#4 The Machiavellian

In the previous edition of The Perspective, I introduced Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince.

The Prince remained unpublished during the author’s lifetime and was published in 1532, five years after Machiavelli died in 1527. As it circulated, it shocked its readers. The realism, pragmatism, and realpolitik were so accurately depicted that the church banned this book for its model of preaching, although the author had merely depicted and discussed the complex realities of governance.

I could not find the exact piece of literature where the term Machiavellian was first used. However, it seems to have been used for the first time in 1566 by W. Bavand. As the church had banned the book for its model of preaching, and it was included in the index of forbidden books, it became almost forbidden to read. Subsequently, the term Machiavellian is still considered derogatory.

The Machiavellian Personality

A Machiavellian personality is characterized by manipulativeness, lack of empathy, cynicism, goal-oriented behavior, charm, persuasion, and realism. Individuals with this personality type are skilled at influencing others for personal gain, using their charisma and adaptability to navigate complex situations. Machiavellian individuals prioritize self-interest and practicality over empathy and idealism, focusing on achieving their objectives by any means necessary. While their strategic thinking and persuasive abilities can lead to success, their manipulative and self-serving nature can lead to strained relationships and a lack of trust in both personal and professional contexts.

Machiavellian Traits

Key traits of a Machiavellian personality include:

1. Manipulativeness: They are skilled at influencing and exploiting others for personal gain.
2. Lack of empathy: They have a reduced or non-existent ability to understand or share others’ feelings.
3. Cynicism: They tend to have a hostile and distrustful view of human nature.
4. Lack of remorse: They may show little guilt or regret for their actions, even when they harm others.
5. Goal-oriented behavior: They focus on achieving their objectives and will use any means necessary.
6. Charm and persuasion: They can be charismatic and persuasive, using these skills to influence others.
7. Realism: Machiavellian individuals have a pragmatic outlook on life. They assess situations objectively and are not swayed by idealism or sentimentality. This realism allows them to make calculated decisions and adapt to changing circumstances to achieve their goals.

A few more traits include:

• Self-serving actions: They prioritize their interests and goals above others, often at the expense of their colleagues or friends.
• Strategic friendships: They may form relationships based on what others can offer them rather than genuine connection or shared interests.
• Deceptive tendencies: They may lie or withhold information to maintain control or avoid negative consequences.
• Reputation management: They are often concerned with maintaining a positive image and may go to great lengths to protect their reputation.

Most people can display more than one of these qualities in certain circumstances.

Therefore, I find it ridiculous that a book like The Prince was banned, and discussing this book is often a hushed topic. In hindsight, the ban by the church in 1597 seems to have unnecessarily given this book notoriety.

Of all these traits, I think two genuinely define a Machiavellian: cynicism and the lack of remorse. While we may call cynical people with no remorse Machiavellians, having healthy and sound professional and personal relationships with these traits is impossible for them. They succeed in the short term, but their success is often short-lived. In the long run, even if they scale to the top, they are often likely to be alone and unable to share their success with anyone.

Cynicism makes you distrust others professionally and personally; a person with no remorse rarely leads an enriched and happy life.

There are people with these traits. Denying their existence becuase we disagree with these traits will not make them disappear. They will still exist and be!

What if we have to deal with them someday? Will we be able to identify and understand them? Are we equipped to handle such situations? We must be able to recognize Machiavellians and deal with them.

In the next edition of The Perspective, I shall cover Machiavellians’ cynicism and their lack of remorse.