Machiavellianism: The Psychology of Manipulation

Machiavellianism is a psychological trait where a person is described as manipulative, clever, strategic, unemotional and self-motivated. Typically, people exhibiting Machiavellian behaviors can exploit, charm, deceive, or employ psychological tricks and coercion to obtain desirable outcomes. The term is named after Niccol Machiavelli , the Renaissance political philosopher, the author of the infamous book The Prince .

This popular political treatise details political strategy for how a ruler maintains power in a complex state by either overt threat or strategic coercion and guile.

What the term Machiavellianism means in terms of human behaviors

Machiavellianism is drawn from and reflects political reasoning by Niccol Machiavelli throughout the 1500s. His theory states that the goal for a ruler is to preserve political power and state security at all costs, over more humanistic approaches to governing. Psychologists have come to refer to individuals that display this highly controlling and strategically focused manipulative approach as Machiavellians.

Machiavellianism is now viewed as one member of three subclinical personality traits known as the ‘Dark Triad’ of personality including narcissism and psychopathy.

Machiavellian characteristics Typically, Machiavellians display the following as behaviors: They are highly manipulative. Emotionally detached. Strategic thinkers. Self-serving.

Wary and distrustful.

Perceptive persuaders. Willing to deceive or cheat if they see fit. They often project intelligence and charm but not in order to truly help; every action has a self serving motivation.

Psychologically This Machiavellian mindset is in more modern terms the way a personality works. They think ahead to prepare their plans, and can disguise their desires and intentions, and utilize all people they encounter as resources, to achieve the goals they are aiming to be met. They stay level under pressure even in volatile or stressful situations.

While this personality type will likely do very well in business and other environments, it really hurts and can completely ruin social relationships of other.

Politically In politics, manipulation and strategy is a primary means of gaining power and maintaining control. Machiavellians are often strategists in political power brokers who manipulate circumstances and perceptions such as spreading propaganda, manipulating the populace, negotiating non-stop. They maintain a political structure which consists of secret plotting and betrayal with people that the Machiavellian sees useful. And any individuals that are viewed useful become temporary alliances Machiavellians can rely on just long enough before the can dispose of them.

Socially There are certain places and contexts where those Machiavellian ways will manifest.

They can be manipulative in the workplace such as sabotaging another co worker to gain a better role, they may have a habit of using or controlling another through guilt, or even using emotional abuse. They can be master strategists of their emotional impact on those around them and always with their personal gain in mind and in the way they choose who will be a pawn to serve Machiavellian goals. Differences of psychopathic, Narcissistic and Machiavellian personalities.

What is it a psychopathic person is likely to do. What is it a narcissistic individual is most likely to do. What is it machiavellian personalities likely to do .

What is the end result of machiavellianism The end goal and impact of a Machiavellian way of operating can ultimately harm the community and the people involved by creating mistrust and destroying social cohesion of a society.

Yet some say this is an important aspect to have when interacting in extremely selfish arenas like politics in which some sort of protection is warranted.