Divergent/Discriminant
In several studies, it was shown that correlations with impulsivity were eliminated by use of the Mach VI
rather than the Mach IV. The highest correlations with the Big Five were negative with agreeableness ( 2.22) and
conscientiousness ( 2.19) ( Jones & Paulhus, 2008 ).
Construct/Factor Analytic
A principal components analysis was conducted on a sample of 330 students. Loadings of the nine items on
the first unrotated principal component were all positive, ranging from .19 to .44, suggesting a unidimensional
structure ( Jones & Paulhus, 2008 ).
Criterion/Predictive
No information on criterion or predictive validity is currently available.
Location
Jones, D.N., & Paulhus, D.L. (2008, February). The Mach VI: Toward a more strategic Machiavellianism. Presented
at the meeting of the Association for Research in Personality, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Results and Comments
This measure reduces the overlap with impulsiveness inherent in measures of psychopathy. Nonetheless, its
other correlates are similar to those with the original Mach IV. Research validating its strategic focus is still in
progress ( Paulhus & Jones, 2013 ).
MACH VI
Please rate your agreement with the following nine
items. Your answers can range from (1) completely dis-
agree to (5) completely agree.
1.Don’t make enemies because you never know who
may be useful in the future.
2.It is necessary to get important people on your side.
3.I am good at keeping secrets about myself.
4.When I have a good hand of cards, my face gives it
away (R).5.If I don’t like someone, I come right out and say it (R).
6.It is not wise to tell your secrets.
7.You might have to surrender one battle to win the
war.
8.I’m willing to wait to get back at people.
9.Attacking people directly rarely works.
Notes : Reverse scored item (R).
Reproduced with permission.
3. Machiavellian Personality Scale (MPS)
(Dahling et al. , 2009 ).
Variable
Dahling et al. (2009) summarized a number of concerns about the standard Mach IV, with a special focus on
the inflammatory nature of the items. The authors also argued that the content should be expanded beyond cyni-
cism and manipulation to include desire for control and pursuit of status.
Description
Beginning with a pool of 45 items written to tap all four a priori domains (cynicism, manipulation, desire for
control, desire for status), the authors narrowed the item set down to subscales tapping each of four facets (see
samples below). The final version contains 16 items scored on 7-point Likert-type response scales.
Sample
The two samples in the initial publication comprised 176 and 323 employed students ( Dahling et al., 2009 ).572 20. MEASURES OF DARK PERSONALITIES
V. VICES AND VIRTUES