Differences In Machiavellianism Research Articles

National gender equality and sex differences in Machiavellianism across countries

Machiavellianism is characterized by a focus on self-interest and a desire to achieve personal goals at any cost. Research consistently found that, on average, men score higher on Machiavellianism than women. However, the factors contributing to this sex difference remain unclear. The present research examined whether sex differences in Machiavellianism vary across countries and whether national levels of gender inequality are related to these differences. We analyzed Machiavellianism scores of 56,936 adults across 48 countries. We operationalized gender inequality at national level using two indices (the Gender Inequality Index and the Global Gender Gap Index) and assessed Machiavellianism at the individual level using the MACH-IV scale. Multilevel modeling indicated that men scored higher in Machiavellianism than women, with a larger sex difference in countries with higher levels of gender equality, irrespective of the gender inequality index used. This pattern emerged because women’s MACH-IV scores decreased as national gender equality increased, whereas men’s scores remained stable. We discuss the relevance of these findings for the literature on sex differences in personality and gender equality paradox.

The Dark Triad and Professional Fighters: Destigmatizing Male Combat Athletes.

Personality characteristics have long been studied in relation to athletes and their performance. Of these, emotional self-regulation has been determined to be an important factor regarding outcomes for athletes. Various research has examined the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) among other personality traits in athletes. However, little research has examined Dark Triad levels in combat sports professionals and their impact on their athletic performance. Since professional fighting athletes have been perceived as aggressive and impulsive, it is essential to examine the athletes' level of Dark Triad traits. The present exploratory study investigates the association of Dark Triad personality traits in professional fighters versus college-aged male non-fighters. Secondly, it aims to evaluate the relationship between Dark Triad traits and winning percentages in professional fights. The study used a sample of professional male fighters (n = 36) and college-aged non-fighters (n = 29). Participants completed measures examining emotional self-regulation, trait anxiety, sensation seeking, and Dark Triad personality traits. The results of our study showed no significant differences in Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism between our samples of professional fighters and college-aged nonfighters. The study also showed no significant correlations between winning percentages for professional fighters and Machiavellianism, psychopathy, or narcissism.

Milieu effects on the Dark Triad traits and their sex differences in 49 countries

Most research on the development of personality traits like the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) focuses on local effects like parenting style or attachment, but people live in a larger society that may set the stage for any local effects. Here we paired nation-level data on the traits from 49 nations with several milieu indicators (e.g., life expectancy, homicide rates) from three timepoints (and change among them) where the average participant (≈ 22yo) would have been a child (≈ 6yo), a pre-teen (≈ 11yo), and a teenager (≈ 16yo). Congruent with previous research, variance in narcissism was far more sensitive to variance in milieu conditions in general and across all three time points than variance in Machiavellianism or psychopathy. The milieu conditions differentiated the traits somewhat with income and education revealing negative correlations with narcissism, positive correlations with Machiavellianism, and null correlations with psychopathy. Sex differences in Machiavellianism and narcissism were correlated with homicide rates across the three timepoints. The evidence that changes in milieu conditions in ones' past predicts the traits was erratic, but larger sex differences in the traits were associated with decreased life expectancies and homicide rates between childhood and pre-teens.

How dark is the personality of murderers? Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism in homicide offenders

Dark personality traits describe amoral and antisocial behavioral dispositions and are often described by psychopathy (i.e., interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial characteristics), narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism. These traits are related to various socially detrimental behavioral outcomes, including criminal behavior and delinquency. Furthermore, psychopathy is frequently related to homicide, both in scientific and in popular literature; however, the empirical data on the link between psychopathy and other dark traits with homicide is still scarce. We examined self-reported psychopathy, Machiavellianism, sadism, and the indicators of criminal recidivism (number of offences, number of lawful sentences and penal recidivism) in a sample of male homicide offenders (N = 46), other violent offenders (N = 82), and non-violent offenders (N = 119). The results showed that homicide offenders have less pronounced psychopathy, sadism, and criminal recidivism compared to the other two groups – the differences were particularly evident in comparison to the group of non-homicide violent offenders. There were no statistically significant differences in Machiavellianism. Our data cast a doubt on the widely acknowledged link between psychopathy and murder. The findings can be explained largely by the fact that homicide is a heterogeneous criminal offence; while it is possible that psychopathy and other dark traits may be linked to some types of homicide, this link cannot be established for homicide in general.

