Published September 10, 2026 | Version v3
Preprint Open

Relational Signal Detection: A Multimodal Protocol for Validating Facial, Linguistic, and Behavioural Markers of Light Triad and Dark Tetrad Traits in an Indian Adult Sample

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Independent Researcher

Description

Version 1.3: Three methodological gap fixes added - DAI formula rationale, ACS weight rationale with sensitivity analysis plan, and explicit Benjamini-Hochberg FDR specification. No hypotheses or primary analyses changed.

The capacity to detect genuine warmth, prosocial orientation, and relational safety in a potential partner

represents one of the most consequential judgment tasks adults navigate. Yet the scientific literature on

thin-slice personality judgments has focused disproportionately on threat detection, identifying dark triad

and dark tetrad traits, while leaving the positive pole largely unexamined. This paper describes a registered

protocol for a cross-sectional study investigating whether multimodal signals routinely available in digital

dating contexts carry valid information about both Light Triad traits (Kantianism, Humanism, Faith in

Humanity; Kaufman et al., 2019) and dark tetrad traits (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, sadism;

Paulhus and Williams, 2002), using an Indian adult sample (target N = 500). Automated facial action unit

analysis, natural language processing of written bios, and validated psychometric instruments (SD4, LTS,

HEXACO-60, ECR-R, RFQ-8) constitute the measurement framework. Three gaps in existing literature are

addressed: the near-absence of Indian samples in personality-from-face research, the lack of systematic

positive-trait signal detection, and the ecological validity problem inherent in using neutral laboratory

photographs rather than self-curated profile images. The protocol is pre-registered on OSF prior to data

collection.

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