Abstract

The «Dark Triad» construct allows to identify a specific configuration of human personality traits; this is characterized by the simultaneous presence of three distinct traits of personality: Narcissism, Psychopathy, and, Machiavellianism. These personality traits can be evaluated separately and provide precious information to children’s and adolescents’ clinicians. The present narrative review describe clinical characteristics and best tools to identify the three dimensions of the «Dark Triad», and a fourth dimension, not yet totally defined (daily sadism). The aim is to help clinicians to identify the presence of risk factors for the development of these personality dimensionst.