Machiavellianism and romantic relationship dissolution

•We examined Machiavellianism and experiences of romantic relationship dissolution.•Mach predicted higher avoidance/withdrawal and distant/mediated communication.•High Mach women were also more likely to engage in cost-escalation and manipulation.•Mach did not predict post break up distress.

Despite the frequency with which relationships are dissolved and the consequences of this dissolution, few studies have considered the manner in which individual differences (rather than characteristics of the relationship itself) influence the selection of a break up strategy or break up related distress. The current studies were conducted to address this issue. In Study 1, women (N = 141) completed Machiavellianism (Christie & Geis, 1970) and break up strategy (Collins & Gillath, 2012) questionnaires. Women with high levels of Machiavellianism were more likely than those with low levels of Machiavellianism to employ Avoidance/Withdrawal, Cost Escalation, Manipulation, and Distant/Mediated Communication when terminating a relationship. In Study 2, women (N = 125) completed Machiavellianism (Christie & Geis, 1970) and break up distress (Field, Diego, Pelaez, Deeds, & Delgado, 2010) measures. Machiavellianism did not predict post relationship dissolution distress. Findings are discussed in relation to the Machiavellian interpersonal style and relationship preferences.