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Unveiling dark preferences: A meta-analytic examination of the Dark Triad and vocational interests
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Unveiling dark preferences: A meta-analytic examination of the Dark Triad and vocational interests

Tyler N.A. Fezzey, Peter D. Harms, Marcus Crede and Nicholas R. Lowery
Journal of vocational behavior, Vol.170, 104294
10/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2026.104294
Web of Science ID: WOS:001872776100001

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Abstract

Dark triad Machiavellianism Meta-analysis Narcissism Personality Psychopathy RIASEC Vocational interests Worker Attitudes Work Motivation
Despite mounting evidence of the importance of dark personality traits as antecedents of workplace behaviors, far less is known about how dark traits correspond with vocational interests that may inform where individuals choose to work. To address this issue and synthesize the existing literature, we meta-analyzed studies on the relationships between the Dark Triad (D3) personality traits – narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy – and RIASEC vocational interests (k = 32, N = 13,679). Scores on all three dark traits were positively associated with Enterprising interests, with the strongest association observed for narcissism. Beyond Enterprising interests, each trait showed a different zero-order profile across the remaining vocational interests. Moderator analyses showed minor gender differences in how Machiavellianism and psychopathy (but not narcissism) scores relate to vocational interests. Methodological subgroup analyses indicated that some estimates varied by source, sample type, and D3 measure, but there was no substantial evidence of publication bias. Exploratory analyses suggest that individuals high in narcissism may be especially motivated by occupational prestige, whereas individuals high in Machiavellianism and psychopathy are more closely aligned with gender-typed vocational patterns that favor men-dominated fields. This study provides the first meta-analytic map of D3 associations across the full RIASEC vocational interest circumplex, distinguishes relatively robust relations from heterogeneous ones, and establishes a foundation for vocational counseling and future research on occupational self-selection.

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