28 July 2007

Mach-IV (Test of Machiavellianism) [via]

The Machiavelli personality test has a range of 0-100.

Your Machiavelli score is: 83. You are a high Mach, you endorse Machiavelli’s opinions.

Most people fall somewhere in the middle, but there’s a significant minority at either extreme.

The questions soundent more like a misanthropy test to me but, hey, whatever.

This survey itself measures only one thing – whether you subscribe to the ideas of a 16th century Italian political philosopher. But experiments have shown that reactions to Machiavelli act as a kind of litmus test, delineating differences in temperament that can be confirmed with more traditional personality inventories. High Machs constitute a distinct type: charming, confident and glib, but also arrogant, calculating and cynical, prone to manipulate and exploit. (Think Rupert Murdoch, or if your politics permit it, President Clinton.)

True low Machs, however, can be kind of dependent, submissive and socially inept. So be sure to invite a high Mach or two to your next dinner party.

See? The very serious and intelligent Salon recommends you invite me to your next dinner party. (And good luck with that.)