Not wishing to put a dampener on your festivities and kind spiritedness at this time of the year, but how about sparing a thought for anyone who’s working with someone who scores high on the 12-point Dark Triad scale?

No, I hadn’t heard about it until recently either.  It was developed by psychologists Peter Jonason and Gregory Webster to spot potentially troublesome traits – the sort that might lead to narcissim, psychopathy, manipulation, aggression and impulsivity.

Jonason and Webster’s Dirty Dozen scale provides a quick way to identify the Dark Triad individuals living amongst you.

Try it.  Rate each item below on a 7-point scale as you think it applies to the person you’re thinking of:

1. I tend to manipulate others to get my way.
2. I tend to lack remorse.
3. I tend to want others to admire me.
4. I tend to be unconcerned with the morality of my actions.
5. I have used deceit or lied to get my way.
6. I tend to be callous or insensitive.
7. I have used flattery to get my way.
8. I tend to seek prestige or status.
9. I tend to be cynical.
10. I tend to exploit others toward my own end.
11. I tend to expect special favors from others.
12. I want others to pay attention to me.

Done?  Good.

Oh, before you go . . . just one thing . . .

Dare you now rate yourself to see how you measure up?