Attachment Styles, Dark Tetrad Personality And Friendship Quality In Young Adults

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Attachment styles, Dark tetrad personality and Friendship Quality in young adults. A correlational design was used, and the sample consisted of 400 young adults, including males (n=192) and females(n=208) with age range 18 to 25 with (M = 20.84, SD = 1.53). The study variables were evaluated using self-report instruments such as a demographics questionnaire, Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS; Collins, 1996), Dark tetrad personality scale (Jones, 2018), and Friendship Quality Scale (Bukowski, Hoza, and Boivin, 1994). Dark tetrad traits had a significantly positive correlation with attachment styles and friendship quality. Moreover, Close and Anxiety are positive predictors of Dark tetrad personality whereas Depend was a negative predictor of Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, Sadism and positive predictor of Narcissism. Dark tetrad personality mediated the relationship between Attachment (close, depend, anxeity) and Friendship quality. Attachment styles were predictors of Dark Tetrad Personality traits. This study helps in understanding how small changes in Attachments or behavior can affect Personality changes and in turn help the society understand people with Dark Tetrad Personality Traits and help them in their lives and prevent such condition to introduce new Dark Personalities. This also helps in building strong and long living Relationships and Friendships. The implications of present study has been discussed.