Studies have linked individual differences in dark triad personality traits with increased risk-taking. The dark triad traits include Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. People with high levels of dark triad traits perceive more benefits from risk-taking. In turn, this may motivate risky gambling behaviours. The researchers examined if benefit perceptions of risk-taking might explain the link between the dark triad traits and gambling behaviour in a blackjack task. They found that higher levels of dark triad traits and benefit perceptions of risk-taking were associated with making risky gambling decisions in the blackjack task. The association of the dark triad traits and gambling behaviour was partly explained by benefit perceptions of risk-taking. The association between the dark triad traits and benefit perceptions of risk-taking was stronger for men.
