Abstract

This study explored the relationship between empathy and aggression, specifically examining the role of the Dark Tetrad traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. Aggression can lead to various negative consequences, including social maladjustment, interpersonal conflict, and crime. Therefore, understanding the psychological mechanisms behind aggression is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies. While empathy is often viewed as a protective factor that reduces aggression, previous research has yielded inconsistent results, suggesting that personality traits may play a significant role. A total of 510 adults aged 19 and older participated by completing assessments of empathy, Dark Tetrad traits, and aggression. We employed structural equation modeling to investigate the indirect pathways through which empathy relates to Dark Tetrad traits and, subsequently, to aggression. The results showed that the direct effect of empathy on aggression was not significant. However, empathy exhibited a significant negative indirect effect on aggression through psychopathy and sadism. In contrast, narcissism displayed an unusual pathway, indicating that it requires separate consideration. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for dark personality traits when interpreting the relationship between empathy and aggression. They also suggest that empathy-based interventions could benefit from addressing individual differences, such as personality traits that are closely related to both empathy and aggression.