Machiavellianism and manipulation as related psychosocial phenomena

Abstract

The article examines the main reasons for the emergence and formation of Machiavellianism and manipulation as phenomena of psychosocial influence in society. The logosophy of the concepts of “manipulation”, “manipulator” and “Machiavellianism” is analysed, which made it possible to carry out a comparative-historical analysis of the internal nature of these phenomena in the context of the relationship between primary and secondary factors of socialisation of a person, gender characteristics and actions, and the age factor, which is a prerequisite for the formation of a stable tendency to manipulation and manifestations of Machiavellianism. The phenomenal kinship of Machiavellianism and manipulation, which is reflected in the psychosocial influence on others, originates from the deep nature of human relationships and essentially constitutes an uncontrollable desire to control life situations or to benefit from the object of contact, is substantiated. The main mental differences between Machiavellianism and manipulation are studied, and the most common methods of deceptive influence on others are highlighted, in particular emotional and psychological techniques for the manipulator to achieve the expected result. At the same time, it is argued that Machiavellianism is a system of directed actions – machinations, plans and manoeuvres, which are clearly aimed at achieving specific goals. The features of the applied application of the Overton Window mechanism, which establishes clear boundaries for the transmission of permitted information and ideas, are considered. The above-mentioned concept is reflected, which is of decisive importance in the formation of national policy and statehood as a whole, since it publicly reveals and treats certain individual problems, while others are silenced. It has been proven that the formation of an individual tendency to manipulation and Machiavellianism in a particular person is not due to one condition but to an interconnected complex of external factors and internal factors that accompany a person throughout life. At the same time, the proposed socio-psychological project aims to carry out work to prevent the negative impact of manipulation on the psyche of citizens, which involves educational support, debunking myths and false statements, and providing reliable information before fakes have time to affect the collective consciousness of Ukrainians.