Implications of person–situation interactions for Machiavellians' unethical tendencies: The buffering role of managerial ethical leadership

Machiavellianism is a dark personality trait that prompts self-interested manipulation in interpersonal relationships and is conducive to unethical behaviour. Yet Machiavellians (Machs) are also adaptive individuals who tailor their behaviour to the immediate context and feel constrained to manoeuvre selfishly in tightly (not loosely) structured work environments. Drawing on a person–situation interaction perspective, we analyse whether managerial ethical leadership buffers the negative influence of Mach on employees' ethical work intention. Using data from 436 employees of a diverse set of Spanish banking entities, we find that interactions with ethical leaders weaken employees' intention to behave unethically more among high Machs than among low Machs. This investigation sheds light on Machiavellianism in the workplace and explores some actions that can buffer its negative effects on employees' ethical intention.