Abstract
Introduction: Personality traits, emotional regulation capabilities, and individuals’
perceptions of career success remain important areas of inquiry, particularly
within the South African SMME sector. The present study investigates the
relationship between Dark Triad traits (DTT), subjective career success (SCS), and
emotional intelligence (EQ).
Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed to obtain data
from n = 396 participants working in the Free State province, South Africa. Data
was collected using a self-reporting questionnaire comprising Dark Triad Dirty
Dozen (DTDD), the Subjective Career Success Inventory (SCSI), and the Rahim
Emotional Quotient Index (REQI).
Results: DTT demonstrated a statistically significant negative association with
both EQ and SCS. EQ showed a moderately strong positive association with SCS.
Mediation analysis indicated that EQ partially mediated the relationship between
DTT and SCS. Specifically, significant mediation effects were observed for
psychopathy and narcissism, whereas Machiavellianism did not yield significant
mediation effects.
Discussion: This study contributes to the literature by integrating Trait Activation
Theory and EQ theory to explain how personality traits relate to SCS. The findings
suggest that the influence of personality traits on career outcomes is contingent
upon contextual factors and individual regulatory capabilities. Practically, SMMEs
could use the findings of the study to inform employee development, careersupport
practices, and future organizational support. Furthermore, the distinct
nature of each Dark Triad trait should be recognized rather than treating them as
a homogeneous construct. However, given the RMSEA value and the X2/df ratio,
the findings presented are preliminary and should be interpreted with auction.