The making of the Machiavellian brain: A structural MRI analysis (original) (raw)
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Theory of Mind and Empathic Explanations of Machiavellianism A Neuroscience Perspective
We study theory of mind (ToM) and empathic underpinnings of Machiavellianism by use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, where account managers are used as participants in 3 studies. Study 1 finds evidence for activation of the medial prefrontal cortex, left and right temporo-parietal junction, and left and right precuneus regions; all five regions are negatively correlated with Machiavellianism, suggesting that Machiavellians are less facile than non-Machiavellians with ToM skills. Study 2 presents evidence for activation of the left and right pars opercularis, left and right insula, and left precuneus regions; the former four regions of the motor neuron system were positively associated, and the latter negatively associated, with Machiavellianism, implying that Machiavellians resonate more readily with the emotions of others than non-Machiavellians. This is the first study to our knowledge to show a negative correlation between perspective taking and emotional sharing in empathic processes in general and Machiavellianism in particular. Study 3 tests implications of managerial control on both performance and organizational citizenship behaviors, as moderated by Machiavellianism in the field. Our study grounds the functioning of Machiavellianism in organizations in basic neuroscience processes, resolves some long-standing ambiguities with self-report investigations, and points to conditions under which Machiavellianism both inhibits and promotes performance and citizenship behavior.
Neural correlates of Machiavellian strategies in a social dilemma task
Brain and Cognition, 2013
In spite of having deficits in various areas of social cognition, especially in mindreading, Machiavellian individuals are typically very successful in different tasks, including solving social dilemmas. We assume that a profound examination of neural structures associated with decision-making processes is needed to learn more about Machiavellians' abilities in exploiting other people. More specifically, we predicted that high-Mach people would show elevated activity in the brain areas involved in reward-seeking, anticipation of risky situations, and inference making. To test this hypothesis, we used an fMRI technique to examine individuals as they played the Trust Game. In accordance with our predictions, we found consistent activation in high-Machs' thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex (player 1), and dorsal anterior insula/inferior frontal gyrus (player 2). We suggest that Machiavellians conduct specific neural operations in social dilemma situations that make them successful in exploiting others. Machiavellians may have cognitive heuristics that enable them to make predictions about the future reward in a basically risky and unpredictable situation.
Recent studies have revealed that Machiavellians are capable of exploiting others effectively even in the long run, using flexible strategies and adjusting their behavior according to the social circumstances. We predicted that information manipulation skills (e.g. memorizing, organization) would play an important role in Machiavellians’ reasoning skills and flexible thinking. Subjects (N=114) performed 4 different cognitive tasks measuring ability to memorize, organize and analyze information, and use information in reasoning. We observed a significant positive association between Machiavellianism and information processing and information manipulation skills, which suggests that Machiavellians preferentially use a “rational” thinking style, which is associated with flexible processing. This interpretation is consistent with recent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies showing increased neural activation in areas related to working memory, inference making and anticipation of success in Machiavellians.
The Two-Dimensional Machiavellianism Scale: Measuring Machiavellian Views and Tactics
In P. K. Jonason (Ed.), Shining light on the dark side of personality: Measurement properties and theoretical advances, 2022
In this chapter, we provide detailed information on the psychometric properties of the Two-Dimensional Machiavellianism Scale (TDMS; Monaghan et al., 2020), in addition to the theory and interpretation of each dimension. This approach helps to further differentiate Machiavellianism from the other dark personalities, particularly psychopathy. We demonstrate the psychometric properties of the TDMS with previously unpublished data from 4747 participants, who completed the measures on the TDMS’s companion website built using RStudio’s Shiny platform, developed to provide instant personalised feedback on participants’ levels of Machiavellianism in comparison to normative data (https://conalmonaghan.shinyapps.io/two-dimensional\_machiavellianism). This chapter serves as a guide to help researchers who are interested in Machiavellianism measure the construct using this new robust measure.
The role of Machiavellian views and tactics in psychopathology
Machiavellianism represents a tendency to manipulate and exploit others in a social world perceived to be hostile. Research has been inconsistent regarding psychopathology associated with this aspect of personal- ity. This has been partially due to focusing on Machiavellianism as a unidimensional, as opposed to multi- dimensional, construct. Thus, this study aimed to investigate associations between Machiavellianism and psychopathology from a multidimensional perspective. The participants were 1478 US undergraduates aged between 18 and 53 years (M = 19.55, SD = 3.22; 39% male) and 218 Australian undergraduates aged between 17 and 60 (M = 20.09, SD = 4.56; 33% male). To address psychometric issues in the Mach- IV scale, item analysis and confirmatory factor analyses were used to derive its multidimensional structure. Structural equation modelling tested unique associations of Machiavellian views and tactics with six psy- chopathological constructs: depression, fear, anxiety, impulsivity, externalising psychopathology, and thought dysfunction. Results from the US and Australian samples suggest that Machiavellianism is best viewed as a two-dimensional construct consisting of views and tactics. Furthermore, the US study showed that Machiavellian views uniquely predicted all areas of psychopathology, whereas tactics predicted only externalising domains. These findings demonstrate the multidimensional nature of Machiavellianism and highlight its distinctive psychopathological implications.
