Moral Disengagement and Unethical Generative AI Use as the Chain Mediators Between Antagonistic Personality and Problematic Generative AI Use

Abstract

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools into academic and professional contexts has raised concerns regarding unethical use and the potential development of problematic usage patterns. Drawing on personality and moral psychology frameworks, the present study examined the associations between antagonistic personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and problematic (i.e., addictive) GAI use (PGAIU), as well as the chain mediating effect of moral disengagement and unethical GAI use (UGAIU). Data were collected from an adult sample (N = 491; 52% men; Mage = 43.92) using validated self-report measures. Path analysis indicated that narcissism exhibited significant direct and indirect associations with PGAIU. In contrast, Machiavellianism and psychopathy were indirectly related to PGAIU via moral disengagement and UGAIU but demonstrated non-significant total and direct effects. Multi-group analyses revealed broadly similar structural patterns across men and women, although some paths involving moral disengagement were significant only among men. A comparable pattern was also observed across age groups, with only minor variations in the mediation pathways. Overall, the findings highlight the central role of moral disengagement and unethical GAI-related behaviors in linking antagonistic personality traits to PGAIU.

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