Mach-IV Scale
The Mach-IV Scale is a psychological self-report assessment developed by Richard Christie and Florence L. Geis (1970) to measure Machiavellian personality traits. The scale evaluates manipulative attitudes, cynical beliefs about human nature, strategic interpersonal behavior, emotional detachment, and pragmatic morality. The Mach-IV is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing Machiavellianism in personality and social psychology research. Higher scores may indicate stronger tendencies toward manipulation, interpersonal distrust, strategic deception, and utilitarian decision-making.
Read each statement carefully and select the response that best describes your agreement with the statement. Answer honestly and choose the option that most accurately reflects your typical beliefs or attitudes. There are no right or wrong answers.
This assessment is intended for educational, research, and self-reflection purposes only. It is not intended to provide a formal clinical diagnosis. Results should be interpreted within the broader context of personality functioning and interpersonal behavior.
The Mach-IV is scored using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Strongly Disagree to 4 = Strongly Agree). Total raw scores are calculated by summing all responses, with reverse-scored items (marked with mapping key 1) inverted prior to calculation (e.g., 0 becomes 4, 1 becomes 3, etc.). The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores representing a greater concentration of Machiavellian traits. Scores are distributed across five distinct sub-scales (Manipulative Tactics, Morality, Cynical View of Human Nature, Distrust, and Pragmatic Beliefs), which are standardized to a 0–100 scale for comparative profiling.
Never tell anyone the real reason you did something unless it is useful to do so.
The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear.
One should take action only when sure it is morally right.
Most people are basically good and kind.
It is safest to assume that all people have a vicious streak and it will come out when they are given a chance.
Honesty is the best policy in all cases.
There is no excuse for lying to someone else.
It is hard to get ahead without cutting corners here and there.
All in all, it is better to be humble and honest than important and dishonest.
When you ask someone to do something for you, it is best to give the real reasons for wanting it rather than giving reasons that carry more weight.
Most people who get ahead in the world lead clean, moral lives.
Anyone who completely trusts anyone else is asking for trouble.
The biggest difference between most criminals and other people is that criminals are stupid enough to get caught.
Most men are brave.
It is wise to flatter important people.
It is possible to be good in all respects.
Barnum was very wrong when he said that there’s a sucker born every minute.
Generally speaking, men won’t work hard unless they’re forced to do so.
People suffering from incurable diseases should have the choice of being put painlessly to death.
Most men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their property.
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