Influence of Parenting Styles on the Emergence of Dark Personality Traits in Young Adults: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The emergence of dark personality traits in young adults is a growing concern, given their competitive and mentally challenging environment. Certain parenting styles characterized by a lack of open communication, emotional support, and encouragement can significantly contribute to the development of this phenomenon. Assessing the literature, parental behavior such as neglecting children, inconsistency, and repeated criticism are significant factors influencing the formation of dark traits. Additionally, research illustrates a strong correlation among factors such as parent-to-child causation, parental warmth and stress that might affect a child’s personality development. Despite the significant impact of parenting styles on personality development, there is a noticeable lack of research on developing dark personality traits, such as the dark triad, in young adults. Considering the Indian context, most studies shed light on the relationship between parenting styles and the parent’s personality. This study aims to fill the research gap by examining how specific parenting styles contribute to developing dark personality traits like machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy in young adults, shedding light on the relationship between negative parenting styles and the evolution of these traits. The implications of this study are multi-fold. Firstly, this study’s findings inform educational policies and training programs, fostering social-emotional learning in schools and colleges, which could aid in mitigating the development of dark personality traits in young adults. Secondly, understanding the relationship between parenting styles and personality development is crucial in designing targeted interventions and identifying support systems for adults, enabling positive outcomes on the personality and well-being of young adults.