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Machiavellianism and clinical depression in a geriatric sample
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|July 1, 1978
Summary
Non-depressed males scored higher on Machiavellianism than females. This suggests male depression may involve self-aggression, while female depression might manifest as emotional detachment and manipulative behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Psychogeriatric patients present unique challenges in understanding psychological constructs.
- Machiavellianism, characterized by manipulative interpersonal style, has been explored in various populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Machiavellianism differences between depressed and non-depressed psychogeriatric patients.
- To explore potential gender differences in Machiavellianism within this population.
Main Methods:
- A Machiavellianism test was administered to 40 psychogeriatric patients (20 depressed, 20 non-depressed).
- Participants were categorized by depression status and gender.
Main Results:
- Non-depressed males exhibited significantly higher Machiavellianism scores compared to non-depressed females.
- No significant differences were reported for depressed patients.
Conclusions:
- Gender may influence the expression of Machiavellianism in non-depressed older adults.
- Depression in males might be linked to self-destructive tendencies, whereas in females, it may present with manipulative behaviors.