ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that personality measurement has considerably more to offer than only the prediction of positive work-related outcomes and may also be capable of predicting negative behaviors. In this respect, the dark triad can definitely be considered personalities that predict negative behaviors based on the assumption that deviant work-place behaviors may be best predicted by deviant personality traits. Counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) are considered deviant behaviors, and our understanding of them may thus be enhanced by viewing measures of deviant or aberrant personality characteristics as predicting them. Moreover, there is growing evidence that the dark triad may be useful in predicting some of the variance in CWBs unaccounted by the Five-Factor Model or integrity tests. Research findings support the relationship between high Machiavellians and CWB. Machiavellianism is thought to be a contributing factor to unethical business behaviors of various types, and individuals scoring high ratings on Machiavellianism are more likely to defraud others in an organizational context.
