“The ends justify the means.”
That’s the line Niccolò Machiavelli is (unfairly) remembered for, though he never quite put it or meant it so bluntly. Still, it kinda sums up the slippery, sly mindset we know as Machiavellianism.
The Parasite of Machiavellianism
Be it personal walk of life, bizarre politics, the workplace, or even a family dinner where your sibling or child is scheming over who gets the last slice of pizza, Machiavellianism is sitting there, smiling. I like to think of it as a parasite: persistent, subtle, present, and capable of eating away at the foundation and the trust of any group it infects. For example, in organizations, it breeds manipulation. In families, it spawns drama. However, if left unchecked, it morphs into something not only irritating but also downright dangerous.
Sounds intimidating?
Well, here’s the good news. Like a lot of parasites, once you know how it operates, you can protect yourself.
So, let’s learn about Machiavellianism in detail: how to spot it, how to respond, and how to tackle.
Side note: Know that this isn’t about becoming paranoid; it’s about becoming wise, resilient, and just a little harder to fool.
What is Machiavellianism?
In simple words, Machiavellianism is a political theory fashioned by Niccolò Machiavelli, the Italian writer and statesman. Now, the term is used far beyond politics. It’s a signal’s behavior painted in the colors of amorality. At its heart, Machiavellianism contains treachery, manipulation, bad faith, and even violence when it serves a person’s interests. It’s also not shy of employing duplicity, deceit, unscrupulousness, or cunning tactics to get ahead.
At work, for instance, it can come in the form of a coworker who flatters the boss, sabotages teammates quietly and without conscience, and takes credit for ideas or work they never had with a smile and a nod. In relationships, it can be the partner who gaslights, guilt-trips, or uses affection as a bargaining chip most of the time. Then, at home, it adopts the face of the family member who stirs up drama, only to tilt the decision about money, inheritance, or any other thing in their favor.
But why does it have all these dark and negative traits?
There must be a purpose behind it!
And yes, you are right, there is. Machiavellian is obsessed with self-interest above everything else. They put all their needs (individual or collective) over everyone and everything, while turning a blind eye to all kinds of moral values. The “greater good” doesn’t matter here; what matters is merely winning. For this purpose, they don’t shy away from crushing the common good of the community and their loved ones.
In psychology, Machiavellianism secures one of the corners of the “Dark Triad” (triangle) of personality traits. The other two are narcissism and psychopathy (if you are wondering). A Machiavellian personality is characterized by cold calculation, emotional detachment, cunningness, and a comfort with exploiting others. These don’t just lack empathy; they see empathy as a weakness to be used against others, (maybe sometimes) you.
Prominent Machiavellian Personality Traits in a Person
Machiavellianism is similar to a human version of a chess game, except they’re not just moving pawns. They’re deliberately stealing pieces from other players when no one’s looking or via manipulation.
Spotting these traits early is not easy, but you can trace them with the repetitive pattern:
Common symptoms include:
- Emotional coldness: They aren’t the ones keeping a poker face. Instead, they are the poker table. If you show them genuine warmth, know that it is like handing over a business card that says, “Please exploit me, or you can exploit me.”
- Master manipulation: They can talk their way into, or out of, almost anything like a seasoned artist. Maybe you might have a coworker who convinces you almost consistently that it was your idea to do their extra work.
- Power obsession: For them, power isn’t only a goal; it’s their oxygen. If there’s a ladder, they’ll climb it. If there’s no ladder, they’ll build one out of your back without an iota of hesitation.
- Vengeance mode: If you annoy them even slightly, they’ll store that memory like a squirrel hoarding nuts. Moreover, they will wait eagerly for the perfect time to “balance the scales.”
- Facade of kindness: They (can) smile sweetly while planning how to cut you out of the picture: the project, promotion, or even the family WhatsApp group.
- Betrayal without blinking: You already know that trust is a currency to be spent and not a value to be cherished. Once it runs out, they borrow someone else’s immediately.
- Immorality on speed dial: So, what is it: Ethics and morals? To them, those are not some mandatory apps but merely optional ones that they never bother to download.
I know, these traits are dark and sound intimidating. But, hey! The more you can identify them, the less power they have over you. Rather than being the naive player in their game, you can be the one who easily pinpoints the traps, sidesteps the manipulative tactics, and keeps your sanity alongwith dignity intact.
Where Does it Come From?
In the race to gain what they yearn for, the Machiavellian sees the whole world as a battlefield where the desire itself acts as a never-ending war. So, they are stuck between a war between themselves and, well, pretty much everyone else.
But, you might be wondering how do they learn such wicked tricks?
The truth is that every human being is born with a mixture of light and dark traits or skills. Some of us lean or try to lean toward kindness, cooperation, and truth. Yes, there might be an occasional white lie about liking someone’s cooking. However, Machiavellians tend to lean harder toward the darker end of the tunnel: cunning, manipulation, and the subtle yet powerful art of using people like things.
Sometimes these traits are considered innate, like a “talent for trickery” they didn’t need lessons in. Other times, they’re influenced by circumstances. For example, they can have a childhood where they were surrounded by people getting immediate results out of manipulation, or environments where evil strategy and deceit are rewarded over honesty. In other words, Machiavellianism can be both nature and nurture: half natural-born chess master, half survivor of a system that praises cunning moves.
How to Trace Machiavellian Personality Traits in a Person?
Psychology also gives us a handy tool to spot this behavior in the form of the Mach-IV Test.
Back in the 1970s, psychologists Richard Christie and Florence L. Geis decided to unveil the code of Machiavellian behavior. They designed a set of 20 questions to measure how cunning, manipulative, or cold-hearted someone can be. The higher the score, the more likely you’re dealing with someone who treats life like a long con.
A few sample questions are:
- “The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear.”
- “There is no excuse for lying to someone else.” (Hint: the Machiavellian might strongly disagree!)
- “Most people forget more easily the death of their parents than the loss of their property.”
- “It is safest to assume that all people have a vicious streak and it will come out when they are given a chance.”
Are There Any Other Ways to Recognize Machiavellianism?
Yes, you can track Machiavellian behavior by analyzing a person. For example, is the person obsessed with control or power? Are they willing to sacrifice anything to gain what they want? Do they care about showing feelings for others? Do they spend more time planning and less on doing it? In simple words, do their actions mirror their words? Do they long to be the center of attraction or not?
How To Deal With People Who Have a Machiavellian Personality Trait?
Are you concerned about how to deal with such a person? Well… I have got you covered.
Step one: Awareness. The moment you see Machiavellian behavior, half the battle is won. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder!
Step two: Boundaries. After scanning out the Machiavellian behavior, build and protect your boundaries. Make sure you have built a solid wall around you so that peace and stability may prevail.
Step three: Don’t try to change them. Nature is stubborn, and Machiavellians even more so. Don’t tell yourself that I can fix them. If you have given them two or more chances already, it is high time you bade them goodbye.
Step four: Compassion for yourself. Remember, it’s not your job to carry the weight of their manipulations. Show kindness inward, because self-care is the strongest antidote here.
Step five: Never try to beat them at their own game. Outmaneuvering a Machiavellian is like wrestling an octopus, as they’ve got more arms, and you’ll just end up exhausted. Better to walk away with your dignity than jump into their puddle of tricks.
To cut a long story short: you can’t end Machiavellianism from the world, but you can keep it away from you. Awareness, boundaries, and self-respect are your friends, and with those in place, their toxicity and wicked tricks don’t stand a chance.