The Hateful Eight (H8): An Efficient Multifaceted Approach to the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4)

Using the 28 items of the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4; Paulhus et al., 2021), we developed a 16-item version with two items for each of eight facets called the Hateful Eight (H8). Across four studies of university and online samples (Ntotal=2,391), we used item response theory models and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to select the “best” SD4 items. CFAs supported both an eight-facet solution and hierarchical models in which the eight facets loaded onto their four respective Dark Tetrad traits, which in turn loaded onto a global Dark Tetrad factor. We labeled the eight facets as: deviousness, scheming (both assigned to Machiavellianism); leadership, exceptionalism (both assigned to narcissism); defiance, recklessness (both assigned to psychopathy); and violent voyeurism, verbal abuse (both assigned to sadism). We tested the H8’s convergent and discriminant validity with number of sexual partners, self-esteem, Big Five personality, adult attachment, and established measures of the Dark Triad traits.