The incremental effect of Dark personality over the Big Five in workplace bullying: Evidence from perpetrators and targets. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernández-del-Río, Elena; Ramos-Villagrasa, Pedro J.; Escartín, Jordi
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 168(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Workplace bullying -- Narcissism -- Machiavellianism -- Psychopathy -- Sadism -- Big Five; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110291
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: The current study analyzes the relationship between workplace bullying (self-reported experience of being a target and perpetration of bullying behaviors), Big Five and Dark Tetrad personality traits. The sample comprised 613 employees (54% female) from different Spanish organizations. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that neuroticism and Machiavellianism were positively related to being a target to bullying-related behaviors, whereas narcissism was negatively related. In the case of perpetrators, narcissism and sadism were positively, and agreeableness negatively related to workplace bullying behaviors. We conclude that personality traits are different in targets and perpetrators and should always be considered when investigating workplace bullying. Highlights: Dark Tetrad has incremental predictive validity of workplace bullying over Big Five. High neuroticism and especially Machiavellianism were related to being a target. Low agreeableness, high narcissism and sadism were related to being a bully. Sadism fully mediates the effect of psychopathy on bullying others at work.