An Investigation of the Differences in the Dark Triad and the Big Five Personality Traits Across Majors

Abstract

The Dark Triad (DT) personality traits include interrelated personality constructs which are Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, and research has shown that individuals who are high on the DT personality traits tend to choose occupations that provide outcomes compatible with these traits. Supporting this reasoning, the DT is suggested to have impacts on major choices of university students. Previous research has also shown that the Big Five (BF) personality traits influenced educational choices. The main aim of the current study was to examine whether or not self-selection based on these personality characteristics predicted career choices. Data was collected from 659 (359 female) newly enrolled students in seven academic majors (i.e., psychology, law, economics/business, engineering, political science, medicine, and education) in Turkey. Mean scores of the groups were compared using two (gender) by seven (major) analysis of variance with the DT and BF personality traits as the dependent variables. The results revealed that Machiavellianism scores of economics/business and engineering students were significantly higher than those of psychology students. In addition, psychopathy scores of engineering, economics/business, and political science students were higher than those of psychology students. Neuroticism scores of students from psychology departments were higher than those of engineering, economics/business, and political science students. Law and education students’ neuroticism scores were also higher than those of students from engineering and economics/business departments. Finally, interaction effects of major and gender were significant for openness to experience and conscientiousness. The findings are discussed regarding theoretical and practical implications along with suggestions for future research.