Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Gary N. Burns, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Michael C. King, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Amanda Thayer, Ph.D.
Fourth Advisor
Lisa A. Steelman, Ph.D.
Abstract
This study examines the influence of the Dark Triad personality traits—Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy—on workplace team dynamics, particularly through the use of hard and soft interpersonal influence tactics. The research focuses on Team Member Exchange (TMX) as a measure of perceived relationship quality among team members. Using a cross-sectional survey of employed adults recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), the study investigated the relationships between Dark Triad traits, influence tactics, and TMX. The findings reveal that while Narcissism is positively correlated with TMX, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy show more complex patterns of association, impacted by the choice of influence tactics. The results contribute to the understanding of how manipulative behaviors affect team relationships and provide insights into managing interpersonal dynamics in organizational settings. Future research should explore these relationships longitudinally and incorporate multi-source evaluations to capture a more comprehensive perspective on team interactions.
Recommended Citation
Bain, Jarret Nathan, "The Marionette Among Us: The Dark Triad, Influence Tactics, and the Fabric of Team Relationships" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 1549.
https://repository.fit.edu/etd/1549
