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Experts Urge Removal of Stigmatizing 'Dark Triad' Term

10/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University, Purdue University, and the University of Georgia are calling for removing the term "dark triad" from psychological literature.
The term covers psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, which can stigmatize individuals with diagnosable disorders.
They argue that labeling people with this negative term creates social rejection and employment difficulties.
The researchers criticize sensationalized titles in psychology because they undermine scientific integrity.

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Story summary

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University, Purdue University, and the University of Georgia are calling for removing the term "dark triad" from psychological literature.
The term covers psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, which can stigmatize individuals with diagnosable disorders.
They argue that labeling people with this negative term creates social rejection and employment difficulties.
The researchers criticize sensationalized titles in psychology because they undermine scientific integrity.