The differential relationship of state Machiavellianism and psychopathy with daily negative affect

Machiavellianism and psychopathy are characterized by the experience of negatively valanced emotional states such as anger, and hostility. Despite the similarities in their antagonistically-oriented character, both traits are characterized by the different pattern of antagonistic response. Thus, in our intensive longitudinal study we aimed to examine their relation with daily negative affect. In total, 317 participants have completed the measures of Machiavellianism, psychopathy and negative affect for 30 consecutive days (k = 9230 observations). Whereas increases of both, Machiavellianism and psychopathy were predicted by the preceding increase of negative affect, such relation was one-directional for Machiavellianism, which did not predict successive increases of negative affect, but bi-directional for psychopathy. Such differentiating pattern may suggest that psychopathy may follow a self-perpetuating cycle of antagonistic response, whereas Machiavellianism, may be connected to hindering the experience of negatively valanced emotions.