Leadership and the dark triad : How self-uncertainty helps malevolent leaders rise to the top

Be build on the concept of self-related uncertainty to explain why individuals with antisocial personalities may be more likely to attain leadership positions in the upper echelons of organizations. In three experiments (Ns = 141, 238 and 602), we showed that individuals who score high on the dark triad of personality (i.e. psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism) react to the distress associated with self-related uncertainty through enhanced hostility against others, which in turn increases their motivation to lead. Our results provide evidence of the significant role played by self-uncertainty in explaining why and when dark triad individuals are able to attain leadership positions. We discuss implications for theory and research on the dark triad, leadership, and identity, and their relevance for understanding both organizational and public leadership.