r/Machiavellianism

Machiavelli's Prince starts off with a seemingly simple and ostensibly mundane statement on the forms of government:

> All states, all dominions that have held and do hold empire over men have been and are either republics or principalities.

Machiavelli explains that the principalities are either:

• Hereditary (ruled by the prince's bloodline)

or

• New (a new monarch comes to power)

He then says that the new principalities are:

• Altogether New (those who seized power, like Francesco Sforza in Milan)

or

• Conquests of another prince (i.e., a prince from an old bloodline conquers a new state, like the King of Spain conquering Naples)

He then finishes by contrasting dominions which used to be "free" (that is to say, used to be republics) and those that were formerly held by a prince, those that were acquired by "ones own arms" or the arms of others, and those acquired by fortune and those acquired by virtue.

My analysis:

This chapter, while it seems short, procedural, and even mundane, is one of the most important chapters of the book. Machiavelli not only defines what he views a "state" is, but he also differs from all the other classical (and modern) political theorists in that he does not list the good and the bad forms of government, as did the ancients. This is especially shocking considering that Machiavelli gives a general overview on the various species of principalities, but at no point does he ever mention tyranny.

Participate in a Research Study!
This is an advertisement for a psychological research study.

What’s the Study About?
My name is Branden Hidalgo, and I am conducting a research study to fulfill the requirements for a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School.

The purpose of this study is to better understand how early life experiences, particularly childhood adversity, may shape personality development and resilience in adulthood. This research focuses on Machiavellianism, a personality trait characterized by strategic thinking, emotional detachment, manipulation, self-prioritization, and a goal-oriented mindset. Machiavellianism is one of the three traits that make up the Dark Triad, a group of socially aversive but distinct personality traits that also includes narcissism (excessive self-focus and a need for admiration) and psychopathy (impulsivity and lack of empathy or remorse). While these traits are often viewed negatively, aspects of Machiavellianism—such as emotional regulation, situational adaptability, calculated decision-making, goal-oriented planning, strategic forethought, and self-protection—may overlap with characteristics of psychological resilience. This study aims to explore whether Machiavellian tendencies in adulthood may reflect an adaptation to early adverse experiences, offering a more nuanced understanding of how resilience can manifest in diverse and nontraditional personality styles.

Who Can Participate?
You may be eligible if you:
- Are 18 years or older
- Can read fluently in English

What Will You Do?
You will complete a set of online questionnaires about your early life experiences, personality traits, and psychological resilience. Links to study questionnaires will be posted on research flyers on Reddit forums. Clicking the link at the bottom of this research flyer will direct you to our screening questionnaire which will determine your eligibility to participate in the study. Only eligible participants will be directed to the study’s consent forms and questionnaires. All questionnaires will be administered through SurveyMonkey. It will take about 30-45 minutes of your time. No directly identifying information will be collected. The study can only be conducted once.

Where?
This study is conducted entirely online. Recruitment flyers and links will be located on Reddit. All questionnaires will be administered through SurveyMonkey.

Link to Access Study
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BWXWNJH

If you are interested and/or have any questions, please contact me or my dissertation chair as noted below.

Branden Hidalgo, MA
Principal Investigator
The Chicago School
Phone: (312) 329 - 6600
Email: bhidalgo@ego.thechicagoschool.edu

Robert Foltz, PsyD
Dissertation Chair
The Chicago School
Phone: (312) 329 - 6600
Email: rfoltz@thechicagoschool.edu

[IRB-FY25-455]

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