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Feelings and motives underlying Machiavellian behavioural strategies; narrative reports in a social dilemma situation
Author(s) -
Czibor Andrea,
Vincze Orsolya,
Bereczkei Tamas
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1002/ijop.12077
Subject(s) - narrative , psychology , feeling , social psychology , perspective (graphical) , social dilemma , dilemma , test (biology) , plural , verb , linguistics , epistemology , paleontology , philosophy , artificial intelligence , computer science , biology
This study explored the reasons and motives underlying the decisions of individuals with strong Machiavellian attitudes (High Machs). One hundred and fifty undergraduate students completed the Mach‐ IV test, and their contributions to, financial success in and narrative reports of a public goods game were analysed. High Machs contributed less to the public good and gained more benefit than Low Machs. Analysis of the narrative reports showed that High Machs used significantly fewer verbs referring to emotional involvement and first person plural verb forms, than did Low Machs. This study confirmed previous findings that High Machs have a cool and rational character and a proself orientation and showed that their lack of group orientation may account for their low cooperation in social dilemmas. The results of narrative content analysis provide a new perspective on the motives and values behind High Machs' decisions and success in different fields of social life.