How Machiavellianism engenders impression management motives: The role of social astuteness and networking ability

The present study contributes to the literature on Machiavellianism by determining how Machiavellianism leads to impression management (IM) motives. Using a longitudinal survey design, we obtained data from 404 young professionals (M-age = 24.38 years; SDage = 1.72 years) and tested a mediation model where Machiavellianism associates with IM motives through social astuteness and networking ability. This empirical study contributes to the theory on Machiavellianism by providing preliminary evidence of the mediating effects of social astuteness and networking ability on the positive relationship between Machiavellianism and IM motives.