An integration of the Machiavellianism (MACH) and psychopathy constructs based on a dimensional view of personality and personality disorders and a recognition of B. Karpman's (1941Karpman's ( , 1948 conceptual distinction between primary and secondary psychopathy is presented. Positive associations between MACH and both primary and secondary psychopathy were found. It is concluded that the Mach-IV is a global measure of psychopathy in noninstitutionalized populations (i.e., one that assesses but confounds both primary and secondary psychopathy) and that the primary differences between MACH and psychopathy are not traceable to substantive theoretical issues but to the different professional affiliations they are associated with: personality and social psychology and clinical psychology, respectively.Although the fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) identifies personality disorders as taxonomies, numerous authors have argued for a dimensional approach to the classification of personality disorders and psychopathology in general (

We examined self-reported relations between Machiavellianism (Christie & Geis, 1970) and measures related to adjustment, well-being, and ethical orientation. We predicted that Machiavellianism would be inversely associated with adjustment, and positively associated with a nihilistic, relativistic, and nonidealistic ethical orientation. With respect to adjustment and well-being our results indicate that Machiavellianism is inversely associated with scores on measures of self-esteem, subjective well-being, and hope but positively associated with powerlessness and nihilism. The results bearing on ethical orientation are consistent with outlined predictions.

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