Version 1
: Received: 29 August 2023 / Approved: 30 August 2023 / Online: 30 August 2023 (11:21:29 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 12 March 2024 / Approved: 13 March 2024 / Online: 14 March 2024 (10:50:19 CET)
Blötner, C. Interactions between Machiavellianism and Verbal Reasoning in “Bullshit” Production. Personality and Individual Differences 2024, 223, 112635, doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112635.
Blötner, C. Interactions between Machiavellianism and Verbal Reasoning in “Bullshit” Production. Personality and Individual Differences 2024, 223, 112635, doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112635.
Blötner, C. Interactions between Machiavellianism and Verbal Reasoning in “Bullshit” Production. Personality and Individual Differences 2024, 223, 112635, doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112635.
Blötner, C. Interactions between Machiavellianism and Verbal Reasoning in “Bullshit” Production. Personality and Individual Differences 2024, 223, 112635, doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112635.
Abstract
Persons high in the manipulative, misanthropic trait Machiavellianism have been shown to make use of various forms of deception to attain their goals. A recent study has furthermore shown that different facets of Machiavellianism account for the production and detection of deception. Intelligence is another substantial predictor of successful deception production and detection. This research examined the interactions between different facets of Machiavellianism and verbal reasoning to predict both the production and detection of empty and vague, but effective pseudo-information that is supposed to help achieve desired states or prevent undesired ones (co-called bullshit). In a sample of 525 participants, and consistent with the hypotheses, individuals with high scores in the goal-oriented (harm-avoiding) facet of Machiavellianism produced bullshit more frequently to achieve certain goals (to circumvent any disadvantageous situations) if they also possessed high scores in verbal reasoning. In addition, verbal reasoning helped individuals high in the distrustful facet of Machiavellianism discriminate bullshit from non-bullshit. Thus, Machiavellianism combined with verbal skills helps produce and recognize deception.
Keywords
Dark Triad; deception; cognitive ability; pseudo-information; bullshit sensitivity
Subject
Social Sciences, Psychology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
