Scale Overview
The Dark Triad Dirty Dozen – DTDD was developed by Peter K. Jonason & Gregory D. Webster (2010). It is designed to measure Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, Narcissism). The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, Narcissism.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Machiavellianism |
3,8,9,10 |
4 |
| Psychopathy |
1,2,11,12 |
4 |
| Narcissism |
4,5,6,7 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 12 to 84. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Dark Triad Traits: 12 – 35
- Moderate Dark Triad Traits: 36 – 59
- High Dark Triad Traits: 60 – 84
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Narcissism (a = .83), Machiavellianism (a = .78), Psychopathy (a = .80).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.