Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism, in psychology, is used to describe a negative personality trait characterized by selfishness, callousness, cynicism, and skillful manipulation of others. This trait can have a detrimental impact on an individual’s personal and professional relationships, as their actions and behaviors are often driven by a desire to achieve their own goals at the expense of others.

What Is Machiavellianism?

Machiavellianism is an innate personality trait characterized by self-interest, manipulative behavior, and a willingness to exploit others for personal gain. It is also one of three traits that make up the “dark triad” personalities [mfn] Karim D. N. (2022). Linking dark triad traits, psychological entitlement, and knowledge hiding behavior. Heliyon, 8(7), e09815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09815 [/mfn]—alongside narcissism and psychopathy.

People with Machiavellian traits are characterized [mfn] Ináncsi, T., Láng, A., & Bereczkei, T. (2016). A Darker Shade of Love: Machiavellianism and Positive Assortative Mating Based on Romantic Ideals. Europe’s journal of psychology, 12(1), 137–152. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v12i1.1007 [/mfn] by a disregard for social norms and ethics, a lack of empathy, strategic and selfish cunningness, as well as a tendency towards cold, manipulative, and exploitative behavior.

They are highly intelligent and confident individuals [mfn] Gavrilets, S., & Vose, A. (2006). The dynamics of Machiavellian intelligence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(45), 16823–16828. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0601428103 [/mfn], skilled at influencing others and may use charm, deception, or other manipulative tactics to achieve their goals. While individuals high in any of these traits may be charming or charismatic, they can also be dangerous and harmful to others if their behavior is left unchecked.

Read More About Dark Triad Here

Machiavellianism: A historical context

The term and psychology behind Machiavellianism are derived from the political treatises of Niccolo Machiavelli [mfn] Osborne T. (2017). Machiavelli and the liberalism of fear. History of the human sciences, 30(5), 68–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952695117723223 [/mfn], a 16th-century Italian Renaissance philosopher and diplomat who wrote about the use of power and manipulation in politics. Today, his more famous works, The Prince and the Discourses On Livy, remain the primary source of Machiavellian thought.

Prevalence Of Machiavellianism

Everyone exhibits some degree of Machiavellianism and its global prevalence is estimated to be around 4-5% [mfn] Jaffé, M. E., Greifeneder, R., & Reinhard, M. A. (2019). Manipulating the odds: The effects of Machiavellianism and construal level on cheating behavior. PloS one, 14(11), e0224526. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224526 [/mfn]. It is more common in men than in women [mfn] Collison, K. L., South, S., Vize, C. E., Miller, J. D., & Lynam, D. R. (2021). Exploring Gender Differences in Machiavellianism Using a Measurement Invariance Approach. Journal of personality assessment, 103(2), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2020.1729773 [/mfn], although the gender difference is not always consistent across cultures or populations.

Moreover, individuals with certain personality disorders (like antisocial, narcissistic, histrionic, or borderline personality disorders) may exhibit high levels of Machiavellianism.

Read More About Borderline Personality Disorder Here

Signs Of Machiavellianism

Common [mfn] Blötner, C., & Bergold, S. (2022). To be fooled or not to be fooled: Approach and avoidance facets of Machiavellianism. Psychological assessment, 34(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001069 [/mfn] signs of a Machiavellian personality include:

1. Prioritizing self-interest and personal gain
2. Lying or manipulating others for personal gain
3. Disregarding social norms or rules
4. Using charm, charisma, and deception to influence others
5. Seeking out positions of power or influence
6. Engaging in exploitative or unethical behavior to achieve one’s goals
7. Lacking trust, empathy, or concern for the well-being of others
8. Having alexithymia (or the inability to understand and identify emotions experienced by oneself or others)
9. Feigning emotions to manipulate others’ perceptions of oneself
10. Forming alliances or relationships primarily for strategic gain
11. Concealing information or true intentions to gain an advantage over others
12. Engaging in strategic thinking, planning, and calculated risk-taking to achieve one’s goals.

What Causes Machiavellianism?

