I’ll bet you’ve known a few master manipulators in your day, probably family members, acquaintances, or people at work. We’ve all seen celebrities and politicians who qualify. These are people who habitually engage in cunning, calculating, and conniving behavior. Master manipulators are Machiavellians, or “High Machs,” as I previously explained in this post.

The fact that some people are rated as High Machs implies that others are characterized as Low Machs. Most of us are Low Machs, which means that our Machiavellian tendencies fall within the normal range. While we all have the potential to engage in duplicitous behavior, Low Machs prefer not to deceive and manipulate except when they perceive such behavior to be justified or necessary. High Machs on the other hand are temperamentally predisposed to be master manipulators. Intrigue is the air they breathe, and they enjoy it. (Bear in mind, there is no such thing as a “No Mach,” except perhaps for those rare individuals who are so mentally impaired that they cannot form the intent to deceive.)

So why are some people “wired” to be High Machs? Does an underlying personality disorder cause this behavior, and if so can it be treated?

In short, no. Personality disorders do not turn people into High Machs. We think Machiavellianism is a heritable trait, probably exacerbated by a person’s social and family environment. Machiavellian tendencies exist apart from any personality disorders that an individual may experience. But let’s not give personality disorders a free pass just yet.

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