The dark triad and counterproductive work behaviours: The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis

Abstract

: Counterproductive Work Behaviours (CWBs) pose significant challenges in public sector organizations, negatively impacting service quality, integrity, and employee performance. While prior research has highlighted the role of individual differences in predicting CWBs, empirical evidence in the Malaysian public sector is sparse. This study explores the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits, namely Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy, and CWBs among public sector employees in Selangor, categorizing CWBs into Type S (self-serving), Type O (organization-serving), and Type D (Duo). Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 588 employees through structured questionnaires employing five-point Likert scales. Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyze the relationships between variables. Results indicate significant positive associations between Dark Triad traits and overall CWBs, with Machiavellianism and Psychopathy showing stronger links to Type S, while Narcissism correlates modestly with Type D. Type O CWBs exhibited weak correlations with all Dark Triad traits. Despite the modest effect sizes, the findings emphasize the relevance of maladaptive personality traits in workplace deviance, also contribute to the literature by providing empirical insights from the Malaysian public sector, highlighting the need to consider personality traits in employee management and suggesting future research should utilize multivariate analyses for deeper exploration of predictive relationships and moderating factors.