Cross-situational personality variability and its relationship to self-monitoring, Machiavellianism, impression management and authenticity.

Abstract

The current study investigated cross-situational personality variability and its relationship to the personality measures of self-monitoring, Machiavellianism, impression management and authenticity. The 228 participants completed four questionnaires, one for each of the above personality measures, as well as a personality inventory designed to assess the expression of the FFM personality traits in three social contexts; with parents, with friends and with work colleagues. Mean-corrected personality indices were calculated and used to remove any correlational relationship between the trait variability and means. Systematic cross-situational personality variability with context-specific patterns was observed, in addition to cross-context consistency of the FFM traits. Contrary to predictions, no significant relationship was observed between mean-corrected personality indices and measures of self-monitoring, Machiavellianism, impression management and authenticity. The results did not support a positive relationship between mean-corrected personality variability and self-monitoring, Machiavellianism or impression-management. Additionally, the findings did not indicate a link between mean-corrected personality variability and authenticity.