Exploring Gender Differences in Machiavellianism Using a Measurement Invariance Approach

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Personality Science
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Research indicates gender differences in Dark Triad personality traits, including Machiavellianism.
• Existing Machiavellianism measures face challenges like construct overlap and expert description mismatches.
• Investigating measurement bias is crucial for understanding true latent trait differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the gender invariance of the Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory (FFMI).
• To determine if observed gender differences in Machiavellianism are attributable to measurement bias.
• To provide a reliable measure for comparing Machiavellianism levels between genders.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory (FFMI), grounded in the five-factor model.
• Conducted factorial invariance testing across gender groups.
• Analyzed mean-level differences in Machiavellianism facets and total scores.

Main Results:

• Established strong (scalar) factorial invariance for the FFMI across genders.
• Found men reported higher levels on latent factors associated with antagonism and social dominance.
• Confirmed men reported significantly higher overall Machiavellianism scores compared to women.

Conclusions:

• The FFMI is a valid instrument for comparing Machiavellianism between men and women.
• Gender differences in Machiavellianism are likely reflective of actual trait variations, not measurement artifacts.
• Findings support the use of the FFMI in future research on personality and gender.