The Relationship between Personality Traits and Aggressive Driving: The Big Five and the Dark Triad

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyze the role that personality traits belonging to the Big Five and the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) have on aggressive driving. 318 undergraduate students with a driver’s license completed a battery of tests assessing Big Five personality traits (TIPI), Dark Triad (DD) and aggressive driving (DAS and DAX). Hierarchical regressions analyses controlling for respondents’ age and gender variables supported the predictive utility of the Big Five personality traits and the Dark Triad. Results showed that agreeableness, emotional stability and openness to experience predict various aspects of aggressive driving. Machiavellianism and narcissism are significant predictors of various forms of anger expression in driving after controlling for the effects of the Big Five personality traits.