Machiavellians: Gulling the Rubes

Personality Disorders

Munchausen by Internet: Deadly Diseases for Fun and Profit

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 26, 2023

People who fake serious illness to build a social media following and receive donations are no longer a rarity. This is both a psychological disorder and a con game.

People who fake serious illness to build a social media following and receive donations are no longer a rarity. This is both a psychological disorder and a con game.

Anger

Games Master Manipulators Play: DARVO

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 8, 2023

DARVO stands for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. It's a defense mechanism often manifested by high-conflict personalities.

DARVO stands for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. It's a defense mechanism often manifested by high-conflict personalities.

Narcissism

When Liars Smile: The Telltale Tic of Duping Delight

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Duping delight is an involuntary microexpression or "tell" that liars frequently exhibit. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice it often.

Duping delight is an involuntary microexpression or "tell" that liars frequently exhibit. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice it often.

Personality

Why Good Samaritans Are Prone to Becoming Victims Themselves

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on April 9, 2023

Many good Samaritans end up as victims of someone else's crisis rather than as heroes. Research explains why.

Many good Samaritans end up as victims of someone else's crisis rather than as heroes. Research explains why.

Gaslighting

Games Master Manipulators Play: Gaslighting

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

Gaslighting is a form of interpersonal psychological warfare. Master manipulators seek to steal other people's power for themselves.

Gaslighting is a form of interpersonal psychological warfare. Master manipulators seek to steal other people's power for themselves.

Deception

Are You Foolproof? Resisting the Spread of Disinformation

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

A new book shows the way forward through the fog of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, fake news, and conspiracy theories.

A new book shows the way forward through the fog of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, fake news, and conspiracy theories.

Education

Knowing It From Shinola: An Academic Looks at "Malarkey"

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 9, 2023

John V. Petrocelli's new book takes us on a fascinating journey deep into problem thinking and shows us the way out.

John V. Petrocelli's new book takes us on a fascinating journey deep into problem thinking and shows us the way out.

Behaviorism

How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on March 3, 2023

A non-profit organization is training African giant pouched rats to sniff out landmines. How can rodents be trained for such sensitive and dangerous tasks?

A non-profit organization is training African giant pouched rats to sniff out landmines. How can rodents be trained for such sensitive and dangerous tasks?

Stalking

Games Master Manipulators Play: Stealing Your Power

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 21, 2023

Machiavellian schemes seek to steal your power to control your life. Stalking is one of several games master manipulators play.

Machiavellian schemes seek to steal your power to control your life. Stalking is one of several games master manipulators play.

Personality

Plugging Into the Power of Wonder

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 16, 2023

Book review: "The Power of Wonder" shows that wonder in our daily lives is both a choice and a gift from the world around us. Wonder has both practical and psychological benefits.

Book review: "The Power of Wonder" shows that wonder in our daily lives is both a choice and a gift from the world around us. Wonder has both practical and psychological benefits.

Motivation

The Cobra Effect Redux: Because Fools Are So Ingenious

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 10, 2023

Incentives can go wrong when they produce unintended and perverse outcomes. Louisiana discovered this when it offered a bounty on nutria tails.

Incentives can go wrong when they produce unintended and perverse outcomes. Louisiana discovered this when it offered a bounty on nutria tails.

Narcissism

Fool Me Once: Of Machiavellianism and Misappropriation

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on February 6, 2023

A new book, "Fool Me Once: Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry," exposes the nexus between criminal fraud and abnormal psychology.

A new book, "Fool Me Once: Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry," exposes the nexus between criminal fraud and abnormal psychology.

Bullying

Games Master Manipulators Play: Triangulation

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on January 22, 2023

Machiavellians may target you directly or they may try to recruit you as an unwitting accomplice in their scheme against someone else.

Machiavellians may target you directly or they may try to recruit you as an unwitting accomplice in their scheme against someone else.

Cognitive Dissonance

The Semmelweis Reflex: Truth Is Hard on the Ears

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on January 13, 2023

A friend of J.W. Booth told Lincoln of a plot to kill him. Lincoln didn't listen. Doctors wouldn't believe that dirty hands can kill. Inconvenient truths often fall on deaf ears.

A friend of J.W. Booth told Lincoln of a plot to kill him. Lincoln didn't listen. Doctors wouldn't believe that dirty hands can kill. Inconvenient truths often fall on deaf ears.

Relationships

Games Master Manipulators Play: Controlling the Narrative

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on January 1, 2023

Master manipulators seek to control your perceptions and beliefs. If they succeed, you are theirs.

Master manipulators seek to control your perceptions and beliefs. If they succeed, you are theirs.

Unconscious

Unconscious Cruelty and Casual Cruelty: Two Toxic Twins

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on December 2, 2022

Bobbie Gentry said of her hit song, "Ode to Billy Joe," that it's "a study in unconscious cruelty." What's the difference between unconscious and casual cruelty?

Bobbie Gentry said of her hit song, "Ode to Billy Joe," that it's "a study in unconscious cruelty." What's the difference between unconscious and casual cruelty?

Bullying

Games Master Manipulators Play: Paramoralisms

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on November 8, 2022

Paramoralisms are moral-sounding statements intended to blame, manipulate, or otherwise mislead. They are an insidious form of gaslighting.

Paramoralisms are moral-sounding statements intended to blame, manipulate, or otherwise mislead. They are an insidious form of gaslighting.

Cognitive Dissonance

Are Your Blind Spots Derailing Your Decisions?

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on November 3, 2022

Reasons for failure often reveal more than reasons for success. Beware your blind spots.

Reasons for failure often reveal more than reasons for success. Beware your blind spots.

Fear

4 Fearsome Phobias for Halloween

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on October 24, 2022

Phobias are abnormal, irrational fears. For some people, Halloween and its associated ghouls and goblins are triggers.

Phobias are abnormal, irrational fears. For some people, Halloween and its associated ghouls and goblins are triggers.

Sex

Why Scholars Debate Lewis Carroll's Photography

Dale Hartley MBA, Ph.D. on June 5, 2021

In his day, Lewis Carroll was known as much for his photography as his literature. He took hundreds of photos of nude children—leading some scholars to suggest that the famed author may have had a paraphilia.

In his day, Lewis Carroll was known as much for his photography as his literature. He took hundreds of photos of nude children—leading some scholars to suggest that the famed author may have had a paraphilia.