What is the emotional core of the multidimensional Machiavellian personality trait?
Frontiers in Psychology, 2013
Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by interpersonal manipulation and associated with specific patterns of emotional and social cognition skills. The aim of this study was to investigate its socio-cognitive characteristics by determining its association and predictors on the basis of a multidimensional approach to Machiavellianism. We used Mach IV scale to assess "Machiavellian Intelligence" skill of participants . It includes three subscales that are (1) the use of deceit in interpersonal relationships, (2) a cynical view of human nature and (3) the lack of morality. Associations were found between Machiavellianism and low levels of empathy and affective ToM, and high levels of alexithymia, anhedonia, depression, and anxiety. These associations were observed in varying proportions depending on the three subscales of Machiavellianism. The addition of anhedonia and trait-anxiety to the concepts of empathy and alexithymia made it possible to gain a better understanding of the emotional core of Machiavellianism. These findings are discussed in the light of developmental and adaptive perspectives.
The Development and Validation of a New Machiavellianism Scale
Journal of Management, 2008
A new measure of Machiavellianism, the Machiavellian Personality Scale (MPS), was developed and validated over two studies. Machiavellianism is conceptualized as one's propensity to distrust others, engage in amoral manipulation, seek control over others, and seek status for oneself Study I developed and tested the factor structure of the scale, whereas Study 2 provided evidence for the convergent, divergent, and criterion-related validity of the MPS. The results of these studies supported the a priori factor structure of the MPS and indicated that it is a valid predictor of such outcomes as job satisfaction, task performance, and counterproductive work behaviors
Machiavellianism and Spontaneous Mentalization: One Step Ahead of Others
In spite of the Machiavellians' successful strategies in exploitation of others, they show cognitive deficiencies, especially reduced mind-reading skill. Theory of mind is usually regarded as an ability to make inferences about the mental states of others and thus to predict their behaviour. In our study, we have instead emphasized a motivationbased approach, using the concept of spontaneous mentalization. This concept is construed solely in a motivational context and not in relation to the automaticity of mind-reading ability. It entails that people in their social relations make efforts to explore the thoughts and intentions of others and are motivated to make hypotheses about the mental state of the other person. We assumed that what is peculiar to Machiavellianism is spontaneous mentalization as a kind of motivation rather than mind-reading as an ability. To measure spontaneous mentalization, we created a set of image stimuli and asked our participants to describe their impressions of the pictures. The results show that individual differences in spontaneous mentalization correlate positively with the scores of Machiavellianism. These results suggest that those who have a stronger motivation for putting themselves into the mind of others can be more successful in misleading and exploiting them. Further research should be carried out to clarify how spontaneous mentalization and mind-reading ability relate to each other.
Study of Machiavellianism in Social Environment
In modern psychology, Machiavellianism is one of the dark triad personalities, characterized by a duplicitous interpersonal style associated with cynical beliefs and pragmatic morality. Machiavellianism (referred to casually as "Machs") is also a term that some social and personality psychologists use to describe a person's tendency to be unemotional, and therefore able to detach him or herself from conventional morality and hence to deceive and manipulate others. A 1992 review described Machiavellian motivation as related to cold selfishness and pure instrumentality, and those high on the trait were assumed to pursue their motives (e.g. sex, achievement, sociality) in duplicitous ways. More recent research on the motivations of high Machs compared to low Machs found that they gave high priority to money, power, and competition and relatively low priority to community building, self-love, and family concerns. High Machs admitted to focusing on unmitigated achievement and winning at any cost.
Development and preliminary validation of a Five Factor Model measure of Machiavellianism
2018
Machiavellianism is characterized by planfulness, the ability to delay gratification, and interpersonal antagonism (i.e., manipulativeness and callousness). Although its theoretically positive relations with facets of conscientiousness should help distinguish Machiavellianism from psychopathy, current measurements of Machiavellianism are indistinguishable from those of psychopathy due mostly to their assessment of low conscientiousness. The goal of the present study was to create a measure of Machiavellianism that is more in line with theory using an expert-derived profile based on the thirty facets of the Five Factor Model (FFM) and then test the validity of that measure by comparing it to relevant constructs. Previously collected expert ratings of the prototypical Machiavellian individual on FFM facets yielded a profile of 13 facets including low agreeableness and high conscientiousness. Items were written to represent each facet, resulting in a 201-item Five Factor Machiavelliani...