title: Psychopathy and Machiavellianism: A Distinction Without a Difference?
abstract: A robust literature has emerged on the Dark Triad (DT) of personality-Machiavellianism (MACH), psychopathy, and narcissism. Questions remain as to whether MACH and psychopathy are distinguishable and whether MACH's empirical and theoretical networks are consistent. In Study 1 (N = 393; MTurk research participants), factor analyses were used to compare two-factor (MACH and psychopathy combined + narcissism) and three-factor models, with both fitting the data equally well. In Studies 1 and 2 (N = 341; undergraduate research participants), DT scores were examined in relation to a variety of external criteria, including self- and informant ratings of personality, adverse developmental experiences, and psychopathological symptoms/behaviors. In both studies, MACH and psychopathy manifested nearly identical empirical profiles and both were significantly related to disinhibitory traits thought to be antithetical to MACH. In Study 3 (N = 36; expert raters), expert ratings of the Five-Factor Model traits prototypical of MACH were collected and compared with empirically derived profiles. Measures of MACH yielded profiles that were inconsistent with the prototypical expert-rated profile due to their positive relations with a broad spectrum of impulsivity-related traits. Ultimately, measures of psychopathy and MACH appear to be measuring the same construct, and MACH assessments fail to capture the construct as articulated in theoretical descriptions.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Courtland S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hyatt
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maples-Keller
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Nathan T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Purdue University.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lynam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008257:Machiavellianism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009289:Narcissism; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult