How bright and dark personality traits predict dating app behavior

Abstract Facilitating looking for a new partner or a hook-up, dating apps are highly popular. Explaining their continuous use and the reflection of personality on behavior we investigated the question whether classically bright or rather dark personality traits influence their use, combining behavioral and questionnaire data. In the analysis the Big Five and the Dark Triad were included and compared; additionally, the motives love and sex and the current relationship status were examined. Predictions were established on whether dating apps were used at all, and their average daily using time; behavioral data allowed distinguishing between the dependent variables. Results (N = 555) suggest that the Dark Triad is a better predictor compared to the Big Five in the context of dating apps for any usage as well as usage time. Narcissism, and the motives love and sex were the most relevant predictors for any usage, and machiavellianism was the only relevant predictor for usage time. Previous findings on the Big Five and psychopathy could not be replicated. Passive selection of narcissists and tactical aspects of machiavellianism regarding usage are discussed. The outcomes support and extend theory on personality-based behavior.