The Dark Core of personality: Individual’s expression of locus of control and spirituality

Abstract

Dark personality traits are amongst the most popular research topics recently. In 2018 the Dark Core of personality was proposed as a common core able to capture all aversive subclinical manifestations. In this study, we aimed at investigating how individuals with high scores on the Dark Core perceive control (i.e., in an internal or external manner) and express their spirituality. Participants were mostly females (85.17%), aged between 18 and 73 years-old (M = 36.00; SD = 12.26), and identified themselves as agnostics (22.63%) or Catholics (19.05%). Participants responded to a measure that assessed the Dark Core of personality (D35), the Locus of Control Scale (ELOCUS) and the WHOQOL-spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB). We used a path analysis model to estimate their connection. Results indicated that the Dark Core better predicts external locus of control, which respectively predicts connect, strength and faith, which can be considered as spiritual coping strategies. We concluded that men and women tend to blame external forces when things do not go their way and use personal beliefs as means to relieve emotional distress.

Keywords

• Dark traits
• Locus of Control
• Personality
• Religiousness