The development of Machiavellianism in personality traits has been attributed to the combination of factors like:

1. Genetics

Some studies claim that Machiavellianism is a genetically heritable innate personality trait, though the exact link is not fully understood. However, people born with specific personalities and dispositions (like narcissism) [mfn] Wu, W., Wang, H., Lee, H. Y., Lin, Y. T., & Guo, F. (2019). How Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism Affect Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation: The Moderating Effect of Psychological Resilience. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 779. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00779 [/mfn] tend to develop Machiavellian characteristics.

2. Psychosocial factors

Machiavellianism is most considered learned behavior heavily influenced by the psychosocial environment [mfn] Abell, L., Qualter, P., Brewer, G., Barlow, A., Stylianou, M., Henzi, P., & Barrett, L. (2015). Why Machiavellianism Matters in Childhood: The Relationship Between Children’s Machiavellian Traits and Their Peer Interactions in a Natural Setting. Europe’s journal of psychology, 11(3), 484–493. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v11i3.957 [/mfn]. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), early socialization, and negative parenting (like parental Machiavellianism [mfn] Láng A. (2018). Mama Mach and Papa Mach: Parental Machiavellianism in Relation to Dyadic Coparenting and Adolescents’ Perception of Parental Behaviour. Europe’s journal of psychology, 14(1), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i1.1474 [/mfn]) are found to be common causes.

3. Socio-cultural factors

Competitive and individualistic environments, such as toxic and stressful work cultures in certain corporate or professional settings, may encourage the development of Machiavellian traits.

Moreover, people growing up with societal values and beliefs [mfn] Yang, M., Qu, C., Guo, H., Guo, X., Tian, K., & Wang, G. (2022). Machiavellianism and learning-related subjective well-being among Chinese senior high school students: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 915235. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915235 [/mfn] that prioritize individual achievement and success tend to adopt Machiavellian behaviors and attitudes as a means of achieving their goals and out-competing others.

Machiavellianism In Mental Health

In mental health, Machiavellianism is chiefly considered a negative character trait. It is not a mental health condition that can be subjected to medical diagnosis. However, research suggests that the development of Machiavellian manipulativeness and deceitfulness is associated with the risk of mental health conditions [mfn] Láng A. (2014). Machiavellizmus és személyiségzavar összefüggései az interperszonális kapcsolatok tükrében [Machiavellianism and personality disorder: correlations in the mirror of personal relationships]. Orvosi hetilap, 155(40), 1584–1588. https://doi.org/10.1556/OH.2014.30004 [/mfn] like:

• Personality disorders (like narcissistic, anti-social, histrionic, and borderline personality disorders) [Read more]
• Psychopathy [Read more]
• Depression [Read more]
• Anxiety [Read more]
• Workaholism [Read more]
• People with certain types of obsessive-compulsive traits, high perfectionism, etc.

Recognizing Machiavellianism

Recognizing Machiavellianism can be challenging, as individuals who exhibit these traits often present themselves in a socially desirable manner. Moreover, not everyone exhibiting Machiavellian traits is necessarily Machiavellian and may be compelled by negative circumstances.

However, recognizing and calling out Machiavellianism is important for preventing harm to individuals as well as the spread of toxic and unethical behaviors. It further promotes a culture of honesty and respect, helping individuals with Machiavellian traits become aware of their behavior and seek help.

It also helps in understanding the impact of personality traits on mental health and well-being [mfn] Liyanagamage, N., Fernando, M., & Gibbons, B. (2022). The Emotional Machiavellian: Interactions Between Leaders and Employees. Journal of business ethics : JBE, 1–17. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05233-8 [/mfn], leading to acceptance and support for people with mental health disorders like personality disorders.

Nonetheless, a lack of diagnostic criteria means there is no official treatment For Machiavellianism. But people who experience significant distress and impairment due to the high scores of Machiavellian traits can benefit from behavioral therapy, counseling, or pharmacotherapy.

