Why Machiavellianism matters in childhood: the relationship between children's Machiavellian traits and their peer interactions in a natural setting
Date
2015
Authors
Abell, Loren
Qualter, Pamela
Brewer, Gayle
Barlow, Alexandra
Stylianou, Maria
Henzi, Peter
Barrett, Louise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PsychOpen
Abstract
The current study investigated the association between Machiavellianism and children’s peer interactions in the playground using observational
methods. Primary school children (N = 34; 17 female), aged 9 to 11 years, completed the Kiddie Mach scale and were observed in natural
play during 39 recesses (average observed time = 11.70 hours) over a full school year. Correlations for boys revealed that Machiavellianism
was related to more time engaging in direct and indirect aggression, being accepted into other peer groups, and accepting peers into their
own social group. Correlations revealed that for girls, Machiavellianism was associated with lower levels of indirect aggression, less time
being accepted into other groups and less time accepting and rejecting other children into their own group. This preliminary pilot study indicates
that Machiavellianism is associated with children’s observed social behaviour and aims to promote future observational research in this area.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal: open access
Keywords
Machiavellianism , Machiavellian children , Peer relations , Peer rejection , Observation , Social monitoring , Aggression
Citation
Abell, L., Qualter, P., Brewer, G., Barlow, A., Stylianou, M., Henzi, P., & Barrett, L. (2015). Why Machiavellianism matters in childhood: the relationship between children's Machiavellian traits and their peer interactions in a natural setting. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 11(3), 484-493. doi: 5964/ejop.v11i3.957.