The antagonistic personality trait Machiavellianism (Mach) should be characterized by duplicity, proclivity to manipulation, cynical disregard of others, long-term planning, and low aggression. Opposed to theoretical descriptions, recent studies revealed links between Mach and neuroticism, impulsivity, and aggression. The advantages of a multidimensional assessment of Mach are well known but were seldom implemented. Hence, differential effects within Mach have often been neglected. Based on previous research on basic motivational orientations, we derived two facets—Machiavellian approach and Machiavellian avoidance. These facets account for exploitative, strategic striving for resources and for misanthropic, distrustful loss prevention, respectively. In two studies (total N = 1,000, 21% men), we found support for the two-factor structure, for measurement invariance across sexes, and the nomological network of the eight-item Machiavellian Approach and Avoidance Questionnaire (MaaQ). As expected, Machiavellian approach was primarily associated with hope for power, whereas Machiavellian avoidance was linked to affective criteria and aggression. Both approach and avoidance shared links with disagreeableness, dishonesty, and cynicism. Furthermore, they correlated with other Mach scales. The findings explain counterintuitive links with other constructs found in earlier studies and thereby further the understanding of Mach.

中文翻译：

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被愚弄或不被愚弄：马基雅维利主义的接近和回避方面。

敌对人格特质马基雅维利主义（马赫）应该以两面派、操纵倾向、愤世嫉俗的漠视他人、长期计划和低攻击性为特征。与理论描述相反，最近的研究揭示了马赫与神经质、冲动和攻击性之间的联系。多维马赫评估的优势众所周知，但很少实施。因此，马赫内的差异效应经常被忽略。基于先前对基本动机取向的研究，我们得出了两个方面——马基雅维利方法和马基雅维利回避。这些方面分别解释了对资源的剥削性、战略性争取和厌恶人类、不信任的损失预防。在两项研究中（总共N= 1,000, 21% 男性），我们发现了对两因素结构、跨性别测量不变性以及八项马基雅维利方法和回避问卷 (MaaQ) 的法则网络的支持。正如预期的那样，马基雅维利式的方法主要与对权力的希望有关，而马基雅维利式的回避则与情感标准和攻击性有关。接近和回避都与不愉快、不诚实和玩世不恭有关。此外，它们与其他马赫量表相关。这些发现解释了与早期研究中发现的其他结构的违反直觉的联系，从而进一步理解了马赫​​。