Personality Correlates of Machiavellianism: 1. Consensual Validation

Abstract

Compared to control group data obtained under standard instructions, subjects asked to fake their replies to the Howarth Personality Questionnaire in the way they felt a Machiavellian (i.e., socially manipulative) individual would honestly respond scored significantly higher on Ascendance-Dominance, Trust vs Suspicion and Impulsiveness, and significantly lower on Superego, Inferiority and Cooperativeness-Considerateness. Preliminary analysis suggests that these traits are congruent with the personality characteristics of authentic high Machs.

Exploring Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism in Youth: Examination of Associations with Antisocial Behavior and Aggression

“…They suggest that individuals high in MACH traits committed more aggression against remorseful wrongdoers because they were more suspicious of the sincerity of the remorse the wrongdoers displayed. These results are in accord with the characteristics that describe the MACH, such that individuals high in MACH traits have also been found to be domineering, controlling, and suspicious of the motives of others (McHoskey et al, 1998;Skinner, Giokas, & Hornstein, 1976;Wilson, Near, & Miller, 1996).…”

“…These mixed results may be due to the duplicitous nature of MACHs who also have an external locus of control. In addition to having a realistic perception of their own capabilities, they know that they cannot rely on the assistance of others, and that they are in an environment that they cannot completely control (Mudrack, 1989;Skinner et al, 1976). It is possible that MACHs are less likely to take risky chances because they have a more accurate perception of their chances of success.…”

“…In fact high MACHs versus non-MACHs, have been shown to successfully use more manipulation, lying, ingratiation, and deception against others, while successfully resisting the attempts of manipulation used by others against them (Christie & Geis, 1970;Gunnthorsdottir, McCabe, & Smith, 2002;Mudrack, 1989;Skinner et al, 1976).…”

Personality Correlates of Machiavellianism: V. Machiavellianism, Extraversion and Toughmindedness in Business

“…For example, in the first investigation in the present series, Skinner et al, (1976) reported that "Business" was the category chosen most frequently by students responding to the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey from a Machiavellian perspective. Skinner (1981) also found that business students obtained significantly higher Mach V scores than did a matched nonbusiness group.…”

Relationships between the Dark Triad and Delayed Gratification: An Evolutionary Perspective

“…Whereas psychopathy is related to short-term thinking, Machiavellianism may be associated with long-term strategizing and manipulating others for personal gain (Jones & Paulhus, 2009). Unlike psychopathic individuals, those who score high on Machiavellianism have more realistic perceptions of their own capabilities and chances of success and are sensitive to punishment (Skinner, Giokas, & Hornstein, 1976;Spitzer, Fischbacher, Herrnberger, Grön, & Fehr, 2007), thereby reducing the probability of risky decision-making. Moreover, Machiavellianism is not associated with impulsivity or short-term thinking (Jones & Paulhus, 2011b), gambling (Jones, 2013), or overt styles of aggression (Jones & Paulhus, 2010b).…”