Machiavellianism Personality Scale (Mach-IV) – Chinese Version

Description

Machiavellianism derives from the work “The Prince” by the Italian historian, thinker, and politician Niccolò Machiavelli. In “The Prince,” Machiavelli advocates that a ruler should possess characteristics such as sensitivity to real interests and risks, non-self-centered thinking, and fairness. Research on Machiavellianism in psychology can be traced back to Christie and Geis (1970), who summarized the main characteristics of Machiavellian personality: first, the tendency to control and exploit others to maximize personal benefits; second, resistance to societal influence; third, efforts to control interpersonal interactions; and fourth, a lack of emotional connection in personal relationships. Concerning the concept of Machiavellianism, psychologists generally agree with the Machiavellian personality proposed by Christie and Geis. Machiavellians demonstrate strong adaptability in loosely structured task situations by managing unpredictable environments, dispersing risks, and ensuring effective resource utilization. Conversely, in more structured task situations, to achieve personal interests, Machiavellians exercise greater control and exploitation over others, leading to deteriorated relationships and ineffective resource use, thus exhibiting lower adaptability.

Authors and Contact Email

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Purpose

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Test Year

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Administration Method and Scoring

Machiavellian Personality Scale (Mach-IV) consists of items scored on a Likert scale as follows:
非常不符合 (Very disagree) – 不太符合 (Disagree) – 不确定 (Neutral) – 比较符合 (Agree) – 非常符合 (Very agree)

Reliability and Validity

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Factors and Subscales

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Keywords

Machiavellianism, personality traits, psychological research, interpersonal relations, adaptability.

Items in Chinese

1. 应付他人最好的方法是讲他们最想听的话。
2. 当你求别人帮忙时，最好告之真实的理由而不是编造更有更有份量的理由。
3. 完全信任别人等于自讨苦吃。
4. 不走捷径就很难成功。
5. 在任何情况下诚实均为上策。
6. 最妥全的处世原则是假设人性恶，如有机会，人性的邪恶就会暴露出来。
7. 除非有用，决不要告诉任何人你做事的真正原因。
8. 只有确信符合道德时才能采取行动。
9. 奉承大人物是明智的。
10. 总而言之为人谦逊和诚实要好于为人张扬和奸诈。
11. “每分钟都有傻瓜诞生”这种说法是不对的。
12. 患不治之症的人应该有权利选择无痛苦的死亡。
13. 在各方面都优秀是可能达到的。
14. 多数人基本上是好的和善良的。
15. 没有任何借口来对他人撒谎。
16. 多数人能更容易忘记父亲的亡故，而不是自己财产的损失。
17. 世界上成功的人大多过着清白和道德的生活。
18. 一般来说，如果不是被迫，人们不会努力工作。
19. 犯人与一般人的最大区别在于他们愚蠢，以致于被抓住。
20. 多数人是勇敢的。

Items in English

1. The best way to deal with others is to say what they most want to hear.
2. When you ask others for help, it’s best to tell them the real reason rather than fabricate a heavier reason.
3. Completely trusting others is tantamount to asking for trouble.
4. It is difficult to succeed without taking shortcuts.
5. Honesty is always the best policy in any situation.
6. The most prudent principle of dealing with the world is to assume human nature is evil, as human malice will reveal itself when given the chance.
7. Never tell anyone your true reasons for doing something unless it is useful.
8. Only act when you are sure it aligns with morals.
9. Flattering the big shots is wise.
10. Overall, it is better to be humble and honest than to be ostentatious and deceitful.
11. The saying “A fool is born every minute” is incorrect.
12. Those with terminal illnesses should have the right to choose a painless death.
13. It is possible to be excellent in every aspect.
14. Most people are fundamentally good and kind.
15. There is no excuse for lying to others.
16. Most people can forget the death of their father more easily than a loss of their property.
17. Most successful people live upright and moral lives.
18. Generally, if not forced, people won’t work hard.
19. The main difference between offenders and regular people is their stupidity, which leads to their capture.
20. Most people are brave.

References

杨潇. 马基雅维利主义与公正敏感性[D].杭州师范大学,2016.
赵君,廖建桥.马基雅维利主义研究综述[J].华东经济管理,2013,27(04):145-148.