توسعه مدل چندسطحی تعامل انگیزش درونی و ویژگی‌های تاریک شخصیت در شکل‌گیری رفتارهای پرخاشگرانه مزمن

مسعود نویدی مقدم

Authors

Masoud Navidi Moghadam Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7035-4128

Keywords:

Intrinsic Motivation, Dark Personality Traits, Dark Triad, Chronic Aggressive Behavior, Multilevel Model, University Students

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Chronic aggressive behavior is a significant psychological and social problem influenced by personality, motivational, and contextual factors. The present study aimed to develop and test a multilevel model explaining chronic aggressive behavior based on the interaction between intrinsic motivation and dark personality traits among university students in Tehran.

Methodology: This correlational study employed a multilevel structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population consisted of university students in Tehran during the 2026 academic year. A total of 520 participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling, and data from 503 participants were retained after data screening procedures. Research instruments included the Academic Motivation Scale, the Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3), and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS-27 and AMOS-26 through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and multilevel analysis.

Findings: The results indicated that intrinsic motivation was negatively associated with dark personality traits (r = -0.41, p < 0.001) and chronic aggressive behavior (r = -0.46, p < 0.001). Dark personality traits showed a significant positive relationship with chronic aggressive behavior (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). The structural model demonstrated satisfactory fit indices (CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.051). Path analysis revealed that intrinsic motivation had a significant negative direct effect on chronic aggressive behavior (β = -0.31, p < 0.001), whereas dark personality traits had a significant positive direct effect (β = 0.49, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the interaction between intrinsic motivation and dark personality traits significantly predicted chronic aggressive behavior (β = -0.18, p < 0.001). The final model explained 52.4% of the variance in chronic aggressive behavior.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that dark personality traits constitute a major risk factor for chronic aggressive behavior, whereas intrinsic motivation functions as a protective factor. Moreover, intrinsic motivation weakens the adverse impact of dark personality traits on aggression, highlighting its potential role in prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing chronic aggressive behaviors among university students.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alavi, M., Latif, A. A., Ramayah, T., & Tan, J. Y. (2022). Dark Tetrad of Personality, Cyberbullying, and Cybertrolling Among Young Adults. Current Psychology, 42(32), 28441-28451. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03892-4

Aluja, A., Garcı́a, L. F., Rossier, J., Ostendorf, F., Glicksohn, J., Barry, O., Bellaj, T., Ruch, W., Wang, W., Surányi, Z., Ścigała, D. K., Čekrlija, Đ., Stivers, A. W., Blas, L. D., Valdivia-Devia, M., Jemaa, S. B., Atitsogbe, K. A., & Hansenne, M. (2022). Dark Triad Traits, Social Position, and Personality: A Cross-Cultural Study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 53(3-4), 380-402. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221211072816

Čopková, R., & Janitorová, V. (2021). Dark Triad and Motivation to Become a Helping Professional. Verejná Správa a Spoločnosť, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.33542/vss2021-1-04

Diller, S. J., Czibor, A., Szabó, Z. P., Restás, P., Jonas, E., & Frey, D. (2021). The Positive Connection Between Dark Triad Traits and Leadership Levels in Self- And Other-Ratings. Leadership Education Personality an Interdisciplinary Journal, 3(2), 117-131. https://doi.org/10.1365/s42681-021-00025-6

Fathirezaie, Z., Bădicu, G., Yağın, F. H., Aghdasi, M., Sani, S. H. Z., Abbaspour, K., Ballı, Ö. M., Entezar, S., & Ardigò, L. P. (2024). Personality and Motivation of Physical Activity in Adolescent Girls: Effects of Perceived Parental Support and Social Physical Anxiety. BMC public health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18060-5

Hancock, T., Waites, S. F., Johnson, C., & Stevens, J. (2023). How Do Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy Tendencies Influence Consumer Avoidance and Revenge-Seeking Following a Service Failure? Journal of Consumer Marketing, 40(6), 721-733. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcm-05-2022-5390

Jiang, Y., Tong, L., Cao, W., & Wang, H. (2024). Dark Triad and Relational Aggression: The Mediating Role of Relative Deprivation and Hostile Attribution Bias. Frontiers in psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1487970

Jovanović, T., Mijatov, M., & Šuligoj, M. (2021). Does a Visitor of Dark Sites Have a Dark Personality? Primenjena Psihologija, 14(4), 407-442. https://doi.org/10.19090/pp.2021.4.407-442

Khan, Z., & Khan, A. Y. (2023). The Relationship Between the Dark Triad and Aggression in Income Tax Employees: Moral Disengagement as a Mediator. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 38(4), 603-618. https://doi.org/10.33824/pjpr.2023.38.4.35

Lainidi, O., Chalili, V., Maliousis, I., Spiliou, M., Tzioti, E., Koutsimani, P., & Montgomery, A. (2023). Perspective Chapter: The Dark Triad in the Organization – A Review of the Evidence and Future Recommendations. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1001365

Lämmle, L., & Ziegler, M. (2021). Our Vulnerable Dark Side—Two Laboratory Approaches. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(8), 3941. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083941

Liang, T., Wang, X., Ng, S., Xu, X., & Ning, Z. (2024). The Dark Side of Mental Toughness: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between the Dark Triad Traits and Mental Toughness. Frontiers in psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403530

