Many who first hear of the Dark Triad immediately ask: Does having these traits mean someone is 'bad'? Or does it imply a psychological disorder?
Actually, psychology defines it as three independent yet overlapping personality inclinations: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathic traits. Most falling into this category don't meet clinical personality disorder standards; they simply score higher on these dimensions. Interestingly, everyone carries bits of these traits, differing only in degree.
Here's a crucial distinction: Dark Personality versus Normal isn't a binary 'good vs. bad' line, but a continuous spectrum.