Contours of the envious personality: Reassessing the capacity of the Big Five and the Dark Triad personality traits in predicting dispositional envy

Although previous research suggests that Big Five (BF) and Dark Triad (DT) traits are related to dispositional envy, no studies have simultaneously examined the effects of both groups of traits on an envious disposition operationalised both as a general and dual construct. Moreover, possible mechanisms through which DT trait dimensions may relate to a personal tendency to envy remain obscure. This research presents two studies. First, BF and DT traits were examined as predictors of dispositional envy in a sample of 312 adult participants by using general, malicious, and benign envy scales. Overall, results showed that narcissism, and to a lesser degree Machiavellianism of DT, were the most consistent positive predictors of dispositional envy regardless of the instrument used to measure the construct. Trait neuroticism of BF was a significant positive predictor of an envious disposition measured as a general construct, conscientiousness was a significant negative predictor of envy measured as both a general and malicious disposition, while openness appeared as a weak positive predictor of a benign enviousness. Next, we examined the relationship of DT traits with enviousness in another sample of 233 participants and by using multidimensional measures of DT traits. The results indicated that Entitlement , the lack of Self-sufficiency of the narcissist dimension, and the Machiavellian Cynical view are the most significant factors in predicting dispositional envy . Different associations of BF and DT traits with dispositional envy, measured by distinctive scales, and the links of particular components of the DT traits dimensions with trait envy, were discussed.