The Dark Core of personality: Individual’s expression of locus of control and spirituality

Dark personality traits are amongst the most popular research topics recently. In 2018 the Dark Core of personality was proposed as a common core to capture all aversive subclinical manifestations. In this study, we aimed at investigating how individuals with high scores on the Dark Core perceive control (i.e., internally or externally) and express their spirituality. Participants were 614 adults, mostly females (85.17%), aged from 18 to 73 years-old (M = 36.00; SD = 12.26), and identified themselves as agnostics (22.63%) or Catholics (19.05%). Participants responded to a measure that assessed the Dark Core of personality (D35), the Locus of Control Scale (ELOCUS), and the WHOQOL-spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB). We used a path analysis model to estimate their connection. Results indicated that the Dark Core better predicts external locus of control, which respectively predicts connect, strength, and faith, which can be considered as spiritual coping strategies. We concluded that men and women tend to blame external forces when things do not go their way and use personal beliefs to relieve emotional distress.

Microscale solute flow probed with rotating microbead trapped in optical vortex

The dynamics of solute flow in the microscopic chamber can be studied with optical tweezers. A method based on the metallic microbeads trapped in the focused optical vortex beam is proposed. This annular beam of a twisted wavefront exerts torque on a reflective object placed inside the dark core of the vortex. The induced rotational movement of the bead is sensitive to local viscosity changes in the surrounding medium, for example, during the ongoing dissolution process. Two experimental configurations are described, both relying on tracing the angular velocity of the bead in time. In one-bead configuration, the dynamics of local solute concentration can be studied. In two-bead case, the direction and speed of solute flow can be probed with a spatial resolution of single micrometers. We approach the elementary problem of sucrose dissolution and diffusion in water. The surprising impression of the reverse solute flow was observed. Further experimental investigation led to the discovery that this phenomenon originates from the sucrose stream-like diffusion in the mid-depth of the measurement chamber. The rotating microbead method applies for various solid and liquid substances and may become a useful technique for microfluidics research. Graphic abstract

THE DARK TETRAD OF PERSONALITY: REVIEW OF RECENT RESEARCH

Recent studies of socially aversive (negative) personality traits have focused on the expansion of different concepts and models. As a result, there emerged the Dark Tetrad personality model (which includes Machiavellianism, subclinical psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism). The paper provides a review of current works on the Dark Tetrad of personality. According to recent research, everyday sadism is a personality trait characterized by a tendency to purposefully humiliate people, causing physical, sexual or psychological suffering for the sake of pleasure. Similar manifestations of everyday sadism and the Dark Triad are antisocial behavior in everyday life and on the Internet. Everyday sadism is the best predictor of various features: deviant behavior in adolescents, affective and cognitive empathy, unprovoked aggression, bullying, cyberbullying, and counterproductive work behavior. Sadism and psychopathy have the «darkest» properties. In general, the results of the studies demonstrate that (1) sadism leads to greater stability of the Dark Tetrad as a complex of personality traits, (2) all of the «dark» properties overlap empirically and theoretically, and (3) the Dark Core is described by empathy deficit (callousness) and manipulativeness rather than other characteristics (e.g. Factor 1 of psychopathy).