In
the past two decades, psychology has evolved from a primary emphasis on human
psychopathology to one mostly focused on positive mental health. The redirection has much to be said for
it. We certainly want to understand as
much as possible about happiness and what promotes it, and we would like to
spread mental health as widely as we can.
However,
as so often happens in science, a new focus causes a profession to ignore
the old ones, as though there is nothing more to learn there. When that happens, the earlier field ceases
to develop, and then begins to atrophy.
We do better with a middle ground that embraces the new while continuing
to refine the old.
Given
the unprecedented, wide dissemination of influence and persuasion techniques,
then, psychology would be remiss in failing to develop its ability to identify
and counter persons who use influence and persuasion in ways iniminicable to the
common good. There is merit in learning
who the manipulators are, and how they operate.
For that reason, I have chosen to write today about Daniel N. Jones and
Delroy L. Paulhus’ latest research.
Jones
and Paultus (2017) investigated deceit as practiced by "Dark Triad"
persons who traffic in manipulation and exploitation. Those referred to by that term evidence some
combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, and they are among
the most prolific peddlers of destructive influence.
Each
of the three Dark Triad subtraits predispose one to a particular form of
influence asociality. The narcissist is
inclined toward persuasion that lifts his status, the Machiavellian, that which
confers power onto him, and the psychopath that which promotes his impulsive
desires.
Jones
and Paultus mentioned the well-established fact that the three Dark Triad subtypes all engage in interpersonal exploitation.
Although all those within the subtypes tended to be dishonest, each subtype handled their deceit a little differently.
The narcissist were the most inclined to engage in self-deception,
presumably to justify their nefarious behavior while maintaining some semblance
of self-esteem. The Machiavellian and
the psychopath, but not the narcissist, behaved deceitfully even when the
deceit required them to lie intentionally and blatantly. When deceit exposed them to an obvious risk of
punishment, the psychopaths were not deterred, but the narcissists were. The Machiavellians, on the hand, usually refrained
from deceit when punishment was a definite risk, but not so when they were
ego-depleted. For the Jones and Paultus
study, ego depletion meant that subjects had to focus their attention while expending their energy blocking-out significant distractions.
For
your mental health sake, you must be on-guard to resist Dark Triad subtypes. The narcissist, Machiavellian and the
psychopath all are prepared to deceive you in order to achieve their
self-serving ends. But the three do not
always use the same methods. To avoid
being manipulated and exploited, be aware of their predilections. One other thing not mentioned thus far: Dark Triad people initially often are perceived by others as physically and
interpersonally attractive (Holtzman, 2012).
They know how to present themselves in ways to maximize the likelihood
that you will give them a chance to implement their deceptions. Don't let them
do it.
References
Holtzman,
N. (2012). "People With Dark Personalities Tend to Create a Physically
Attractive Veneer". Social Psychological and Personality Science. 4:
461–467. doi:10.1177/194855061
Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2017). Duplicity among the dark triad: Three faces of deceit. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(2), 329-342.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspp00001392461284
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