What then is the \u201clight triad\u201d? Authors Kaufman and colleagues have developed a \u201clight triad scale\u201d:<\/p>\n
The LTS is a first draft measure of a loving and beneficent orientation toward others (\u201ceveryday saints\u201d) that consists of three facets: Kantianism (treating people as ends unto themselves), Humanism (valuing the dignity and worth of each individual), and Faith in Humanity (believing in the fundamental goodness of humans).<\/em><\/p>\n The three major categories noted above were mapped against other paradigms such as the Big 5 personality traits, and compared with the dark triad. On the religiosity tests they found that \u201creligious and spiritual people are more likely to also be high scorers on the Light Triad scale.\u201d<\/p>\n I found the following data to be interesting:<\/p>\n The Light Triad was positively correlated with Oneness Experiences and God Experiences, and these correlations remained significant even after controlling for the facets of Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility. The Dark Triad was also positively correlated with Oneness Experiences, and this correlation remained significant even after controlling for the facets of Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility. The Dark Triad was uncorrelated with God Experiences.<\/em><\/p>\n As an exercise, I decided to pair each positive trait with a biblical passage that represents the trait in question.<\/p>\n 1. Kantianism (treating people as ends unto themselves)<\/p>\n \u201dYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 22:39)<\/p>\n 2. Humanism (valuing the dignity and worth of each individual)<\/p>\n So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, \u201cBe fruitful and multiply\u201d<\/em> (Genesis 1:27-28)<\/p>\n Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.<\/em> (Romans 12:15-18)<\/p>\n 3. Faith in Humanity (believing in the fundamental goodness of humans).<\/p>\n For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.<\/em> (John 3:16)<\/p>\n But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.<\/em> Romans 5:8<\/p>\n I would offer a point of objection that these labels smuggle in a worldview of humanism that isn\u2019t perfectly aligned with Christianity. Christians can be and have been humanists, but certainly \u201cfundamental goodness of humanity\u201d would have to be phrased in a more nuanced way. We could as equally affirm the fundamental evil of humanity. Christianity teaches neither\u2014We generally embrace the idea of an original goodness that has been tarnished or lost, but can be restored again. God has a love that is always seeking reconciliation, and is intended for all manner of people, transcending the puny boundaries of culture, gender, and race.<\/p>\n As Christians we are also to radiate this love. We are to love one another as God has loved us. \u201cWalk in love as Christ loved us\u2026\u201d says the old Book of Common Prayer<\/em>, echoing Ephesians 5:2. Nevertheless, we are called to love not blindly (by pretending that something is what it isn\u2019t), but rather to love as God does, despite the flaws of that love\u2019s object. And we are to realize the sacrificial nature of love. The rest of the phrase goes like this: \u201c\u2026and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.\u201d By the way, the very definition of Christian love, \u201cagape\u201d in the original Greek, means not merely to be self effacing, but primarily to be other-enhancing.<\/p>\n Furthermore, a word to parents. From a Christian perspective, the goal of parenting is not shepherding your children into the right colleges, teaching them to survive in business, or making sure they want for nothing. \u201cBring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord\u201d says Paul (in Ephesians, 6:4). A good portion of that task is character development.<\/p>\n For further reading<\/p>\n Wikipedia: https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dark_triad<\/a><\/p>\n Kessler, SR; Bandeiii, AC; Spector, PE; Borman, WC; Nelson, CE; and Penney, LM 2010. Reexamining Machiavelli: A three dimensional model of Machiavellianism in the workplace. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 40, 1868\u20131896<\/p>\n Schley, Lacey, April 5, 2019, \u201cThe Light Triad: Psychologists Outline the Personality Traits of Everyday Saints\u201d, Discover Magazine<\/em>.
\nOnline at http:\/\/blogs.discovermagazine.com\/crux\/2019\/04\/05\/light-triad-traits\/#.XMM8ShYpCEf<\/a><\/p>\n