Razvan Pantelimon

Student ID: 20018571

Machiavellianism

(Dark Triad)

The term Machiavellianism was born in Florence on the Nicolo Machiavelli era around 1532
as philosophical phenomenon.

The psychological description was shown for the first time in his book “The Prince”, and it
was dedicated to Lorenzo Di Medici, the Prince of Florence. In that time, the publication was more a
political statement trying to implement the Machiavellian philosophy and change the way of leading
the mases.

The concept was a conductor of a new set of rules based on power, fear, and manipulation.
Machiavelli was trying to transmit as one of his idea to the “Prince”, to be more feared rather than
be loved by his people. Machiavellianism is recognized as being part of the Dark Triad (Psychopathy,
Narcissism, Machiavellianism) and as type of personality disorder, is the only one without a clinically
diagnosable counterpart.

As a discover based on scientific research, Machiavellianism has a series of characteristics

such as lack of empathy, insincerity, desire to dominate, using manipulation, playing most
duplication games most of the time. Also, in Machiavellianism the researchers found, someone who
is refer being pessimistic but not in all the cases. Somebody who is pessimistic with the others and
not necessary with themselves. They most believe the gain, is more valuable for themselves
personally being manipulative. Behind the Machiavellianism, one of the ideas is; if the world is
dangerous place, then a little bit of harmful is not a serious change on their visions.

According to different study who got the specifically traits about Machiavellianism, may not
worry that much about responding with anger if is necessary. Also associated being ruthless,
individual having that characteristics enjoying work there and ambiguous in terms of ethics and
morals. Key characteristics in Machiavellianism are: low empathy, power and control, callousness,
manipulation, low anxiety, deception, the ends justify the mean in most of the cases.

The researcher Richard Christie has a particular approach to this Machiavellian concept. He
was interested in “interpersonal manipulation” and he developed his theoretical construct about
Machiavellianism with a scale technique detailed in “Study in Machiavellianism” (Christie and Geis,
1970).

“Self-report Machiavellianism measure include: Short Dark Triad (SD3; Jones & Paulhus, 2014) “(class
materials).

“A considerable and growing body of literature, has examined Machiavellians in a wide

variety of context, focusing on the outcomes of Machiavellian manipulation” (Cf.: Bochner et. al.,
1972; Haker and Gaitz, 1970; Braginsky, 1966). In the last few centuries according to the concept
based on observation and scientifically researchers, political leaders took advantages by using
Machiavellianism as a form of strategy and art of manipulation.

Machiavellianism traits can be found in most off the people, but it individual depending
about the stage or level. The DSM-5 diagnostic manual also reviews some research about
Razvan Pantelimon
Student ID: 20018571

Machiavellianism as a vulnerable part of the Dark Triad and discuss treatment implications, and
stigma associated with personal disorder diagnosis, according to: (
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128142912000024).