We present high-angular (0.17-0.35 arcsec) resolution imaging polarimetric observations of Mrk 231 in the 3.1 micron filter using MMT-Pol on the 6.5-m MMT, and in the 8.7, 10.3, and 11.6 micron filters using CanariCam on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS. In combination with already published observations, we compile the 1-12 micron total and polarized nuclear spectral energy distribution (SED). The total flux SED in the central 400 pc is explained as the combination of 1) a hot (731+/-4 K) dusty structure, directly irradiated by the central engine, which is at 1.6+/-0.1 pc away and attributed to be in the pc-scale polar region, 2) an optically-thick, smooth and disk-like dusty structure (`torus') with an inclination of 48+/-23 deg surrounding the central engine, and 3) an extinguished (Av=36+/-5 mag) starburst component. The polarized SED decreases from 0.77+/-0.14 per cent at 1.2 micron to 0.31+/-0.15 per cent at 11.6 micron and follows a power-law function. The polarization angle remains constant (~108 deg) in the 1-12 micron wavelength range. The dominant polarization mechanism is explained as scattering off hot dust grains in the pc-scale polar regions.