Could the Younger Be Darker? A Cross-Sectional Study on the Dark Triad Levels Across the Lifespan

Our study delves into the trajectory of the Dark Triad traits and their connection with the aging process. Using a cross-sectional survey with 1079 participants who responded to the Short Dark Triad, aged 18 to 81 (M = 33.56; SD = 13.91), we found age-related variations in Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Machiavellianism peaks in youth and subsequently declines, with a large effect size, while psychopathy displays similar patterns with a medium effect size. Contrarily, narcissism demonstrated stability across age groups. Our findings contribute to understanding the interplay between the Dark Triad traits and aging, shedding light on their association.