Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between Dark Tetrad personality traits and gendered and racial microaggressions among emerging adults in Pakistan. The Dark Tetrad consists of Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism, which have been associated with socially aversive behaviors and reduced empathy. Given the limited research on microaggressions within the Pakistani context, this study aimed to explore how dark personality traits relate to the perception and experience of microaggressions among emerging adults. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from 291 participants aged 18 to 29 years through purposive sampling. Participants completed the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) and the Gendered Racial Microaggressions Scale (GRMS). Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships among demographic variables, dark personality traits, and microaggressions. The findings revealed significant positive associations between psychopathy, sadism, overall Dark Tetrad scores, and microaggression frequency and appraisal. Psychopathy demonstrated the strongest relationship with microaggressions. Age was negatively associated with both dark personality traits and microaggression experiences, indicating that younger participants reported higher levels of these variables. Gender differences were also observed, with males reporting higher levels of narcissism, psychopathy, and overall Dark Tetrad traits. The findings suggest that dark personality traits, particularly psychopathy and sadism, play an important role in shaping how individuals perceive, experience, and potentially engage in microaggressive behaviors. The study contributes to the growing literature on personality and discrimination by providing evidence from a non-Western cultural context and highlights the importance of considering personality characteristics when understanding subtle forms of discrimination.