Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology Dark Triad

Machiavellianism most pronounced in students of politics and law, least pronounced in students of social work, nursing and education

by Vladimir Hedrih
March 30, 2023
in Dark Triad

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A study comparing students of different university majors on the trait of Machiavellianism reported that the highest average scores were among students of politics and law, while students of social work, nursing and education scored the lowest. Across all majors, males had much higher Machiavellianism scores than females. The study was published in Personality and Individual Differences.

The choice of a college major is probably one of the most important choices a person makes in life. Studies have shown that this choice is largely affected by vocational interests, but also by personality traits. People with different personality profiles tend to prefer different vocations and thus different college majors.

The link between vocational choice and personality has been a focus of extensive study throughout the world in the past decades. However, studies mostly considered the Big Five personality traits and did not focus on the so-called Dark personality traits. The inclusion of these traits came only recently. Studies so far indicate the individuals with pronounced Dark traits seem to choose college majors and vocations with high potential to acquire power and status, such as business and economics.

The authors of the new study wanted to study the relationship between the dark personality trait of Machiavellianism and the choice of college major. Machiavellianism is a personality trait that predisposes a person to act in a duplicitous way, manipulate others, focus solely on own self-interest and act without emotion or consideration of morality. It was found to be more pronounced in men than in women.

“We thought this study is interesting because it sheds light on how personality traits can impact a student’s choice of college major, which can have long-term implications for their career prospects and success,” said study authors Dritjon Gruda and Issa Khoury of the National University of Ireland Maynooth and Jim McCleskey of Western Governors University. “The study’s findings on the relationship between Machiavellianism and academic major selection are particularly intriguing, as this personality trait is associated with manipulation and self-interest.”

The researchers analyzed data of 35,025 participants from 177 countries found in the OpenPsychometrics database. They divided college majors into 50 different categories and analyzed data on Machiavellianism (MACH-IV scale), college major, post graduate degrees, professional degrees, gender and age.

Results showed that students of social work, nursing and education had the lowest average Machiavellianism scores. Students of politics and law had the highest average scores. This was followed by students of information technology, economics, physics, economics and computer science whose average Machiavellianism scores were quite a bit above average. The study authors noted also that while students of medical majors had relatively low average scores, students of medicine had scores that were a bit above average.

“Personality traits can influence our academic and career choices,” the researchers told PsyPost. “Specifically, highly Machiavellian individuals may be drawn to majors that offer opportunities for personal power and status, and this could impact their future success. It is also important for educational institutions to consider the personality traits of their students when designing course curricula and teaching methods.”

Interestingly, majoring in business was unrelated to Machiavellianism.

“Initially, we did not expect that individuals who majored in business would score quite average on Machiavellianism,” the researchers explained. “That is in contradiction with the manipulative corporate leaders portrayed on TV or social media. Yet, the results make a lot of sense too. A lot of people study business or business-related subjects (e.g., Accounting, Finance etc.) for many different reasons. And most business students just want to get a good business education, most are not driven by self-interest or manipulation.”

When males and females were compared, males scored much higher on Machiavellianism than females across all college majors. There was not a single college major where males had lower scores than females. Additionally, scores of females of all majors were below the average of the whole sample. In males, this was the case only with students of social work, while male students of all other majors had average scores that were above the average value of the whole sample. The researchers report finding no differences between countries.

The paper provides a valuable contribution to the study of relationships between personality and vocational choice. However, it has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, researchers did not examine whether males and females understood Machiavellianism test items in the same way (measurement invariance). If they did not, their raw test scores might not be comparable.

“It would be interesting to examine the long-term career outcomes of individuals with different personality traits and academic majors,” the researchers told PsyPost. “The link between career choices and academic major selection is not necessarily straightforward. For example, just because someone majors in biology, does not mean they will have a career as a biologist.”

The study, “Cause we are living in a Machiavellian world, and I am a Machiavellian major: Machiavellianism and academic major choice”, was authored by Dritjon Gruda, Jim McCleskey, and Issa Khoury.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin5Send
Previous Post

Longitudinal study finds no evidence heavier smartphone use results from or triggers heightened stress

Next Post

Study finds male heterosexuality is more precarious than women’s regardless of race

STAY CONNECTED

Find these awesome psychology shirts and more at the PsyPost Store!

TRENDING

New study identifies perceived mattering as a core psychological component of happy marriages

Social anxiety tends to be elevated among those who suffered emotional maltreatment in childhood

Scientists use deep learning algorithms to predict political ideology based on facial characteristics

Higher prenatal testosterone exposure is linked to Machiavellianism and psychopathy, study suggests

New study hints at the characteristics of the “ideal” female breast

Diversity of the gut microbiota is associated with the severity of depression

RECENT

New study identifies perceived mattering as a core psychological component of happy marriages

Diversity of the gut microbiota is associated with the severity of depression

Higher prenatal testosterone exposure is linked to Machiavellianism and psychopathy, study suggests

New research: Brain implant can objectively measure chronic pain severity

New study hints at the characteristics of the “ideal” female breast

Our brain prefers positive vocal sounds that come from our left

Study highlights the importance of napping for memory consolidation in early childhood

People with advanced biological age are at greater risk of developing depression and anxiety, study finds

Currently Playing

Childhood adversity associated with increased emotional response to others’ suffering in adulthood

Childhood adversity associated with increased emotional response to others’ suffering in adulthood

Childhood adversity associated with increased emotional response to others’ suffering in adulthood

Mental Health
New study sheds light on cognitive mechanisms linked to hypnosis

Chronic intake of refined carbohydrates between meals is associated with decreased cognitive performance, study finds

Cognitive Science
Mindfulness might hinder prosocial behavior among individuals with high intelligence

Mindfulness might hinder prosocial behavior among individuals with high intelligence

Social Psychology
Women who have larger breasts tend to have lower levels of satisfaction with their breasts, study finds

Women who have larger breasts tend to have lower levels of satisfaction with their breasts, study finds

Social Psychology
Unwanted celibacy is linked to hostility towards women, sexual objectification of women, and endorsing rape myths

Depressive symptoms tied to malevolent creativity in new study

Depression
Psychosocial stress triggers an oxytocin response in women, study finds

Oxytocin alters amygdala activation in response to angry faces in antisocial personality disorder

Cognitive Science
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.