Machiavellians: Gulling the Rubes

Social Life

6 Manipulative Behaviors to Watch for at Holiday Gatherings

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on November 18, 2023

Holiday gatherings can be breeding grounds for Machiavellian behaviors. These six are especially likely to occur during celebrations.

Holiday gatherings can be breeding grounds for Machiavellian behaviors. These six are especially likely to occur during celebrations.

Psychosis

For Halloween: Poe’s Tale of a Dissociative Fugue State

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on October 23, 2023

In 1807 at age 32, Edgar Allan Poe eerily and accurately portrayed dissociative fugue in his narrative poem, "Ulalume: A Ballad."

In 1807 at age 32, Edgar Allan Poe eerily and accurately portrayed dissociative fugue in his narrative poem, "Ulalume: A Ballad."

Relationships

Daydream Believer: Who Is Most Vulnerable to Romance Scams?

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on October 16, 2023

Four beliefs or expectations about love can help predict who is most at risk for romance scams.

Four beliefs or expectations about love can help predict who is most at risk for romance scams.

Dark Triad

5 Differences Between Master Manipulators and Psychopaths

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on October 3, 2023

Machiavellians, or "master manipulators," share much in common with psychopaths, but there are also many differences. Here are five ways to tell them apart.

Machiavellians, or "master manipulators," share much in common with psychopaths, but there are also many differences. Here are five ways to tell them apart.

Deception

Moral Panics: Manipulation on a Mass Scale

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on August 30, 2023

Moral panics can occur organically or through deliberate fearmongering. When incited intentionally, they are usually intended to divert attention from other issues.

Moral panics can occur organically or through deliberate fearmongering. When incited intentionally, they are usually intended to divert attention from other issues.

Dark Triad

5 Ways to Identify a Master Manipulator

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on August 23, 2023

Machiavellian personalities are habitually manipulative. They often "leak" clues about their ulterior motives, which you can recognize and use to protect yourself.

Machiavellian personalities are habitually manipulative. They often "leak" clues about their ulterior motives, which you can recognize and use to protect yourself.

Trauma

Mourning Has Broken: Healing From Childhood Family Trauma

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on July 30, 2023

A new book provides a road map to recovery through the stages of pre-awareness, uncovering, digging in, healing, understanding, and nurturing.

A new book provides a road map to recovery through the stages of pre-awareness, uncovering, digging in, healing, understanding, and nurturing.

Behavioral Economics

The Illusion of Convenience: Why People Wait in Drive-Thrus

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Ordering in a fast-food restaurant was once considered very convenient, but now sitting in the drive-thru is. What changed?

Ordering in a fast-food restaurant was once considered very convenient, but now sitting in the drive-thru is. What changed?

Attention

When Paying Attention Goes Wrong

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on June 5, 2023

Judgment errors and bad decisions can come from focusing on the wrong information. We should pay attention to what we pay attention to.

Judgment errors and bad decisions can come from focusing on the wrong information. We should pay attention to what we pay attention to.

Personality Disorders

Munchausen by Internet: Deadly Diseases for Fun and Profit

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 26, 2023

People who fake serious illness to build a social media following and receive donations are no longer a rarity. This is both a psychological disorder and a con game.

People who fake serious illness to build a social media following and receive donations are no longer a rarity. This is both a psychological disorder and a con game.

Gaslighting

Games Master Manipulators Play: DARVO

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 8, 2023

DARVO stands for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. It's a defense mechanism often manifested by high-conflict personalities.

DARVO stands for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. It's a defense mechanism often manifested by high-conflict personalities.

Body Language

When Liars Smile: The Telltale Tic of Duping Delight

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Duping delight is an involuntary microexpression or "tell" that liars frequently exhibit. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice it often.

Duping delight is an involuntary microexpression or "tell" that liars frequently exhibit. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice it often.

Altruism

Why Good Samaritans Are Prone to Becoming Victims Themselves

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on April 9, 2023

Many good Samaritans end up as victims of someone else's crisis rather than as heroes. Research explains why.

Many good Samaritans end up as victims of someone else's crisis rather than as heroes. Research explains why.

Gaslighting

Games Master Manipulators Play: Gaslighting

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

Gaslighting is a form of interpersonal psychological warfare. Master manipulators seek to steal other people's power for themselves.

Gaslighting is a form of interpersonal psychological warfare. Master manipulators seek to steal other people's power for themselves.

Media

Are You Foolproof? Resisting the Spread of Disinformation

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

A new book shows the way forward through the fog of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, fake news, and conspiracy theories.

A new book shows the way forward through the fog of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, fake news, and conspiracy theories.

Cognition

Knowing It From Shinola: An Academic Looks at "Malarkey"

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 9, 2023

John V. Petrocelli's new book takes us on a fascinating journey deep into problem thinking and shows us the way out.

John V. Petrocelli's new book takes us on a fascinating journey deep into problem thinking and shows us the way out.

Behaviorism

How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 3, 2023

A non-profit organization is training African giant pouched rats to sniff out landmines. How can rodents be trained for such sensitive and dangerous tasks?

A non-profit organization is training African giant pouched rats to sniff out landmines. How can rodents be trained for such sensitive and dangerous tasks?

Stalking

Games Master Manipulators Play: Stealing Your Power

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 21, 2023

Machiavellian schemes seek to steal your power to control your life. Stalking is one of several games master manipulators play.

Machiavellian schemes seek to steal your power to control your life. Stalking is one of several games master manipulators play.

Openness

Plugging Into the Power of Wonder

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 16, 2023

Book review: "The Power of Wonder" shows that wonder in our daily lives is both a choice and a gift from the world around us. Wonder has both practical and psychological benefits.

Book review: "The Power of Wonder" shows that wonder in our daily lives is both a choice and a gift from the world around us. Wonder has both practical and psychological benefits.

Media

The Cobra Effect Redux: Because Fools Are So Ingenious

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 10, 2023

Incentives can go wrong when they produce unintended and perverse outcomes. Louisiana discovered this when it offered a bounty on nutria tails.

Incentives can go wrong when they produce unintended and perverse outcomes. Louisiana discovered this when it offered a bounty on nutria tails.