title: The manipulative skill: Cognitive devices and their neural correlates underlying Machiavellian's decision making.
abstract: Until now, Machiavellianism has mainly been studied in personality and social psychological framework, and little attention has been paid to the underlying cognitive and neural equipment. In light of recent findings, Machiavellian social skills are not limited to emotion regulation and "cold-mindedness" as many authors have recently stated, but linked to specific cognitive abilities. Although Machiavellians appear to have a relatively poor mindreading ability and emotional intelligence, they can efficiently exploit others which is likely to come from their flexible problem solving processes in changing environmental circumstances. The author proposed that Machiavellians have specialized cognitive domains of decision making, such as monitoring others' behavior, task orientation, reward seeking, inhibition of cooperative feelings, and choosing victims. He related the relevant aspects of cognitive functions to their neurological substrates, and argued why they make Machiavellians so successful in interpersonal relationships.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6, Pécs H-7624, Hungary. Electronic address: bereczkei.tamas@pte.hu.
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bereczkei
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D000066506:Heuristics; D006801:Humans; D008257:Machiavellianism; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: ACC; DLPFC; Heuristics and algorithms; Inferior frontal gyrus; Machiavellianism; Theory of mind