabata,Kurokawa& Yoshida, 2012). Furthermore, it has been revealed by other researchers 

that narcissism was directly associated with overt aggression, and relational aggression. (Lau &Marsee, 2013; Lau, 

Marsee, Kunimatsu, &Fassnacht, 2011). In nutshell, narcissists are highly driven to endure their individual and 

others insights of themselves as greater beings.  They exhibit self-promotion and are disposed to imagine about 

infinite capability and control. (Hook, 200). 

The third dimension of dark triad, psychopathy, is also found to be a significant predictor of relational aggression in 

adolescent students. Psychopathy explained the 26.5% variance in the relational aggression [R =.515; F (1, 607) = 

218.635, p<.01]. According to Cleckley (1988), psychopathy as having both personality and behavioral 

characteristics that may include artificial appeal, superficial feelings, absence of empathy and regret, proneness to 

boredom, failure to prevent problematic behavior, and persistent desecration of social standards. In addition, 

insensitivity and coldness are considered a crucial feature of psychopathy (Frick & Hare, 2001). Another 

characteristic of psychopathy which is important with reference to adolescent that it has been shown to be fairly 

stable across teenage period in terms of constancy and level of felonious conduct (Lynam, Miller, Vachon, Loeber, 

&Stouthamer-Loeber, 2009). 

Psychopathy is a severe personality disorder that first revealed itself early in life and continues during most of the 

lifetime. Most clinicians and investigators agree that psychopathy is related to a collection of emotional, relational, 

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and behavioral features, vital to which are a profound absence of regret or guilt and a cold-hearted neglect for the 

feelings, rights, and prosperity of others (Cleckley, 1988; Hare, 1996). Individuals with this condition are typically 

described as impulsive, self-centered, deceiving, sensation-seeking, and irresponsible. Given these characteristics, it 

is not astonishing that psychopaths commit a disproportionate amount of severe repetitive misconduct, violence and 

often come into interaction with the criminal justice system. Findings of previous researches are in line with the 

results of the present study that psychopathy is significant predictors of relational aggression. (Holdship, 2015; 

Coyne, Nelson, Graham-Kevan, Keister, & David, 2010). Furthermore, a study on females endorse the positive 

relationship between relational aggression and psychopathic traits (Marotta, 2016). According to Czar, Dahlen, 

Bullock and Nicholson (2011) psychopathic traits are predictive of relational aggression. Further, specific 

personality traits inherent in psychopathy can help predict frequency of relational aggression (Holdship, 2012). In 

the same line a study conducted on Canadian teenagers longitudinally revealed that psychopathy predicted bullying 

throughout adolescence (Free, 2017). 

According to the findings of present study economic status has a moderating effect on the relationship of dark triad 

and relational aggression (see table 3,4). Previous researched endorse this notion. Like a research supported the idea 

that economic status and economic activity have a part in determining the personality traits (Yang, & Lester, 2016). 

Another study supported the notion that socioeconomic status has impact on the adolescent aggression (Shameem, 

& Hamid, 2014). 

In nutshell, machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy were found to be significant predictor of relation 

aggression in adolescents. Economic status has a moderating effect on the relationship of dark triad and relational 

aggression. The variance explained by them ranges from 18.9%-26.5%. psychopathy is found to be explaining more 

variance in relational aggression among adolescents as compared to the other two members of dark triad. 

Narcissism and machiavellianism were differently related with demonstrations of hostility amongst youngsters. 

Psychopathy was steadily linked to all types of aggression, however machiavellianism only foretold relational 

aggression (Paulhus, Curtis, & Jones, 2017). Finding of the present study revealed that dark triad is a significant 

determinant of undesirable behavior of relational aggression moderated by economic status of individuals so there 

is need to address these personality aspects of adolescents to lessen such negative behaviors. Information is worth 

implication for parents, educationists and counselors as well. 

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