The Dark Triad (DT) traits are differentially related to psychometrically assessed life history strategy (LHS), such that psychopathy is strongly associated with a faster LHS whereas narcissism appears to be, if anything, a slow LHS indicator.  However, the research supporting these generalizations has been based largely on undergraduate samples in which LHS has been measured using the Arizona Life History Battery (ALHB) (or its short version the Mini-K), an instrument that arguably lacks adequate coverage of low-extraversion content linked to a slower LHS.  In August 2017, 929 U.S. MTurk workers completed three DT instruments (the Trimmed MACH*, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and the Self-Report of Psychopathy), a 10-item Big Five inventory, a 42-item version of the ALHB (the K-SF-42), and the Life History Rating Form (LHRF), which is less weighted toward high extraversion content than the ALHB.  Factor analysis of the DT instruments yielded factors corresponding to callousness, secondary psychopathy, and “socially adaptive” narcissism (leadership/authority and grandiose exhibitionism).  Callousness and secondary psychopathy were fast LHS indicators with respect to both LHS instruments.  “Socially adaptive” narcissism appeared as a slow LHS indicator with respect to the K-SF-42 but as a fast LHS indicator with respect to the LHRF.  Variation in extraversion accounted entirely for the K-SF-42’s positive association with “socially adaptive” narcissism.  This study suggests that narcissism’s apparent status as a slow LHS indicator may be more a matter of measurement than of substance.

General Note:  All responses are shown exactly as provided by participants.  Reverse-keyed items (indicated below for each scale) must be reversed before analysis.

Insight, Planning, and Control: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree.

General Altruism: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree.

Religiosity: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree.

Experiences in Close Relationships: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree. All items are reverse-keyed, i.e. stronger endorsement indicates less secure attachment.

Relationships with Parents: 1 = Not At All, 2 = A Little, 3 = Some; 4 = A Lot

Kin Contact and Support: 1 = Not At All, 2 = A Little, 3 = Some; 4 = A Lot

Friends Contact and Support:  1 = Not At All, 2 = A Little, 3 = Some; 4 = A Lot

Life History Rating Form: 1 = Not descriptive, 8 = Very descriptive. Reverse-keyed items: 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20.

Trimmed MACH*: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree. Reverse-keyed item: 2.

Narcissistic Personaliy Inventory: The narcissistic choices are 1.A, 2.B., 3.B, 4.B., 5.B., 6.A., 7.A., 8.A., 9.A., 10.B., 11.B, 12.A, 13.A, 14.B, 15.A, 16.B, 17.B, 18.A, 19.A, 20.B, 21.A, 22.A, 23.A, 24.A, 25.B.  Narcissism factors: Items 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, Leadership/Authority; Items 2, 4, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, Grandiose Exhibitionism; Items 8, 9, 12, 13, Entitlement/Exploitativeness.

Self-Report of Psychopathy-III-20: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree. Reverse-keyed items: 2, 3, 4, 17, and 20. Items 1-5: Interpersonal Manipulation. Items 6-10: Criminal Tendencies. Items 11-15: Erratic Lifestyle. Items 16-20: Callous Affect. 

Extraversion items from BFI-10.  1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree. I see myself as someone who…   Item 1 is reverse-keyed.