Locating the Dark Triad in a Multidimensional Personality Space.

The Dark Triad traits of Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and Narcissism should be clearly recognizable within a multidimensional personality space. Two such personality spaces were investigated in this study: HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience); and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ) space (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Activity, Sensation Seeking, and Aggressiveness). Our sample comprised 289 participants (137 males, 145 females, 7 unspecified) who completed these three questionnaires: HEXACO-60, ZKA-PQ/SF, and the SD3, assessing the Dark Triad. We reduced the dimensionality of each space to that of a 2D representation using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). Three research questions guided the data analysis: (a) Do the HEXACO and ZKA-PQ SSA spaces conform to the structure of a radex? (b) Will these spaces remain invariant following the entry of the Dark Triad traits into the analyses? (c) Where will the Dark Triad traits be located in each SSA space? For ZKA-PQ space, the structure was clearly indicative of a radex, both prior to entering the Dark Triad traits into the analysis, and subsequent to this. Psychopathy and Machiavellianism were in close proximity in the Aggressiveness region; Narcissism was positioned at the common origin. In contrast, HEXACO space did not conform to a radex; furthermore, the presence of the Dark Triad traits distorts this 2D SSA space.

The role of cultural worldviews in predicating gambling risk perception and behavior in a Chinese sample.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationships between cultural worldviews, gambling risk perception, and gambling behavior with a sample of tourists in Macao. METHODS: Participants were enrolled at famous landmarks and casinos in Macao, China. Data were collected using several instruments to assess an individual's cultural worldviews, gambling risk perceptions, and gambling intentions. RESULTS: We found that the three-dimensional solution was valid for the Chinese version of the gambling expectancy scale. Correlational and mediational analyses revealed that the relationship between an individualistic worldview and gambling intention was fully mediated by gambling risk perception. Respondents with an egalitarian worldview perceived greater risk associated with gambling than those with other worldviews. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated the important influence of cultural variables on perceived risk and behavior in gambling. Moreover, understanding gamblers' worldviews could be beneficial for problem gambling interventions. Future research directions and the limitations of the findings were discussed.

Psychocultural Mechanisms of the Propensity toward Criminal Homicide: A Multidimensional View of the Culture of Honor.

Introduction: Theory of the Culture of Honor is one of the few models in criminology specifically geared toward homicide. It proposes that, in certain societies, men must never show weakness and are required to react violently to any perceived threats to their reputation, thereby increasing their probability of committing a homicide. This has been suggested as the main explanation for the high rates of this type of crime in Brazil, particularly in the Northeast. Underlying this explanation there are complex mechanisms and processes that have yet to be clarified. Objectives: The present research aimed to investigate the workings of the possible psychocultural mechanisms underlying the culture of honor and the process through which they might affect the individual propensity toward homicide. Methods: A total of 336 Brazilian adults were assessed regarding a broad range of sociodemographic, psychological, and sociocultural variables, including their attitudes toward homicide. The resulting dataset was analyzed using Smallest Space Analysis and Facet Theory. Results: It seems that certain cultural elements associated to traditional masculinity and enhanced anger tend to promote negative personality traits and increase one's propensity toward committing homicide. Conclusion: The findings obtained not only confirm the Theory of the Culture of Honor for the propensity toward homicide, but also explicit and clarify some of the psychocultural processes and mechanisms involved, suggesting a new scientific framework.

Elección de un comportamiento urbano responsable a partir del beneficio, la saliencia del anuncio y la probabilidad de recibir aprobación y reproche / Opting for a Responsible Urban Behavior Based on Benefit, Salience of the Advertisement, and Likelihood of Receiving Social Approval or Criticism

Resumen A través de un estudio correlacional, esta investigación explora la influencia de posibles beneficios sociales y sus variables asociadas en la adopción de Comportamientos Urbanos Responsables (CUR). Teniendo en cuenta la complejidad del problema y el número de variables a explorar, se empleó el modelo de Teoría de Facetas. Además, se diseñó un cuestionario derivado de una "frase mapa" que presenta en forma de viñetas situaciones urbanas hipotéticas que exploran las variables en estudio. Participaron 177 individuos que estimaron la probabilidad de que un individuo involucrado en una viñeta adopte o no un CUR, a partir de variables como la distancia temporal y la magnitud del beneficio, la saliencia del anuncio de este beneficio, y la aprobación social y el reproche. Un análisis de distancias mínimas (SSA) mostró que los participantes reconocen estas variables a la hora de optar por un CUR. La distancia temporal para obtener el beneficio y la magnitud grande del beneficio resultaron estar altamente correlacionadas con la mayor estimación sobre la probabilidad de que un individuo elija un CUR. Se sugiere formular estrategias educativas y políticas públicas que conduzcan al desarrollo de la cooperación, la responsabilidad y la autorregulación, con el fin de contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida urbana y la convivencia en el medio urbano.

Abstract Through a correlational study, this research explores the influence of possible social benefits and associated variables on the adoption of Responsible Urban Behaviors (RUB). Considering the complexity of the problem and the number of variables to be explored, the Facet Theory model was used. Also, a questionnaire was created, which presented hypothetical urban situations in the form of vignettes that explored the variables under study. A total of 177 individuals participated and estimated the likelihood of an individual involved in a vignette adopting or not an RUB, based on variables such as the time and magnitude of the benefit, salience of the advertisement of such benefit, and social approval and criticism. The smallest space analysis showed that participants recognize these variables when it comes to opting for an RUB. The time to obtain the benefit and the magnitude of the benefit turned out to be highly correlated with the highest estimate of the likelihood of an individual choosing an RUB. This research suggests formulating educational strategies and public policies that lead to the development of cooperation, responsibility, and self-regulation, to help improve the quality of urban life and coexistence in the urban environment.

Male-on-male sexual assaults: an analysis of crime scene actions.

While the concept of male victimization is not a new phenomenon, the sexual assault of a male is a relatively new notion, emerging over the last 30 years in social research literature. Studies of female rape, pedophilia, and juvenile sex offenders have suggested that different styles of offending are reflected in the different types of behaviors committed by offenders at the crime scene. These studies suggest that there are three distinct themes of behavior: Control, Hostility, and Involvement. Using the crime scene actions of 305 male-on-male sexual assault from a U.K. national police database, multidimensional analysis was carried out. The proposed framework was found to be a useful way of classifying male-on-male sexual assaulters with 74% displaying a dominant theme. These resulted in 42% classified as displaying hostility, 23% as control, and 9% as involvement. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.