Components of Machiavellian beliefs in children: relationships with personality

Components of Machiavellian beliefs were assessed in a sample of 198 children aged 9–12 years, and related to the psychoticism (P), extraversion (E), neuroticism (N), and lie (L) scales of the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionaire (JEPQ-S) personality measure (Francis & Pearson, 1988). Overall Machiavellianism was positively correlated with P and N scores, and negatively correlated with L scores. Factor analysis of the Kiddie–Mach scale (Christie & Geis, 1970) revealed three main factors: lack of faith in human nature, dishonesty, and distrust. All factors were positively correlated with P (the first two significantly more so in boys) and negatively correlated with L scores. Lack of faith in human nature was also positively correlated with age. The results are discussed in terms of the possible developmental trajectory of Machiavellian beliefs in connection with their socioemotional and behavioural correlates.