The research examines how people present themselves as both victims and morally good (“virtuous victims”) and finds that this kind of signaling can lead others to give them help or resources without expecting anything in return. The studies show that individuals with certain personality traits especially those linked to manipulation, narcissism, and low empathy (the “Dark Triad”) are more likely to use this strategy, even when accounting for normal demographic factors. The researchers also developed a way to measure this behavior and found that specific traits, like manipulativeness and believing oneself to be especially moral, strongly predict it. Importantly, people who frequently signal virtuous victimhood are also more likely to justify or engage in ethically questionable actions, such as lying for personal gain, supporting counterfeit products, or exaggerating harm in workplace situations.
Signaling Virtuous Victimhood as Indicators of Dark Triad Personalities
