Hazardous drinking and the dark triad: an antidote for manipulative behaviour among students

In recent times, increase in lack of morality, grandiose identity, emotional insecurity, impulsivity, and manipulative behaviours are stochastic traits behind students’ tendency to cheat and manipulate others. This study investigated the link between hazardous drinking, selected demographic factors and social aversive personality traits in a cross-sectional sample of 264 undergraduates purposively sampled. Data were obtained using standardised measures of the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the 27-item version Dark Triad (SD3). Multiple linear regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to examine the study variables. The results indicated a direct high correlation between hazardous alcohol use and dependence syndrome. The regressions results confirmed the study hypotheses that there will be a joint prediction of demographic variables and dark triad on hazardous drinking. The current findings suggested that older students and manipulative students with traits of Machiavellianism and psychopathy were more susceptible to engage in hazardous drinking. This underscored the recommendation that a well-structured psychosocial-educational program is a veritable University public health-based intervention to address the prevailing dark triad traits amongst students. Policy implications and directions for future studies were also outlined.