Relationship between Machiavellianism, External Control, and Cognitive Style among College Students

Abstract

This experiment determined relationships between Machiavellianism, locus of control, and cognitive style. 115 subjects, 56 males, 59 females, ages 18 to 21, were selected from Interim students at Texas Lutheran College, Seguin, Texas. The M Mach IV test measured Machiavellian tendencies. The I-E scale measured external attitudes. The Object Sorting Test measured categorizing style and cognitive structure by having subjects divide 50-word representations into groups. A significant correlation for all subjects was found between M Mach IV and I-E, none between M Mach IV and Object Sorting or between I-E and Object Sorting. No sex differences were noted. A multiple correlation among the three scores indicated some relationship between Machiavellianism, locus of control, and cognitive style.