Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat and writer whose views on politics and power still influence modern society. Machiavellianism is the idea that unscrupulous means are acceptable if they lead to personal gain, and psychologists use a questionnaire to identify someone’s Machiavellianism. Machiavellians can improve their circumstances through deception and actions outside of what is considered moral, both in formal politics and personal situations.
Machiavelli was a diplomat in Florence, Italy, born in 1469. He was also a writer of both fictional and philosophical works, some of which show his attitude to diplomacy, which still bears his name. Machiavellianism is a form of interaction with other people that has, at its core, the idea that unscrupulous means are acceptable if such means lead to personal gain.
According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Machiavelli rejected the notion that authority is inextricably linked with morality. Instead, whoever has power at the time, no matter how they exercise it, still has authority. For this reason, people seeking power do not necessarily require morals, which can, in fact, hinder the acquisition of that power.
Famous books Machiavelli wrote include The Prince and Discourses on the Ten Books of Livy. These books focus on political theory and The Prince, in particular, focuses on Machiavellianism as a form of political practicality. His views promote the use of means other than the psychological authority of a moral right for the acquisition of power and for the person in power to cling to that power. These means include lying, withholding information, manipulation and violence. While primarily associated with political systems, Machiavellism can also be used by ordinary people in everyday situations.
Psychologists use a system of questionnaires to identify someone’s Machiavellianism, or “Mach” score. A subject assumes attitudes towards statements such as “Keep the reason for what you do unless it helps you to say why you do something”. A high score correlates with the person’s ability to manipulate others. These people may also be perceived by others as charming and intelligent. They also tend to be less useful than low Mach rated players, unless it suits their purposes at the time.
An example of Machiavellianism in politics is the coercion of a population through the threat and use of force. This can occur in situations such as military coups. Another example of Machiavellianism is to deceive voters in a democratic system about the character of a politician so that that politician can gain power, in which position he can then manipulate the system for his own gain.
Outside of formal politics, people engage in personal politics, and here too Machiavellians can improve their circumstances through deception and actions outside of what is considered moral. Research studies of general population Machiavellian tendencies have used various situations to understand how Machiavellians promote their own well-being over that of others. Machiavellian kids who were told they would get money for every bad tasting cracker their partners ate attempted to manipulate their partners through lies and neglect to mention the crackers were disgusting despite the fact that their partners felt bad afterward. have eaten them. Adults with high Mach scores may be more persuasive and more likely to steal and cheat to gain money and power at the expense of others.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
