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Personality and Individual Differences
Volume 40, Issue 4, March 2006, Pages 829-839
 
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doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.09.010    How to Cite or Link Using DOI (Opens New Window)
Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Machiavellianism, trait perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-presentation

Simon B. Sherrya, Paul L. Hewittb, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Avi Besserc, Gordon L. Flettd and Carolin Kleinb

aDepartment of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Arts Building, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 5A5 bDepartment of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, D.T. Kenny Building, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z4 cDepartment of Behavioral Sciences, Sapir Academic College, D.N. Hof Ashkelon, 79165, Israel dDepartment of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Behavioural Sciences Building, Toronto, Canada M3J 1P3

Received 10 January 2005; 
revised 1 August 2005; 
accepted 1 September 2005. 
Available online 2 November 2005.

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Abstract

This study examined Machiavellianism, trait perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-presentation in a sample of 483 university students (134 men; 349 women). Socially prescribed perfectionism mediated the association between Machiavellianism and perfectionistic self-presentation for both genders. Thus, the connection between Machiavellianism and perfectionistic self-presentation operated through socially prescribed perfectionism. Overall, Machiavellianism and components of perfectionism appeared to form a theoretically appreciable and an empirically demonstrable personality configuration. Machiavellian perfectionists (a) perceive others as demanding, controlling, punitive, and hostile toward them, (b) promote an image of perfection, capability, and strength to others, and (c) conceal any hint of imperfection, vulnerability, and weakness from others. When Machiavellian individuals perceive perfectionistic demands from significant others, perfectionistic self-presentation is likely to emerge from their chameleon-like repertoire of self-presentational behaviors.

Keywords: Machiavellianism; Perfectionism; Personality; Self-presentation; Interpersonal interaction; Impression management

Article Outline

1. Introduction
1.1. Definitions of constructs
1.2. Objectives
1.3. Hypotheses
2. Method
2.1. Participants
2.2. Instruments
2.3. Procedure
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive statistics
3.2. Zero-order correlations
3.3. Mediational analyses
4. Discussion
4.1. Machiavellianism and trait perfectionism
4.2. Machiavellianism and perfectionistic self-presentation
4.3. Mediational model
4.4. Gender differences
4.5. Current limitations and future directions
5. Study conclusions
References



 
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