Machiavellianism: Some specific examples of Machiavellian traits include being cunning, ruthless, and amoral. They have little regard for adhering to moral or ethical standards. Not all Machiavellians want attention or admiration—some prefer being in control and “pulling the strings.”
Common signs and examples of Machiavellianism
Competing with others rather than cooperating. Manipulating others in order to reach their goals. Luring others into wild behaviour to further their own ends. Making plans for personal benefit with no consideration of their effect on other people.
“Machiavellians are sly, deceptive, distrusting, and manipulative. They are characterized by cynical and misanthropic beliefs, callousness, a striving for … money, power, and status, and the use of cunning influence tactics.
For example, an employee vying for a promotion may show Machiavellian behavior by employing manipulative tactics to take advantage of their relationships with colleagues and management to gain an edge over other employees.
Machiavellianism is a personality trait that denotes cunningness, the ability to be manipulative, and a drive to use whatever means necessary to gain power.
The FFMI was shown to relate as expected to measures of Big Five personality traits, current Machiavellianism measures, psychopathy, narcissism, ambition, and impulsivity.
Machiavellian personality traits are often associated with low levels of empathy and lack of interpersonal closeness. However, some individuals high on Machiavellian traits have been shown to be skilled at affective-perspective taking and thereby may appear to exhibit an empathic response.
Machiavellian leaders manipulate and undermine others using cunning and duplicitous methods. They actively work at being viewed as ingratiating towards others so that they are not seen as a threat.
For example, Christie and Geis (1970) proposed that Machiavellianism consists of two traits: interpersonally manipulative tactics, and a cynical view of human nature.
Such distrust and lack of both integrity and morality may arise when leaders demonstrate Machiavellian behavior because high Mach individuals exhibit elevated levels of increased narcissism (McHoskey, 1995), mistrust and cynicism (McHoskey & Hicks, 1999).
Psychologists believe that people develop Machiavellian personality traits due to their upbringing, life experiences, and in some cases, genetic factors. It's thought that Machiavellianism is complex and most likely to develop under circumstances that involve early childhood trauma, although this isn't always the case.
Machiavellianism is a personality trait that is characterized with the use of manipulation to achieve power. Machiavellianism can be both positive and negative in organizations depending on how it is used.
Traits associated with Machiavellianism include duplicity, manipulation, self-interest, and a lack of both emotion and morality. Psychopathy: personality traits associated with psychopathy include a lack of empathy or remorse, antisocial behavior, and being manipulative and volatile.
Among the precepts espoused by Machiavelli: leaders should always mask their true intentions, avoid inconsistency, and frequently “act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state.” His name has become synonymous with cunning tyrants.
“People with Machiavellian views and Machiavellian tactics show a willingness to manipulate often at the expense of others for personal gain, and their worldview is cynical and untrusting of others.
Borderline Personality Disorder.
Characterized by a fragile, fluctuating self-image and a profound fear of abandonment, borderlines can be master manipulators. Their controlling behaviors may range from subtle and ingratiating to threatening and violent.
People who score over 60 (more affirmative responses to cynicism, deceitfulness, or manipulation) are said to be "High-Machs." They are more likely to demonstrate more deceitful and less empathic traits.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Men and women with high levels of Machiavellianism do engage in friendships, but report low friendship quality (Abell et al., 2014, Lyons and Aitken, 2010).
In 1970, psychologists Richard Christie and Florence Geiss identified Machiavellianism as a personality trait involving manipulativeness, deceit, and a cold, calculating, cynical view of others.
Machiavellians may be the most intelligent of the dark personalities.
Machiavelli outlines three ways that you can cause not just anger but hatred in another: you take away another person's property, their honor, or their women, you force them to endure a setback in lifestyle, or. you force them to become better people when they do not wish to be (The Prince, 76–77).
There is also evidence that Machiavellian individuals project their own insecure personality to people, preventing them from seeing the best in others.
Machiavellianism is not a mental health diagnosis; rather, it's a personality trait describing a manipulative individual who deceives and tricks others to achieve goals. It is based on the political philosophy of the 16th-century writer Niccolò Machiavelli.