[Assessment of Machiavellian intelligence in antisocial disorder with the MACH-IV Scale].

INTRODUCTION The objective is to evaluate the presence of Machiavellian intelligence with the MACH-IV Scale in antisocial patients versus community controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS Categorical diagnosis and dimensional evaluation program according to IPDE were obtained from 26 controls from the community and 40 patients from a methadone program. Both groups were evaluated on cooperation with TCI and on Machiavellian intelligence with MACH-IV. RESULTS Higher figures in MACH-IV Global Score, Tactics subscale (to manipulate others), Visions subscale (interpretations on Machiavellian behavior of others) were found in the 20 antisocial patients compared with the 26 community controls achieving statistical significance. No statistical differences were found for Morality subscale scores (abstract morality) between groups. Dimensional evaluation of antisocial disorder according to IPDE shows statistically significant positive correlations for Tactics subscale, Visions subscale and Global Score of MACH-IV scale, but no statistically significant correlation was found for Morality subscale. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between MACH-IV Tactics subscale and TIC altruism subscale. CONCLUSIONS Antisocial patients have the same level of abstract moral attitudes as controls but are prone to use Machiavellian intelligence to interpret the actions of others, rationalize their own conduct and manipulate the behavior of others to get a benefit. These data support the hypothesis that many of the features of the antisocial syndrome may be explained by an abnormal development of an innate predisposition to be dominant in social relationships.