The Relation Between Attitudes Toward the Treatment of Animals and the Dark Triad

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that attitudes toward the treatment of animals predict differences in the treatment, or mistreatment, of animals. Recent research in the field of personality theory has highlighted the “Dark Triad” – a combination of elevated levels of Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy – as a significant predictor of antisocial behaviors. This study examined the relation between scores on the Short Dark Triad (SDT) scale and the Attitudes Toward the Treatment of Animals Scale (ATTAS). The SDT scale assesses individual differences on three personality traits: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy. The ATTAS assesses individual differences in concern for the treatment of animals across three dimensions: Cruelty to animals, Neglect of animals, and the Utilitarian use of animals. Participants in the study were n = 95 undergraduate students (n = 67 women and n = 28 men). Bivariate correlations revealed that SDT Total scores were negatively correlated with ATTAS Cruelty (-0.32) and Neglect (-0.24) scores, indicating that those who scored higher on the SDT scale expressed less concern about the abuse and neglect of animals. At the trait level, Machiavellianism (-0.32) and Narcissism (-0.23) were associated with ATTAS Cruelty scores; and were also associated with ATTAS Neglect scores (-0.23 and -0.20, respectively).

Author

• Bill Henry, Metropolitan State University of Denver