Spotting the Dark Triad Traits in Faces | Psychopathy, Narcissism, & Machiavellianism

This video answers the question: Can the dark triad traits be detected in someone's face?
The dark triad comprises three traits that can appear together and they're usually subclinical, meaning they don't have anything to do with mental health treatment or psychopathology. the three traits are psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. With all three of these traits we see manipulation of different types and then specifically with psychopathy, we see traits like being callous/unemotional, pathological lying, and having a lack of empathy, remorse, or guilt. Narcissism has arrogance, a sense of entitlement, being envious, having fantasies of success and power, feeling special or unique, and it also has a lack of empathy component. With Machiavellianism, we see someone who's ruthless, has a cynical view, and disregards conventional morality. There's quite a bit of overlap between these dark triad traits.

Holtzman, Nicholas S. (2011). Facing a Psychopath: Detecting the Dark Triad from Emotionally-Neutral Faces, Using Prototypes From the Personality Faceaurus. Journal of Research in Personality. 45, 648-654.

Giacomin, M., & Rule, N. O. (2018). Eyebrows cue grandiose narcissism. Journal of Personality. doi:10.1111/jopy.12396

Shiramizu, V., Kozma, L., DeBruine, L., & Jones, B. (2019). Are dark triad cues really visible in faces? Personality & Individual Differences, 139, 214–216.

[para_bellum_]

Most narcissist I know never pay attention during a conversation. They usually just seem to be waiting until it's their turn to talk about themselves again.

[jypsyjewels]

I manage a lower-end hotel. I regularly meet everyone from the most upstanding citizen to the most manipulative. I can say the "trust you gut" method holds true, mostly. "Good" people will make you feel at ease. "Not Good" people will give you the creeps. But *really* manipulative people will also make you feel at ease - it is their skill - and right there is the danger zone.

[Maddie]

When I first meet someone I make it a habit of letting them talk a lot because depending on what they say and how they said it that tells a lot about them. Let people talk they will show and tell you who they are. It has been very helpful for me.

[spencerc]

Everyone saying if a person has a “dead look” in their eyes is evil but have no idea if that person has gone through trauma and pain to shape them into that emotional, lifeless state.

[magzlomeli]

When I'm in front of a sociopath, narcissist, psychopath I always get a sense that they see through me, they are assessing/studying me and I feel they are 'empty' as well.

[TekkLuthor]

You'll never truly know someone until you get in a fight with them

[margaretstafford]

Very interesting.I have learned from experience that I do not have a clue about what goes on behind other people's faces.I am constantly being astonished by the unexpected behaviour of human beings.

[markbirchall]

I've always found the old classic of see how they treat the waiter/waitress, teller at the bank, the postman or any other everyday, working person when they are spending money or receiving a person is a good indicator of the type of egocentricity you're getting with that person.

[firefeethok_tui]

When you around such a person, your insides are unsettled. Makes you feel unsure about whats next. Dont ignore that you cant calm down your “guts”. It’s a signal for the next move. That is, Move away from this type of feeling by avoiding the person, in general. These people can invade your space (and you FEEL it) without them even getting closer to you.

[Faith_Chi]

A good test is to watch them, if you can off-guard, to how they really treat an 'under-dog'. Their zero compassion says it all.

[cynthiaguarino]

The first thing I noticed about my ex-husband was his eyes. He could just sit there and stare at you without any expression on his face. It made me feel uncomfortable, but I wasn't sure why. When the judge ordered psych evals and we did MMPI'S, he was diagnosed with Vindictive narcissism and antisocial personality disorder.

[PatyMN]

Trust your gut, don’t let the mind talk you out of what you feel. Intuition never lies.

[michelleturner]

These types are getting more and more common. Once you have been a victim and figure out what you are dealing with, it’s much easier to spot. Not in looks though. Words and behaviour give it away once you are aware.

[daringgreatly]

There are plenty of narcs who look plain, frumpy, granola etc. They take great pride in not looking materialistic but are just as self absorbed and vain. It’s more important to discern the why and heart/head motivation of actions and appearances.

[bowenfarm]

A narcissist will pretend to listen when you talk with a bored look or with clenched jaw smile and a ‘can’t wait till you stop talking so I can talk about myself’ impatience. Never noticed the eye brow thing.

[katwoman]

I’ve learned so much since this experience. Before I met my narc, my definition of a narcissist was the
classic, stereotypical one that you think in your head you’d be able to spot a mile away. And if that’s your impression of one, you can find yourself in deep pretty easily. I always thought I listened to my gut, which I do, but when my gut was screaming at me, anxiety was throwing me for a loop, I thought it was jitters because I liked him so much and because he was such a master manipulator, I was using my head over my gut because I had fallen for the whole act, and early on, I honestly couldn’t have imagined anyone could be so deceptive so of course I was giving him the benefit of the doubt repeatedly. Messed me up for years afterward, even today I find myself ruminating over it all. At least I can see it clearly and he doesn’t t have an emotional hold over me any longer. It’s a slow process to overcome

[debracappiccille]

They have chilling stares when they are thinking about what they are going to do to you. Also, THE SMIRK they almost all have.

[AliceDont]

Narcissists will look right into your eyes as they swear that they're telling the truth and then lie to you. 😫

[fran]

All the toxic people I've met in my life have one thing in common: they don't know how to laugh, it's always a fake laugh and it's so exagerated that it just looks like an evil grin. The zone between the eyebrows that in normal people moves upwards when they laugh, stays down in narcs even when they act like they're dying of laughter. So they may even be smiling with their eyes but their brows stay in the "serious" position.

[JusticeALL.]

After being the victim of my narcissistic ex's (successful) smear campaign, I have learned to trust what people DO and NOT what they say. This goes for everyone, including family members. Narcissists are master manipulators. 'Normal' people who have not experienced the evil that narcissists are capable of do not, oftentimes, even believe what was done to me because it makes no sense to them. I understand narcissism all too well, albeit too late to avoid the permanent damage it caused my reputation and my life.