Tales from the Dark Side of Technology Acceptance: The Dark Triad and the Technology Acceptance Model

With the dramatic shifts in the workforce that have emerged in the post–COVID-19 world, workers’ emotions have often presented very negatively, causing people to overtly display the dark aspects of their personality while at work. At the same time, organizations have been forced to adopt new technologies to fill the gaps in their desired outcomes and cope with changes in market demand. The ensuing clash between negative emotions and technological implementation may lead to intense conflicts and adverse work outcomes. This study hypothesizes a direct relationship between dark personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and technology acceptance. Using a multiple regression model with a sample of general workers from various industries (n = 396), the study found that narcissism and psychopathy significantly impacted technology acceptance, while Machiavellianism did not. The findings offer valuable theoretical, practical, and managerial insights.