Lyons, M., Houghton, E., Brewer, G., & O’Brien, F. (2020). The Dark Triad and Sexual Assertiveness Predict Sexual Coercion Differently in Men and Women. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(7-8). https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520922346

Maneiro, L., Navas, M. P., Geel, M. v., Cutrín, O., & Vedder, P. (2020). Dark Triad Traits and Risky Behaviours: Identifying Risk Profiles From a Person-Centred Approach. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(17), 6194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176194

Molenda, Z., Marchlewska, M., Rogoza, M., Michalski, P., Górska, P., Szczepańska, D., & Cisłak, A. (2022). What Makes an Internet Troll? On the Relationships Between Temperament (BIS/BAS), Dark Triad, and Internet Trolling. Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2022-5-11

Nai, A., Maier, J., & Vranić, J. (2021). Personality Goes a Long Way (For Some). An Experimental Investigation Into Candidate Personality Traits, Voters’ Profile, and Perceived Likeability. Frontiers in Political Science, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.636745

Naor-Ziv, R. (2025). “The Dark Beholder”: Personality Profile of Dark Visual Art Fans. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 44(2), 906-920. https://doi.org/10.1177/02762374251401088

Okray, Z., & Müzzin, E. E. (2024). Investigation of Personality Traits, Dark Triad and Aggression in the Context of Impostor Phenomenon in University Students. 1(1). https://doi.org/10.35365/eass.24.1.04

Panatik, S. A., Raof, N. N. A., Nordin, N. A., Yusof, J., & Shahrin, R. (2022). Effect of Dark Triad Personality on Cyberbullying Behavior Among Malaysian University Students. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, 25, 26-44. https://doi.org/10.55549/epess.1192356

Pechorro, P., Curtis, S. R., DeLisi, M., Marôco, J., & Nunes, C. (2022). Dark Triad Psychopathy Outperforms Self-Control in Predicting Antisocial Outcomes: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education, 12(6), 549-562. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12060041

Río, E. F. d., Ramos‐Villagrasa, P. J., & Escartín, J. (2021). The Incremental Effect of Dark Personality Over the Big Five in Workplace Bullying: Evidence From Perpetrators and Targets. Personality and individual differences, 168, 110291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110291

Rose, L., Miller, J. D., & Lynam, D. R. (2022). Validation of the Five-Factor Model Antagonistic Triad Measure. Assessment, 30(3), 782-797. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911211068083

Safitri, R. D., Lyona, A., Evi, E., Kotimah, C., & Karmiyati, D. (2023). Influence Dark Triad Personalities in Aggressive Behavior. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(12), 1061-1064. https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.4.1223.123402

Schattke, K., & Marion-Jetten, A. S. (2022). Distinguishing the Explicit Power Motives. Zeitschrift Für Psychologie, 230(4), 290-299. https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000481

Semerci̇, A. B., Güney, A., & Vural, G. B. (2025). Does Humor Style Affect Knowledge Hiding Behavior? The Roles of Personality and Communication Climate in Organizations. Sage Open, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251368463

Shukla, M., & Upadhyay, N. (2025). Cold Hearts and Dark Minds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Empathy Across Dark Triad Personalities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1546917

Singh, A., Naeem, A., & Chandiramani, K. (2020). Do Aggression and Impulsivity Dominate Dark Triad Across Genders? https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/t67xn

Szabó, E., Körmendi, A., Kurucz, G., Cropley, D. H., Olajos, T., & Pataky, N. (2022). Personality Traits as Predictors of Malevolent Creative Ideation in Offenders. Behavioral Sciences, 12(7), 242. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12070242

Szabó, Z. P., Czibor, A., Neve, J., Restás, P., Hadarics, M., Szíjjártó, L., Simon, E., Marót, J. L., Kun, Á., & Bereczkei, T. (2021). Development of the Hungarian Version of the Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3-HU): Psychometric Properties and Validity. Current Psychology, 42(14), 11628-11645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02470-4

Volkmer, S. A., Gaube, S., Raue, M., & Lermer, E. (2023). Troll Story: The Dark Tetrad and Online Trolling Revisited With a Glance at Humor. PLoS One, 18(3), e0280271. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280271

Wang, C.-Y., & Bi, K. (2024). Exploring the Influence of the Dark Triad on Indirect Cyber Aggression: A Longitudinal Study of a Taiwanese Sample. Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, 28(2), 105-111. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2024.0303

Wertag, A. (2023). Empathy and Dark Personalities. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107446

Wille, B., Heyde, F., Vergauwe, J., & Fruyt, F. D. (2022). Understanding Dark Side Personality at Work: Distinguishing and Reviewing Nonlinear, Interactive, Differential, and Reciprocal Effects. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 31(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsa.12407

Wnuk, M. (2025). The Indirect Relationship Between Religious Practices and Egoism at Work Through Dark-Triad Traits? A Sample of Polish Employees. Journal of religion and health, 64(6), 4467-4499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-025-02363-x

Wu, B., Zhou, L., Deng, Y., Zhao, J., & Liu, M. (2022). Online Disinhibition and Online Trolling Among Chinese College Students: The Mediation of the Dark Triad and the Moderation of Gender. Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, 25(11), 744-751. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2022.0046

Zhang, Z., Bian, S. N., Zhao, H., & Qi, C. (2022). Dark Triad and Cyber Aggression Among Chinese Adolescents During COVID-19: A Moderated Mediation Model. Frontiers in psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1011123