Psychology Facts

▼ Light Triad ▼

》The light triad is not merely the opposite of the dark triad. While the two are negatively related to each other, the relationship is only moderate in size (a correlation of about .50), supporting the idea that there is at least a little bit of light and dark in each of us.

The light triad consists of the traits of Kantianism, humanism and a faith in humanity.

》Kantianism is when we treat people as means to themselves, as opposed to a means to an end. Basically, we're not out to use them. It's pretty much the opposite of Machiavellianism, and is based on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.

Humanism is valuing the dignity and worth of each individual person.

Faith in humanity is when we believe that people are fundamentally good.

》These traits are not so much about the self, but about our attitude to others. And the light triad theory says that people high in all three of these traits are the "everyday saints in our midst".

》People who score high on the Light Triad Scale tend to:

Be intellectually curious

Be secure in their attachments to others

Demonstrate tolerance of other perspectives

Score low on need for power over others

Show humility

Have an agreeable nature

Score high in measures of life satisfaction

》According to the first light/dark triad test administered, The light triad was associated with

being older,

being female,

less childhood unpredictability,

higher levels of religiosity,

spirituality,

life satisfaction,

acceptance of others,

belief that others are good,

belief that one's self is good,

compassion,

empathy,

openness to experience,

conscientiousness,

positive enthusiasm,

having a quiet ego

belief that one can live on through nature and biosociality (having children) after one's personal death.

》The light triad was negatively correlated with the motives for achievement and self-enhancement (even though the light triad was positively related to productivity and competence).

》The light triad was also correlated with greater "reaction formation," which is considered by some psychologists as a neurotic defense style (but which I conceptualize in my own work as an aspect of mature altruism).