Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Biol Psychol. 2023 Apr;179:108567. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108567. Epub 2023 Apr 20.
Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) show sex differences and associations with hormones. Understanding aetiology may assist in mitigating the harm of these potentially adverse characteristics. Low second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is hypothesised to be a marker of high prenatal testosterone exposure and may provide important information about organisational hormones. The aim of the present study was to measure Dark Triad and Big 5 personality traits in relation to digit ratio, salivary testosterone, and cortisol.
A non-clinical sample (N = 268; 49.25% Female, age M25.20 ± 8.77 yrs) completed the Short Dark Triad and International Personality Inventory Pool - Mini. Afternoon saliva was analysed for testosterone and cortisol, and 2D:4D finger ratios were measured.
Males scored higher on DT traits than females. Females scored higher on Big 5 agreeableness and neuroticism. Males had higher testosterone and cortisol levels and lower 2D:4D than females. Digit ratio correlated inversely with salivary testosterone, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Testosterone levels correlated positively with cortisol levels and psychopathy and negatively with agreeableness, neuroticism, and Machiavellianism.
These results provide indications that Machiavellianism and psychopathy (Dark Triad) traits, but not narcissism or Big 5 traits, are linked to markers of prenatal testosterone exposure. Results also replicate sex differences seen in 2D:4D digit ratios, with males having a shorter second-relative-to-forth finger. Links between circulating testosterone, digit ratios, cortisol and personality traits provide further information about potential biological bases of personality.
黑暗人格特质（DT）（包括精神病态、马基雅维利主义和自恋）存在性别差异，并与激素有关。了解发病机制可能有助于减轻这些潜在不良特征的危害。低二到四指比（2D:4D）被假设为高产前睾酮暴露的标志物，它可能为组织激素提供重要信息。本研究旨在测量与数字比率、唾液睾酮和皮质醇有关的黑暗人格特质和大五人格特质。
非临床样本（N=268；49.25%为女性，年龄 M25.20±8.77 岁）完成了短黑暗人格特质和国际人格特质问卷池-迷你。下午分析唾液中的睾酮和皮质醇，并测量 2D:4D 手指比率。
男性在 DT 特质上的得分高于女性。女性在大五人格特质中的宜人性和神经质得分较高。男性的睾酮和皮质醇水平较高，2D:4D 较低。数字比率与唾液睾酮、马基雅维利主义和精神病态呈负相关。睾酮水平与皮质醇水平和精神病态呈正相关，与宜人性、神经质和马基雅维利主义呈负相关。
这些结果表明，马基雅维利主义和精神病态（黑暗人格特质）特征，而不是自恋或大五人格特质，与产前睾酮暴露的标志物有关。结果还复制了 2D:4D 手指比率中所见的性别差异，男性的第二相对于第四手指较短。循环睾酮、数字比率、皮质醇和人格特质之间的联系为人格的潜在生物学基础提供了更多信息。
