Spot a Machiavellian

Summary: If there are two levels of Manipulation, then Machiavellianism is level two and finds itself inside the Dark Triad.

Anything can be used: the Professional Victim Card, Deception, Blame-Shifting, Blame The Victim after the victim speaks up, fraud, Covert Abuse; the end goal is the only objective regardless of what happens to others.

One major red flag is using others to get their hands dirty instead of the disruptor; this happens by hiring henchmen or Flying Monkeys who can be ‘easily tricked’ through their own hidden baggage, which becomes fuel on the fire.

“Machiavians like to stay in the shadows and let others cause chaos on each other.”

Certain types of actions are a sign that empathy is completely missing from the victim card or influence, and the influence will be done in a certain way to create a focus on the person’s life, using someone’s abilities or fears or past experiences. It can be classed as pure evil as well as emotional abuse with an objective to suit one person only.

Part One: The trick with distraction, charm or victim card. Planned and not impulsive and usually one of many. What starts in childhood to seek validation becomes a survival tool against everyone in adulthood. Their relationships will not be equal, and everyone has a purpose. If a person is an island, there will be a hidden reason from the past that is linked to hurt, so they hurt others.

Part Two: They cover up their inner self and agenda and use others to hide all tracks. Blaming the victim with the victim card will catch a lot of people out and influence their empathy and memory. Never underestimate irreparable damage. They were damaged in childhood without growth, so the survival tricks are projected onto others—it's only a game for someone who thinks differently about a certain childhood that made them manipulative.

In Story drama this type of person appears to warn the audience, in reality, it doesn’t always translate.