Machiavellianism and sexuality: on the moderating role of biological sex

Abstract

We examined via self-report relations between Machiavellianism (MACH), sexual attitudes and a variety of sexual behaviors, including a willingness to force sexual acts on another in the absence of culpability. As predicted, MACH is associated with an open, promiscuous and hostile set of sexual attitudes. In addition, MACH is associated with a variety of self-serving and deceptive sexual tactics such as cheating, divulging intimate sexual secrets to third parties, and both feigning love and inducing intoxication to secure sex. MACH is also positively associated with an expressed willingness to force others into sexual acts in the absence of culpability. However, many of these relationships are moderated by participant sex. As would be predicted by either biological or socialization based accounts of sexuality, these relationships are attenuated or absent for the female participants. The discussion focuses on the nature of MACH sexuality, and how this differs in men and women.