The effect of dark personality of scholl principals on backstabbing through mediation of self–interest

Subject Areas : Education

Mohammad Sheybak ¹ (Msc student of educational administration, university of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.)
naser nastiezaie ² (University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran)

Received: 2021-12-29 Accepted : 2022-04-06 Published : 2024-02-20

Keywords: dark personality, Backstabbing, Self Interest,

Abstract :

Introduction: Despite the devastating consequences of deviant behaviors backstabbing, Machiavellianism, narcissism, anti-socialism and self–interest, these behaviors have so far been neglected. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dark personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and anti-socialism) of scholl principals on backstabbing through mediation of self –interest.

Research methodology: The research method was descriptive-correlation based on structural equation model. The statistical population was all school principals in Zahedan city in the academic year 2021-2022 (N=380). By stratified random sampling 191 school principals were studied through questionnaires of backstabbing (Adapted from Scholl et al., 2019), The Dark Third Personality (Jonason & Webster, 2010) and Personal Selfishness (Adapted from Hadavi Nejad & Amirkhanlou, 2016). Structural equation modeling with the help of Smart PLS software was used to analyze the data.

Findings: Direct effect of dark personality on backstabbing (β=0.32, t=5.70), and self –interest (β=0.38, t=4.41), direct effect of self –interest on backstabbing (β=0.51, t=8.15) was positive and significant. Also, the indirect effect of dark personality on backstabbing through mediation of self –interest (β=0.19, t=3.87) was positive and significant.

Conclusion: Principals who have dark personalities (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and anti-socialism) are more likely to self –interest in the organization, which in turn leads to backstabbing behavior. Thus recommended to senior managers of organizations in selecting of principals, identify their personality and self-interested with the help of personality psychologists.