Machiavellianism, Influential Tactics and Well-being Among Indian College Students

Abstract

The present paper aimed to explore Machiavellianism, soft and hard influential tactics and subjective as well as psychological well-being (PWB) among final-year students of professional courses from New Delhi, India. The relationship between Machs and well-being was explored directly as well as indirectly through soft and hard influential tactics. Mach IV was used to assess Machiavellianism. Influential tactics were assessed with the use of a scale, developed for the current research, which is based on Dubrin conceptualization. Life satisfaction was assessed with the help of Students Life Satisfaction Scale by Huebner, whereas the positive and negative affect were measured by PANAS. PWB was assessed by Ryff’s 18-item scale. All the tools had satisfactory reliability values. The average score of Mach showed average level of Machiavellianism among the participants who used both soft and hard tactics. There was positive correlation between Machiavellianism and positive affect, whereas negative correlations were reported with negative affect, life satisfaction and PWB. Both soft and hard tactics mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism and well-being. The study has contributed in the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the importance of hard influential tactics, the relationship with PWB and the indirect paths through which Machiavellianism influences well-being.