Machiavellianism and Problem-solving Strategies in a Marriage Relationship

The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between the level of spouses’ Machiavellianism and tendency to use constructive and unconstructive problem-solving strategies in marital conflicts. The study involved 100 married couples. The participants completed Mach IV and the Problem-Solving Strategies Inventory in two versions: self-report and estimation of partner behaviours. Two exploratory path analyses were performed. The analysis of data coming from selfreports proved that Machiavellianism was positively associated with the tendency to use destructive strategies (Escalation and Withdrawal), and negatively with the use of constructive strategies (Loyalty and Dialogue). Higher Machiavellianism of women was related to less frequent use of Dialogue strategy by their husbands. The data obtained through estimations of partner behaviour showed that a higher level of Machiavellianism among husbands was related to their wives’ more frequent use of Escalation and Withdrawal, as well as to their less frequent use of Loyalty and Dialogue. The results support the assumption that Machiavellianism may be treated as a factor which makes constructive solving of matrimonial conflicts more difficult.

REFERENCES:

• Barnett M.A. , Thompson, S. (1985). The role of perspective taking and empathy in children’s Machiavellianism, prosocial behavior, and motive for helping. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 146(3), 295—305.
• Christie, R. & Geis, F.L. (1970). Studies in Machiavellianism. New York: Academic Press.
• Fehr, B. , Samsom, D. , Paulhus, D.L. (1992). The Construct of Machiavellianism: Twenty Years Later. In: C.D. Spielberger & J.N. Butcher (Eds.), Advances in personality assessment (Vol. 7, pp. 77–116). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Fitzpatrick, M.A. , Badzinski, D.M. (1994). All in the family: Interpersonal communication in kin relationships. In: M. L Knapp., G. R Miller (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 726—771.
• Gable, M. , Topol, M. (1991). Machiavellian managers: Do they perform better? Journal of Business and Psychology, 5(3), 355—365.
• Graham, J.H. (1996). Machiavellian project managers: do they perform better? International Journal of Project Management, 14(2) 67–74.
• Hunt, S.D. , Chonko, L.B. (1984). Machiavellianism and marketing. Journal of Marketing, 48, 30–42.
• Jones, D.N., Paulhus, D.L. (2009). Machiavellianism. In: M.R. Leary, R.H. Hoyle (Eds.), Individual differences in social behavior (pp. 93–108). New York: Guilford.
• Kriegelewicz, O. ( 2003). Kwestionariusz do badania strategii rozwiązywania konfliktów w parze małżeńskiej. Nowiny Psychologiczne, 4, 15–31.
• Lopes, J. , Fletcher, C. (2004). Fairness of impression management in employment interviews: A cross-country study of the role of equity and Machiavellianism. Social Behavior and Personality, 32(8), 747–768.
• Pilch I. (2007). Makiawelizm a bliskość, zadowolenie i wsparcie w bliskim związku interpersonalnym. Kolokwia Psychologiczne: Psychologia wobec dylematów współczesności, 16, 197–206. Warszawa: Instytut Psychologii PAN.
• Pilch, I. (2008). Osobowość makiawelisty i jego relacje z ludźmi. Katowice: Uniwersytet Śląski.
• Rusbult, C.E., Johnson, D.J., Morrow, G.D. (1986). Determinants and Consequences of Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect: Responses to Dissatisfaction in Adult Romantic Involvements. Human Relations, 39, 1, 45–63.
• Sherry, S.B., Hewitt, P.L. , Besser, A. , Flett, G.L. , Klein, C. (2006). Machiavellianism, trait perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-presentation. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 829–839.
• Plopa, M. (2005). Więzi w małżeństwie i rodzinie. Metody badań. Kraków: Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.
• Wastell, C., & Booth, A. (2003). Machiavellianism: An alexithymic perspective. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 22, 6, 730–744.
• Wilson, D.S., Near, D., Miller, R.R. (1996). Machiavellianism: A Synthesis of the Evolutionary and Psychological Literatures. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 2, 285–299.
• Zaidman, N., Drory, A. (2001). Upward impression management in the work place cross-cultural analysis. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25, 671–69