The Role of Machiavellianism and Loneliness in Predicting Self-Disclosure Online

The present study investigated how Machiavellianism and loneliness are related to different aspects of self-disclosure online among young adults, including honesty, amount, intent, and positive valence. A total of 212 university students aged 18-30 completed four self-report questionnaires. The results confirmed the role of Machiavellianism and loneliness as predictors of distinct aspects of self-disclosure online, suggesting that Machiavellianism, but not loneliness, leads to strategic self-disclosures online. Specifically, Machiavellianism negatively predicted honesty of self-disclosure online, and loneliness positively predicted its amount and positive valence. No mediating effects of loneliness on the relationship between Machiavellianism and honesty of self-disclosure were found.

REFERENCES:

• Abell, L., & Brewer, G. (2014). Machiavellianism, self-monitoring, self-promotion and relational aggression on Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 258-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.076
• Al-Saggaf, Y., & Nielsen, S. (2014). Self-disclosure on Facebook among female users and its relationship to feelings of loneliness. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 460-468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.04.014
• Brewer, G., Abell, L., & Lyons, M. (2014). Machiavellianism, competition and self-disclosure in friendship. Individual Differences Research, 12(1), 1-7.
• Brown, E.C., & Guy, R.F. (1983). The effects of sex and Machiavellianism on self-disclosure patterns. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 11(1), 93-96. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.1983.11.1.93
• Christie, R., & Geis, F.L. (1970). Studies in Machiavellianism. New York: Academic Press.
• De Jong Gierveld, J., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (1999). Manual of the Loneliness Scale. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Department of Social Research Methodology, Vrije Universiteit.
• Fox, J., & Rooney, M.C. (2015). The Dark Triad and trait self-objectification as predictors of men’s use and self-presentation behaviors on social networking sites. Personality and Individual Differences, 76, 161-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.12.017
• Gibbs, J.L., Ellison, N.B., & Heino, R.D. (2006). Self-presentation in online personals: The role of anticipated future interaction, self-disclosure, and perceived success in Internet dating. Communication Research, 33(2), 152-177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650205285368
• Greene, K., Derlega, V.L., & Mathews, A. (2006). Self-disclosure in personal relationships. In A. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships (pp. 1268-1328). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Grygiel, P., Humenny, G., Rebisz, S., Świtaj, P., & Sikorska, J. (2013). Validating the Polish adaptation of the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 29, 129-139. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000130
• 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.
• Juszczyk, S. (2015). Fields of impact of social media on youth - Methodological implications. Acta Technologica Dubnicae, 2(5), 80-86. https://doi.org/10.1515/atd-2015-0066
• Lee, K.T., Noh, M.J., & Koo, D.M. (2013). Lonely people are no longer lonely on social networking sites: The mediating role of self-disclosure and social support. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(6), 413-418. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0553
• Leung, L. (2002). Loneliness, self-disclosure, and ICQ (“ I seek you”) use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(3), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493102760147240
• O’Connor, E.M., & Simms, C.M. (1990). Self-revelation as manipulation: The effects of sex and Machiavellianism on self-disclosure. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 18(1), 95-99. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.1990.18.1.95
• Pilch, I. (2008). Osobowość makiawelisty i jego relacje z ludźmi [The personality of Machiavellian and its relations with people]. Katowice, Poland: University of Silesia Press.
• Scott, G.G., Boyle, E.A., Czerniawska, K., & Courtney, A. (2018). Posting photos on Facebook: the impact of narcissism, social anxiety, loneliness, and shyness. Personality and Individual Differences, 133, 67-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.039
• Shaw, L.H., & Gant, L.M. (2004). In defense of the Internet: The relationship between Internet communication and depression, loneliness, self-esteem, and perceived social support. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(2), 157-71. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493102753770552
• 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(4), 829-839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.09.010
• Zhang, W., Zou, H., Wang, M., & Finy, M.S. (2015). The role of the Dark Triad traits and two constructs of emotional intelligence on loneliness in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 75, 74-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.025