Win At Any Cost: Examining Personality Correlates of Achievement in Adolescent Athletes

Achievement in sports is often attributed to being highly competitive or doing “whatever it takes” to win as opposed to being agreeable. The current consensus is that these traits, manifested as hypercompetitiveness, Machiavellianism, and agreeableness, tend to be highly related within adult populations and athletes. Machiavellianism, the “whatever it takes' ' attribute and hypercompetitiveness have been found to be positively correlated with one another while both are negatively correlated with agreeableness. Previous studies have failed to examine the same phenomenon in individual-sport adolescent athlete populations, in addition to how these trends may influence athletic achievement. In this study, a random sampling of an adolescent athlete population was given a battery of personality scales: The Hypercompetitive Attitude Scale, the MACH-IV, and an IPIP Agreeableness Measure. The participants’ highest national rankings in their sport were also examined. Previous findings in adult populations were replicated in this study, as Machiavellianism and hypercompetitiveness were found to have a strong negative correlation with agreeableness(r= -0.678, p= 0.000039, and r= -0.690, p= 0.000025, respectively). Machiavellianism displayed a moderate, positive correlation with hypercompetitiveness(r= 0.496, p= 0.005312). However, the differences in Machiavellianism and hypercompetitiveness between those who had achieved a rank of at least top 15 in the country and other participants were not found to be statistically significant. These results show that athletic achievement in adolescents was not significantly affected by the personality traits of Machiavellianism and hypercompetitiveness. Additional research is needed to discover what personality traits constitute a champion. 

Exploring Gender Differences in Machiavellianism Using a Measurement Invariance Approach

Research suggests that men and women differ on mean levels of Dark Triad personality constructs such as Machiavellianism, but few studies have investigated whether or not these differences are due to actual latent trait differences or bias in measurement. Further, recent research suggests important challenges associated with existing measures of MACH in terms of overlap with psychopathy and matching expert descriptions. The present study took a recently developed measure of Machiavellianism (the Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory; FFMI), based on the five-factor model, and examined its invariance across gender. Strong (or scalar) factorial invariance was established, indicating that latent factor means can be compared between men and women using this measure. Mean-level differences showed that men had higher levels of latent factors related to antagonism and social dominance. In terms of total score, men reported significantly higher mean levels of Machiavellianism. The findings of the present study lend support to the notion that mean level differences in Machiavellianism across gender are not artifacts of measurement bias.

What Does Our Personality Say About Our Dietary Choices? Insights on the Associations Between Dietary Habits, Primary Emotional Systems and the Dark Triad of Personality.

The awareness of the consequences of consuming animal products for the environment and one’s own health has been growing in recent years. The aim of the present research project was to examine the relationship between individual differences in biologically rooted primary emotional systems arising from phylogenetically old brain areas and dietary habits including being a vegan/vegetarian or omnivore (Study 1). Additionally, the link between the Dark Triad personality traits and dietary habits was investigated (also Study 1). In Study 2 it was aimed to replicate the associations between the Dark Triad traits and dietary habits in a new sample. In total 1140 (Study 1) and 444 (Study 2) participants took part in the research project. The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) were applied to assess individual differences in six primary emotional systems. The Short Dark Triad Scale (SD3) was administered to assess individual differences in Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism. The eating style of participants was measured with the Eating Behavior Questionnaire (EBQ). Results of Study 1 demonstrated higher CARE, SADNESS and spirituality scores, and lower PLAY scores in vegans/vegetarians than in omnivores. However, after the sex of the participants was included in the model, the effect on CARE got weaker. Additionally, omnivores scored higher on Machiavellianism, however, this association disappeared when sex was added to the model. In Study 2, higher scores in Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy were reported for the group of omnivores compared to vegans/vegetarians, however, those effects got weaker or disappeared after the sex of participants was added to the model. The present research project adds to the literature by investigating the ANPS model and the Dark Triad of personality in the context of eating style for the first time. The findings of these two studies might help to better understand how people following different types of diet, might differ in their personalities.

