Dark psychologists exaggerate their contributions and favors to others to accumulate social-exchange credits beyond what they deserve. Costello et al (2022) found that left- and right-wing authoritarianism correlate similarly with psychopathy.

Perhaps one of the most concerning dangers of dark psychology is its ability to lead individuals to commit violent crimes or even homicides. Prevalence and correlates of psychopathic traits in the household population of Great Britain" (PDF). For instance, a politician could employ dark psychological techniques to influence the media to present clear images of them.You become so used to their attitude of gratitude, that when they don't do it, you go out for your way to be thanked. It has been argued that evolutionary behavior predicts not only the development of dark triad personalities, but also the flourishing of such personalities. One method of doing this is through the dark side of psychology and by targeting mental triggers that motivate individuals to engage in destructive or self-destructive actions. Of course there are exceptions, and there are plenty of ways to smoothen out the divergences -with collaborative frames, for example-.

Individuals who use dark psychology techniques like gaslighting or social conditioning may feel empowered by their newfound sense of confidence and might begin to perceive themselves as superior to others. A method that can help you develop an impression of power and control of your subject is to control their feelings. Understanding the dynamics of dark psychology allows you to manipulate other people more effectively and leverage their weaknesses to defeat them. This includes things like persuasion and negotiation tactics that can be used to gain subliminal influence over others effectively without resorting to unscrupulous means. A study found that these three constructs are significantly related to one another and manifest similar nomological networks.The light triad predicts positive and negative outcomes regarding Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility personality traits, and expands on understanding the dark triad as a useful contrasting analog.

For example, each partner can gain by keeping one nominally committed relationship, with all the sexual and emotional benefits that entails, while also seeking more sex on the side -and that’s why cheating exists: it can pay off-.

Companies may use slogans like “employees matter” and “we’re a team/family” to encourage employees to accept unfavorable conditions for the greater good of the organization. Recent studies have found that people who are identified as internet trolls tend to have dark personality traits and show signs of sadism, antisocial behavior, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. However, there is no doubt that dark psychology is a powerful tool for those who understand how to apply it. Because they aren’t concerned about the feelings of others or their well-being, they might begin to engage in violent or even criminal acts to control other people.