For instance, the Machiavellianism Scale [mfn] Kückelhaus, B. P., Blickle, G., Kranefeld, I., Körnig, T., & Genau, H. A. (2021). Five Factor Machiavellianism: Validation of a New Measure. Journal of personality assessment, 103(4), 509–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2020.1784182 [/mfn] or the Mach-IV inventory [mfn] Kückelhaus, B. P., Blickle, G., Kranefeld, I., Körnig, T., & Genau, H. A. (2021). Five Factor Machiavellianism: Validation of a New Measure. Journal of personality assessment, 103(4), 509–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2020.1784182 [/mfn] is used to indicate the presence and severity of Machiavellian traits in clinical settings to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Machiavellianism in relationships

Machiavellianism can have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships [mfn] Brewer, G., & Abell, L. (2017). Machiavellianism, Relationship Satisfaction, and Romantic Relationship Quality. Europe’s journal of psychology, 13(3), 491–502. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1217 [/mfn], as individuals who exhibit these traits may prioritize personal gain over the well-being of their partner. They may engage in manipulative or deceitful behaviors (like lying or emotional abuse) to gain an advantage or control the relationship.

Additionally, Machiavellians may struggle to form genuine emotional connections with others, as they lack empathy and selflessness. This can lead to difficulties in communication, trust, intimacy, and may ultimately result in the breakdown of the respective relationship.

Machiavellianism in the workplace

Machiavellianism is often seen in unhealthy workplaces with toxic work cultures, wherein individuals prioritize personal success over the well-being of their colleagues or the organization.

Such people may engage in manipulative or deceitful behaviors (related to lying, plagiarism, sabotaging, bullying, or malicious gossip) to gain an advantage or advance their careers. In some cases, the term “Machiavellian leadership [mfn] Gkorezis, P., Petridou, E., & Krouklidou, T. (2015). The Detrimental Effect of Machiavellian Leadership on Employees’ Emotional Exhaustion: Organizational Cynicism as a Mediator. Europe’s journal of psychology, 11(4), 619–631. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v11i4.988 [/mfn]” is used to refer to unethical and destructive types of professional leadership.

Moreover, individuals with malevolent traits may struggle to work collaboratively or empathize with others, which can lead to difficulties in communication and teamwork. This can ultimately result in decreased productivity and burnout, poor work satisfaction and mental health, and low employee turnover in the long run.

Addressing Machiavellian Traits

Consider the following tips to address difficulties [mfn] Massey-Abernathy, A., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2016). Seeing but Not Feeling: Machiavellian Traits in Relation to Physiological Empathetic Responding and Life Experiences. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, 2(3), 252–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-016-0041-0 [/mfn] that may arise from having Machiavellian traits:

Recognize the presence of Machiavellian traits and their negative impact on relationships and mental health.

1. Seek professional help (such as therapy or counseling) to address underlying mental health conditions and learn healthier coping mechanisms.
2. Develop self-awareness and self-reflection to identify and challenge manipulative or deceitful behavior.
3. Practice empathy and communication skills to improve interpersonal relationships and reduce the need for Machiavellian tactics.
4. Set personal boundaries and learn to say “no” when appropriate, to prevent being taken advantage of or becoming overly focused on self-interest.
5. Surround yourself with a trustworthy support system that can hold you accountable and encourage positive behaviors.
6. Strive to prioritize ethical and moral values over personal gain and consider the long-term consequences of actions.

Takeaway

Machiavellianism may be advantageous in certain situations, but it can also have negative consequences for individuals and their personal and professional relationships. Therefore, recognizing and addressing Machiavellian traits is important for promoting healthy fairness and nurturing fulfilling equations.

By promoting awareness and understanding of this trait, individuals can learn to recognize and address it in themselves and others, ultimately leading to more positive and productive interactions and environments.

At A Glance

1. Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by selfishness, manipulation, deceit, and exploitation of others.
2. Individuals with high scores of Machiavellian traits prioritize their goals over ethical or moral considerations.
3. Machiavellianism examples include lying, cheating, theft, sabotaging, bullying, etc.
4. Machiavellianism negatively impacts the quality of a person’s personal and professional relationships.
5. Machiavellianism is not a diagnosable mental health condition.
6. Individuals with debilitating Machiavellian traits, behaviors, and thought processes can benefit from therapy and counseling.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)