The effects of the dark and light triad traits on entrepreneurs' coping strategies and psychological well-being

Abstract

Research has often portrayed entrepreneurs in largely positive terms, reflecting their contributions to innovation, employment, and economic growth. At the same time, it is well recognized that entrepreneurial activity can also involve harmful and un ethical behaviors, as evidenced by numerous cases of misconduct among business owners and managers. This darker aspect of entrepreneurship aligns with existing theories on the dual nature of human personality, which posit that people generally possess both dark and light personality traits. Many scholars turned their attention to the “dark triad,” which comprises the traits of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. This resulted in a somewhat “negative bias” in the broader psychology research, which responded with the introduction of a contrasting “light triad,” comprising the traits of Kantianism, humanism, and faith in humanity. While some authors maintain that more studies on the negative aspects of entrepreneurship are needed, this emphasis appears disproportionate as it largely overlooks the role of prosocial traits in entrepreneurial behavior. This paper addresses this gap in the literature and responds to calls for research that explores both the dark and light triad traits through the following research question: What are the effects of entrepreneurs' dark and light triad traits on their coping strategies and psychological well- being (PWB)? Survey data gathered from 179 entrepreneurs in Malta revealed that the dark triad is associated with maladaptive emotion- based coping strategies, while the light triad is associated with the more adaptive task- based and avoidance- based coping strategies, as well as with positive PWB. This implies that entrepreneurs with darker traits tend to cope with adversity less effectively than those with light traits, who, in turn, enjoy more positive emotions and life satisfaction.