Indirect self-presentation of people with machiavellianism accentuation

Abstract

Introduction

Personal traits influence persons’ perception of the social environment. Therefore analyzing stories with the non-specific plot can enable to distinguish particular characteristics.

Objectives

The aim is to determine the features of verbal self-presentation of people with high and low scores on the Machiavellian scale.

Methods

1. For the selection of particular participants, who have high and low scores, the questionnaire «Dark triad» of Egorova was used. 2. For collection stories of respondents, a series of interviews was carried out with extra stimulus. There were 20 conversations. Age was from 19 to 29 (m = 23; sd = 7,1).

Results

The opportunity to predict personal traits in general stories was proved. There is a confrontation between the person and the world in the speech of the Machiavellians. Their stories usually have a strong hero, other characters are ignored by the main person. Machiavellians want a safe and calm place that allows them to be themselves. We assume that this is a consequence of the fact that they have to dissemble in society. This statement requires further verification Non-Machiavellians are concerned by the opinion of society, that affects their life and behavior. They act for the well-being of the world while their own feelings are being ignored. There is a feeling of guilty in non-Machiavellians’ tales which is connected with failures around them.

Conclusions

The study was piloted interviewing method (with stimulus material) for the study of indirect verbal self-presentation. Differences were found between the people’s self-presentation with an accentuation of Machiavellianism and non-Machiavellianism.