Article Version of Record

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 effects

Persistent 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
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Ináncsi, Tamás
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Pilinszki, Attila
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Paál, Tünde
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Láng, András
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-30T13:59:55Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-30T13:59:55Z
  • Date of first publication
    2018-11-30
  • 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.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • 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
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1700
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2066
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1550
  • Keyword(s)
    Machiavellianism
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    negative attitudes
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    distrust
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    self-protection
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    relationship dissatisfaction
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    actor-partner effects
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Perceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfaction
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    4
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    806–830
  • Volume
    14
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record