Abstract:
Very little is known about the relationship between antagonistic personality traits and membership in Greekletter
organizations (GLOs). The present study (N = 2191) examined the association between the Dark Tetrad
traits—Machiavellianism, grandiose narcissism, psychopathy, and everyday sadism—and membership in sororities
and fraternities. Participants who were high in grandiose narcissism were more likely to be in sororities
and fraternities, whereas participants who were high in Machiavellianism and everyday sadism were less likely
to be in these organizations. Psychopathy was not significantly associated with membership in GLOs. Taken
together, the present results suggest that members of GLOs are not necessarily more manipulative, cold-hearted,
or cruel than their non-GLO counterparts, but they may be more entitled, domineering, and status-seeking.