Experiencing social rejection during adolescence may contribute to the development of dark personality traits, a new study suggests. The research, published in the Journal of Personality, found that early experiences of social ostracism can lead to increased feelings of loneliness, which in turn may encourage the emergence of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. These traits, often referred to as the Dark Triad, are typically associated with manipulativeness, impulsivity, and an inflated sense of self-importance.
The researchers sought to examine how environmental factors, particularly social rejection, contribute to personality development. Previous studies have largely focused on genetic and biological explanations for personality traits, including the Dark Triad. While genetic influences play a role in shaping personality, the new study aimed to determine whether external factors, such as social ostracism, could also play a meaningful part.
Adolescence is a critical period in personality development, with traits still relatively malleable before stabilizing in adulthood. Given that social rejection is a common stressor in this stage of life, the researchers hypothesized that it could contribute to the formation of the Dark Triad, with loneliness serving as a key psychological link in this process.
“This study was initially inspired by observations of adolescents in real life,” said study author Junwei Pu of Yangtze University.” We noticed that some individuals exhibited noticeable personality changes upon entering adolescence, yet the underlying reasons remained unclear. This led us to hypothesize that personal experiences and environmental influences during this developmental stage might play a crucial role. In pursuit of this, we aimed to identify potential pathways that could help us better understand the development of certain traits, particularly those associated with the Dark Triad.”
To investigate this, the researchers conducted a longitudinal study over a period of more than a year. They recruited 294 adolescents aged 15 to 18 from public schools in Jingzhou City, China. Participants completed self-reported surveys measuring their experiences of social ostracism, levels of loneliness, and tendencies toward Dark Triad traits at three different time points—October 2022, April 2023, and December 2023. A total of 230 participants remained in the study until the final data collection, with 64 dropping out due to various reasons such as relocation or voluntary withdrawal. Statistical models were used to analyze how social ostracism at an earlier time point influenced loneliness and Dark Triad traits at later time points.
The results supported the idea that social ostracism contributes to the development of Dark Triad traits over time, but indirectly through loneliness. Adolescents who experienced social exclusion at the first measurement point were more likely to report higher levels of loneliness at the second point. In turn, those who felt lonelier at the second time point displayed an increase in Dark Triad traits by the third measurement.
This pattern suggests that being rejected or ignored by peers creates a sense of social isolation, which may push individuals toward adopting traits that help them navigate a hostile environment. Notably, the researchers did not find a direct effect of social ostracism on Dark Triad traits, reinforcing the idea that loneliness acts as an intermediate step in this relationship.
“From a cultural perspective, we were struck by how a well-known Chinese proverb seems to encapsulate our findings: ‘Those who are seen as hateful often have a pitiable side, and those who are pitiable may also have a side that evokes disdain,'” Pu told PsyPost. “This aligns with our conclusion that individuals displaying maladaptive traits may, in part, be shaped by their past experiences and environmental circumstances.”
When looking at the specific traits within the Dark Triad, the study revealed some nuances. Machiavellianism—marked by manipulativeness and strategic thinking—was linked to early social rejection, but its development did not seem to depend on loneliness as much as the other traits. Psychopathy, which includes impulsivity and a lack of empathy, appeared to be more strongly connected to feelings of loneliness.
The study also found that narcissistic traits, characterized by an inflated self-view, were linked to early loneliness, but this connection did not persist as consistently over time. These findings suggest that while loneliness plays a role in shaping Dark Triad traits, each trait may respond to social experiences in slightly different ways.
“On one hand, our research may contribute to a better understanding of the developmental mechanisms underlying this personality structure, thereby informing efforts to prevent maladaptive adolescent development,” Pu said. “On the other hand, it serves as a reminder to take a nuanced perspective when evaluating others—recognizing an individual’s personal history and experiences may help foster a deeper understanding of their behaviors and traits.”
Like all research, this study has its limitations. The sample was drawn from a specific cultural and educational context in China, meaning the findings may not be fully generalizable to other populations. Additionally, while the study tracked participants over time, it did not establish a causal link between social ostracism and Dark Triad traits. Other factors, such as pre-existing personality tendencies or additional social stressors, could also contribute to the observed patterns. The self-reported nature of the surveys also introduces the possibility of bias in how participants perceived and described their experiences.
Future research could explore whether certain protective factors, such as strong parental support or positive friendships, help mitigate the effects of social ostracism on personality development. Additionally, experimental studies could provide stronger evidence of causality by testing whether deliberate interventions, such as social inclusion programs, can prevent the development of Dark Triad traits.
“Building on our previous work, we hope to further refine existing frameworks of personality development,” Pu said. “Specifically, drawing on trait activation theory, we aim to explore how certain social contexts may shape the emergence and development of specific personality traits.”
The study, “The Potential Roles of Social Ostracism and Loneliness in the Development of Dark Triad Traits in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study,” was authored by Junwei Pu and Xiong Gan