Page 34 - How To Analyze People: 13 Laws About the Manipulation of the Human Mind, 7 Strategies to Quickly Figure Out Body Language, Dive into Dark Psychology and Persuasion for Making People Do What You Want

psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Why are these three referred to as the

Dark Triad or the darker side of human psychology? It’s because these three

terms define the very tactics - manipulation, persuasion, and coercion - that

some people resort to in order to get what they want. The term Dark Triad
certainly has a sinister ring to it, and it is a term that many psychologists and

criminologists use as a defining predictor that signals criminal behavior in an

individual. Let’s take a closer look at the three personality traits which make

up this trifecta:

Narcissism - The term stems from the Greek mythology about
Narcissus, the hunter who fell in love with his own reflection
when he saw it in a pool of water that he drowned as a result. So

consumed was he by himself that he couldn’t focus on anything
else. Those with narcissistic personality traits often display
symptoms which include being boastful, selfish and arrogant,
thinking only of themselves and nothing else. Narcissistic
individuals also lack empathy and are extremely sensitive (one

might even say hypersensitive) to any form of criticism, because
they can’t bear the thought of being imperfect or flawed.

Machiavellianism - This term stems from Niccolo Machiavelli, a
renowned diplomat, and politician who lived in 16th century
Italy. Machiavelli became notorious when his book, The Prince,

was published in 1513. This publication was interpreted as
Machiavelli’s endorsement of the deceit and cunning that takes
place in diplomacy. Those who tend to display Machiavellianistic
tendencies are often occupied with only their own self-interest,
and they are manipulative and duplicitous. These individuals lack

both morality and emotion, and they are not for anything else
except for what’s going to be beneficial to them.