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Manipulation and Instability: Exploring Machiavellianism and Borderline Personality Similarities and Differences

Bruno Bonfá-Araujo1,2, Christian Blötner3, András Láng4

  • 1Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.

European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
|September 26, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Machiavellianism and borderline personality traits involve manipulative behaviors. This study found Machiavellianism links to lower agreeableness and conscientiousness, while borderline personality links to higher neuroticism and lower agreeableness/conscientiousness.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Personality Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Machiavellianism involves calculated manipulation.
  • Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves impulsive, emotionally driven manipulation.
  • Both personality constructs impact interpersonal dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationships between Machiavellianism and borderline personality traits.
  • To examine these relationships in the context of broader personality constructs (Big Five traits).
  • To identify distinct subgroups (latent profiles) based on these traits.

Main Methods:

  • Survey study with 1011 adult participants.
  • Utilized measures for Machiavellianism, borderline personality, and Big Five traits.
  • Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was employed to identify subgroups.

Main Results:

  • Machiavellianism negatively correlated with agreeableness and conscientiousness.
  • Borderline personality traits positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively with agreeableness and conscientiousness.
  • Two distinct latent profiles emerged from the analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Machiavellianism can be associated with adaptive or maladaptive functioning.
  • A combination of Machiavellianism and borderline personality traits indicates manipulative tendencies alongside emotional instability.
  • Future research should investigate specific manipulative behaviors linked to these traits.
Keywords:
Big FiveLatent Profile Analysisemotion dysfunctionemotional regulation

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