Valuing humans over animals – Gender differences in meat-eating behavior and the role of the Dark Triad

Empirical findings demonstrate gender differences in attitudes toward meat consumption and actual meat-eating behavior. Furthermore, several studies have found that men score higher on all three Dark Triad personality dimensions (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy). In this study, we investigated whether these personality differences mediate the association between gender and meat-eating justification, which in turn was expected to predict meat consumption. Two-hundred-fifty-seven participants took part in the study. We replicated the finding that men score higher on direct justification strategies with respect to meat consumption and report less often that they are vegetarians or vegans. Moreover, and most importantly, gender differences in Machiavellianism (but not in the other Dark Triad traits) significantly mediated these gender differences in meat-eating justification strategies, which in turn predicted meat consumption. These findings support the idea that Machiavellianism is partly able to explain gender differences in meat-eating justification, which is associated with higher meat consumption.

Manipulating the odds: The effects of Machiavellianism and construal level on cheating behavior.

Values, beliefs, and traits differ across individuals, and these concepts might impact whether individuals choose to engage in (dis)honest behavior. This project focuses on interindividual differences in Machiavellianism, which is defined as a tendency toward cynicism and manipulativeness, and the belief that the ends justify the means. We hypothesized that trait Machiavellianism would predict dishonest behavior. Furthermore, we speculated that some situations are more conducive than others for Machiavellianism to translate into behavior. In particular, Construal Level Theory holds that individuals construe social situations on a concrete level, or an abstract level, and that an abstract construal level triggers values and value-related traits to be more influential on behavior. Against this background, we hypothesized that differences in Machiavellianism produce differences in dishonest monetary behavior when situations are construed abstractly. Four studies tested these considerations by asking participants to toss a coin and self-report the toss’ outcome. Inconsistent with our theorizing, we did not find that higher Machiavellianism is consistently associated with a higher self-reported probability of receiving an individual bonus. We also did not find consistent support that higher Machiavellianism is associated with cheating under abstract compared to concrete construal.

Approach/avoidance tendencies in dark personalities

Although there are strong correlations among “dark” personalities (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism), they differ in important ways. The present study examined differences in approach vs. avoidance tendencies using Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. A Structural Equations Model addressed the degree to which these variables differ in their associations with Behavioral Inhibition Systems (BIS) and Behavioral Activation Systems (BAS). Results showed predicted differences in Machiavellianism, subclinical psychopathy and narcissism, with respect to BIS and BAS. Specifically, Machiavellianism was positively associated with BIS, psychopathy was negatively associated with BIS, and narcissism was positively associated with certain aspects of BAS. Implications are discussed for the Dark Triad and the role of reinforcement in personality, more broadly.

Machiavellianism in public accountants: some additional Canadian evidence

The current study surveys practising Canadian public accountants in Canada in both Big 4 and non‐Big 4 firms to determine their orientation with respect to Machiavellianism, defined as ‘attending to one's interests much more than to others'. Results indicate that while there are no significant differences in Machiavellianism between public accountants in the upper‐level positions (managers and partners), partners are significantly less Machiavellian than seniors. These results are consistent with previous studies on Canadian public accountants.

Individual Differences in Machiavellianism as a Mix of Cooperative and Exploitative Strategies

Subjects who score high on Machiavellianism are often charming and attractive in short-term social interactions. It is unclear from their behavior whether they are using a deceptive strategy of exploitation or whether they are merely exceptionally capable social actors. We used a story-telling method to explore aspects of Machiavellianism that are not obvious from short-term social interactions. Subjects who scored high and low on Machiavellianism wrote stories in the first person, whose main characters (referred to as “I”) were evaluated by another set of subjects. The stories reveal the cooperative nature of low-Machs and the exploitative nature of high-Machs in particularly sharp focus. Judged by their fictional creations, high-Machs were rejected as social partners for most relationships, except when their exploitative skills could be directed against members of other groups.

Additional evidence on age-related differences in Machiavellianism in an adult sample.

In this investigation of 115 adults employed with the same organization, age again correlated inversely with scores on Machiavellianism, particularly the components of deceit and flattery.

Age-Related Differences in Machiavellianism in an Adult Sample

This research investigated age-related differences in Machiavellianism among adults. In this sample of 252 (135 women, 117 men, age range = 17 yr. to 66 yr.), Mach scores appeared to decline with age; respondents aged 38 yr. and older had significantly lower scores than did the two younger groups of respondents (17 yr. to 21 yr., and 22 yr. to 24 yr.). No evidence of nonlinearity in the age-Machiavellianism relationship could be detected.