Machiavellianism and manipulative interpersonal behavior in children

Abstract

Forty-eight pairs of fifth-grade children were in an experiment designed to assess the manner and degree to which Mach, sex, and source of responsibility affect manipulative interpersonal behavior. The major findings were that High Mach subjects (a) were more successful, (b) used manipulative strategies more frequently, and (c) were judged as sounding more effective in general than Low Mach subjects. Sex was found to interact with Mach and success in terms of the strategies employed and the affective and cognitive consequences of the behavior.