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In and around the princely courts of Europe, Renaissance humanists drew upon the teachings of classical antiquity, often reinterpreting them to suit their own intellectual and ethical needs. One such need concerned balancing notions of achievement predicated upon gaining others' favor, with ideals of constancy and integrity. Evidence of this dilemma can be found in the works of Niccolo Machiavelli, Desiderius Erasmus, Thomas More, and Michel de Montaigne. In each of these cases, the attachment to differing conceptions of accomplishment and human dignity resulted in contradictions in their writings, and in their lives.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2009. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 29 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-25).

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Understanding the processes of communication during mixed-motive bargaining in coalition depends to a great extent upon comprehension of the variables which affect it. Certainly one of the most important variables of such communication is the influence of personality effect upon the bargaining outcomes. One personality variable, Machiavellianism, is strongly related to manipulative behavior. This thesis examines both the effects of Machiavellianism on bargaining success in face-to-face triads, and explores the limits of those effects relative to task orientation and personality type disclosure. It was found that Machiavellians are more able bargainers only so long as the nature and identity of their personality type is not revealed to their opponents. Machiavellian bargaining tactics, power strategies, styles of communication, and a variety of factors related to bargaining success are analyzed and a theory of ordering these results in terms of conflict resolution is discussed.

Research shows that parental psychological control is associated with youth aggression in peer relationships. This includes various aggression roles (aggression and victimization), forms (overt and relational), and functions (proactive and reactive). The current study examined the role of two youth individual traits, Machiavellianism and dysregulation, in the association between psychological control and youth aggression. A sample of 142 participants (age M = 15.4, SD = 1.13, 93% male, 82% African-American) were recruited from several juvenile detention facilities in Louisiana. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires, including self-reports of Machiavellianism, dysregulation, aggression, victimization, and parental psychological control. Bootstrap analyses indicated youth Machiavellianism partially mediated the associations between psychological control and the aggression roles, forms, and functions. Youth dysregulation partially mediated the associations between psychological control and the aggression roles and forms. For the aggression functions, dysregulation partially mediated the association between psychological control and reactive aggression, and fully mediated the association between psychological control and proactive aggression. Regression analyses indicated psychological control and dysregulation were more strongly associated with reactive aggression than proactive aggression. Findings demonstrate the importance of the youth individual traits, Machiavellianism and dysregulation, in explaining the association between psychological control and youth aggression problems. These findings have implications for youth interventions, in that these individual traits may be useful targets to help decrease bullying and aggressive behaviors in peer relationships.

The Dark Triad constructs – Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism – are typically associated with socially aversive behaviours, including insensitivity and exploitation. Despite this, individuals high in Dark Triad traits can be successful and popular outside of clinical and forensic contexts. Research suggests that individuals susceptible to exploitation possess traits signalling vulnerability, and Dark Triad individuals are adept at identifying these when choosing victims. Language is also known to reveal traces of Dark Triad characteristics. This project examined patterns of interpersonal perception among Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, with the aim to highlight similarities and differences across the three traits. Three studies explored these traits and the ways they manifest in social contexts. Study 1 investigated the extent to which perceptions of individuals high in Dark Triad traits accurately correspond to personality, emotional attributes, and vulnerability within their targets for manipulation. The cues they use for their judgements were considered. Participants who completed Dark Triad measures watched four video clips of dyadic interactions. Results indicated that Dark Triad individuals demonstrated a negative–other bias, whereby they generally perceived all targets as being vulnerable. Study 2 examined the characteristics of individuals who seemingly condone and abet Dark Triad individuals. Results showed that predictors of vulnerability included low extraversion, low conscientiousness, high neuroticism, and high agreeableness. The vignette method was used to elicit perceptions towards Dark Triad behaviours. Response styles on Likert-type statements and open-ended questions between high and low vulnerability groups differed significantly; the less vulnerable were more derogatory whereas the more vulnerable were less harsh. Study 3 qualitatively assessed language as a marker of Dark Triad traits using text analysis. Case studies of individuals high on the Dark Triad scales revealed that their linguistic patterns were consistent with their respective theoretical conceptions. This mixed methods research established that the Dark Triad traits do not uniformly entail the same behavioural outcomes. It also highlighted the importance of the interactive context between the destructive and the susceptible, through which researchers can devise strategies to help organisations better manage such individuals.