Understanding the Mind of a Master Manipulator

Do you have individuals in your life who you believe have a personal agenda while dealing with you? For example, while working on a collective project, you may have formed a bond with a fellow volunteer or coworker. After a few weeks, however, you begin to suspect that this other individual does not appear to have the group’s best interests at heart. To the manipulator, you have something they want and the cheapest way of going about getting it is to manipulate you.

I’m sure you’ve known a few master manipulators in your time, whether they were family members, acquaintances, or coworkers. We’ve all seen celebrities and politicians who meet the criteria. These are individuals who are prone to being cunning, calculated, and deceitful. Machiavellians, or “High Machs,” are master manipulators.

Some people are classified as High Machs, while others (including most of us) are classified as Low Machs, meaning our Machiavellian tendencies are within the typical range. While we all can deceive and manipulate others, Low Machs prefer not to do it unless they believe it is appropriate or essential. High Machs, on the other hand, have a disposition that makes them master manipulators. They appreciate the air they breathe, which is full of intrigue. (There is no such thing as a “No Mach,” save in the case of people who are mentally ill and unable to…