Sex, Sex-Role, and Machiavellianism as Correlates of Decoding Ability

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships of sex, sex-role and Machiavellianism to the ability to decode adult facial expressions. 80 undergraduates, classified into traditional, cross-sex, androgynous or undifferentiated sex-role categories based on scores on Bern's inventory, were asked to view slides of adults posing different facial expressions and asked to choose which emotion was being expressed. Subjects were given the Machiavellianism V scale to complete. Neither sex nor sex-role significantly influenced decoding ability; however, Machiavellianism was negatively related to the ability to decode facial expressions.

Dispositional malevolence and impression formation: Dark Tetrad associations with accuracy and positivity in first impressions

“…For example, emotional intelligence and perspective taking are known to promote perceptive accuracy (Colman, Letzring, & Biesanz, ), and these individual differences are negatively related to Machiavellianism (Pilch, ). Similarly, Machiavellianism negatively correlates with the ability to decode facial expressions from pictures (Simon, Francis, & Lombardo, ), and subclinical psychopathy has been linked with less efficiency in processing words with a negative valence (Long & Titone, ), suggesting those high on psychopathy have a more difficult time processing negative emotions. Emotions are high‐quality information for accurate impression formation (Andersen, ); thus, the Dark Tetrad traits may be associated with lower perceptive accuracy.…”

What is the emotional core of the multidimensional Machiavellian personality trait?

“…Some studies have suggested that Machiavellians are deficient only at the level of affective empathy (sharing of emotions), whereas their cognitive empathy (recognizing and understanding other people's emotions using “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” ToM Test) is intact, even high [Barnett and Thompson, 1985, quoted in McIllwain (2003); Repacholi et al (2003); Richell et al (2003)]. Conversely, other studies have reported that Machiavellians are also deficient in cognitive empathy and are less able to recognize the emotions of others, thus indicating that they may not be aware of the consequences of their acts [Reading the mind in the eyes test (Baron-Cohen et al, 2001; Lyons et al, 2010); facial emotion decoding task: (Simon et al, 1990); IRI scale: Laura, 2002, quoted in McIllwain, 2003]. To summarize, the relationship between Machiavellianism, affective empathy and cognitive empathy is still unclear and controversial.…”

“…In addition, people with alexithymia have (1) difficulties in identifying their emotions/feelings, (2) difficulties in distinguishing their emotional state from their physical or physiological state, (3) limited imagination and creative abilities, (4) a lack of introspective capabilities (Krystal, 1987; Taylor, 2000; Berthoz et al, 2011; Gumley, 2011). It therefore comes as no surprise that healthy alexithymic individuals have been found to obtain high Machiavellianism scores (Simon et al, 1990; Wastell and Booth, 2003; Loas et al, 2007) since Machiavellian individuals have a dysfunctional connection to their own emotions. Wastell and Booth (2003) found that Machiavellianism and alexithymia are highly correlated, especially with regard to two components of alexithymia (assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS): externally orientated thinking (EOT) and difficulties in identifying feelings (DIF).…”

Machiavellianism, emotional intelligence and social competence: Are Machiavellians interpersonally skilled?

“…The ability to accurately recognize non-verbal messages with regard to emotions can be very useful in choosing a successful method for manipulation. However, in a few studies, the ability to recognize non-verbal emotional indicators was negatively correlated with Machiavellianism (Simon, Francis & Lombardo, 1990;McIllwain, 2003;Draheim, 2004). Christie and Geis (1970) thought that Machiavellians' advantage was not related to the perception of subtle social indicators.…”