Dark Triad Traits and Machiavellianism Quiz

Machiavellianism

• The main characteristic of Machiavellianism is the belief that "the ends justify the means".
• The historical figure known for this phrase is Niccolò Machiavelli.

Key Aspects of Machiavellianism

• Machiavellianism emphasizes the pursuit of self-interest and personal gain, often at the expense of others.
• It is part of the Dark Triad, a combination of personality traits that also includes Narcissism and Psychopathy.

Socially Malevolent Traits

• The socially malevolent aspects of personality traits are known as the Dark Triad.

Strategic Orientation

• In the context of Machiavellian personality style, a characteristic of Strategic Orientation is the ability to manipulate and deceive others to achieve goals.

Measuring Machiavellianism

• According to Christie & Geis (1970), Machiavellianism is measured through surveys and questionnaires that assess an individual's willingness to engage in manipulative behavior.

Empathy in Machiavellian Individuals

• Individuals with high Machiavellianism tend to have low affective empathy, as per Blötner et al (2021).

High vs. Low Machiavellians

• In the public goods game study by Czibor et al. (2014), High Machiavellians are distinguished from Low Machiavellians by their willingness to cooperate and exploit others for personal gain.

Mach-IV Inventory

• The typical score threshold above which individuals are classified as High Machiavellians is based on the Mach-IV Inventory, a standardized survey assessing Machiavellian tendencies.