Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Vulnerable Dark Triad and Empathy: Two Moderated-Mediation Models

Bond, Elizabeth A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1681992895536619

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Psychology, Clinical.
The vulnerable dark triad (VDT) is a group of maladaptive personality styles consisting of vulnerable narcissism, secondary psychopathy, and borderline personality disorder, which has been found to be associated with empathic deficits. Past research has investigated a wide range of factors that may contribute to these deficits, such as alexithymia (the inability to identify or describe one’s own emotions), an invalidating childhood environment, negative mood state, anxiety, and self-compassion. However, a cohesive model linking these factors together has not yet been developed and investigated. The current study tested two moderated-mediation models with the goal of further understanding the association between the VDT and empathic deficits. In the first model, we hypothesized that alexithymia would mediate the relationship between the VDT and empathy (HY1), and that invalidating childhood environment would moderate the path from the VDT to alexithymia (HY2). In the second model, we hypothesized that negative mood states and state anxiety would mediate the relationship between the VDT and empathy (HY3), and that state self-compassion would moderate the path from the VDT to negative mood states and state anxiety. These models were tested using a college student sample of 236 participants who completed a collection of self-report measures online. Results partially supported Hypothesis 1, as alexithymia was found to mediate the relationship between both BPD tendencies and vulnerable narcissism, and affective empathy. The results of remaining mediation and moderated-mediation analyses did not support Hypotheses 2, 3, or 4.
Catherine Lutz-Zois (Advisor)
Julie Walsh-Messinger (Committee Member)
Jackson Goodnight (Committee Member)
118 p.
Psychology
vulnerable dark triad; empathy; alexithymia; self-compassion; negative mood state; anxiety; invalidating childhood environment; moderated-mediation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bond, E. A. (2023). The Vulnerable Dark Triad and Empathy: Two Moderated-Mediation Models [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1681992895536619

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bond, Elizabeth. The Vulnerable Dark Triad and Empathy: Two Moderated-Mediation Models. 2023. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1681992895536619.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bond, Elizabeth. "The Vulnerable Dark Triad and Empathy: Two Moderated-Mediation Models." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1681992895536619

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

dayton1681992895536619
85
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.