Perceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfaction
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Ináncsi, Tamás
Pilinszki, Attila
Paál, Tünde
Láng, András
Abstract / Description
It is commonly known from the literature that Machiavellian individuals have negative attitudes towards people and in general towards the world´s affairs. They are distrustful of the intentions of others, and they get cautiously involved into interpersonal interactions and take risks only if that may not have any severe negative consequence. It is also a fact that there are few ventures in life that potentially involve as much insecurity and personal vulnerability as the establishment and maintenance of close relationships. In our study, we were seeking the answer to the question: do people with high levels of Machiavellianism show a generally negative, distrustful and cautious attitude in their intimate relationships, as well? What effect their pessimistic approaches have on the other consequences of the relationship (satisfaction, commitment, investment, quality of alternatives)? This question was investigated on a dyadic sample of heterosexual couples (N = 101 pairs) with Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The results of the correlations and actor effects show that men with high levels of Machiavellianism perceive in a negative way not just people in general, but their romantic partners and relationships as well and they experience an increased level of distrust, risk, and dissatisfaction into their close relationships. Women with high levels of Machiavellianism are less negativistic and feel less discontent towards their intimate partner and relationship, but even they are unable to put their distrust and precaution aside. The results of partner effects have revealed that women's Machiavellianism undermines men's trust, while men's Machiavellianism has the effect of minimizing women's investment into their relationship.
Keyword(s)
Machiavellianism negative attitudes distrust self-protection relationship dissatisfaction actor-partner effectsPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2018-11-30
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
14
Issue
4
Page numbers
806–830
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Ináncsi, T., Pilinszki, A., Paál, T., & Láng, A. (2018). Perceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfaction. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 14(4), 806–830. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1550
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ináncsi, Tamás
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Pilinszki, Attila
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Paál, Tünde
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Láng, András
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-30T13:59:55Z
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Made available on2018-11-30T13:59:55Z
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Date of first publication2018-11-30
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Abstract / DescriptionIt is commonly known from the literature that Machiavellian individuals have negative attitudes towards people and in general towards the world´s affairs. They are distrustful of the intentions of others, and they get cautiously involved into interpersonal interactions and take risks only if that may not have any severe negative consequence. It is also a fact that there are few ventures in life that potentially involve as much insecurity and personal vulnerability as the establishment and maintenance of close relationships. In our study, we were seeking the answer to the question: do people with high levels of Machiavellianism show a generally negative, distrustful and cautious attitude in their intimate relationships, as well? What effect their pessimistic approaches have on the other consequences of the relationship (satisfaction, commitment, investment, quality of alternatives)? This question was investigated on a dyadic sample of heterosexual couples (N = 101 pairs) with Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The results of the correlations and actor effects show that men with high levels of Machiavellianism perceive in a negative way not just people in general, but their romantic partners and relationships as well and they experience an increased level of distrust, risk, and dissatisfaction into their close relationships. Women with high levels of Machiavellianism are less negativistic and feel less discontent towards their intimate partner and relationship, but even they are unable to put their distrust and precaution aside. The results of partner effects have revealed that women's Machiavellianism undermines men's trust, while men's Machiavellianism has the effect of minimizing women's investment into their relationship.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationInáncsi, T., Pilinszki, A., Paál, T., & Láng, A. (2018). Perceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfaction. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 14(4), 806–830. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1550
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1700
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2066
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1550
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Keyword(s)Machiavellianismen_US
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Keyword(s)negative attitudesen_US
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Keyword(s)distrusten_US
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Keyword(s)self-protectionen_US
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Keyword(s)relationship dissatisfactionen_US
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Keyword(s)actor-partner effectsen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitlePerceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfactionen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue4
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers806–830
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Volume14
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record