Mach 4
When returning an assessed cousework essay on UK history in the 19th century to a 17yr old me¦
Tory School teacher (TST): you are very Machiavellian
Wendy: is that a good or a bad thing?
TST: let me know when you find out
Within a couple of hours I’d read a copy of The Prince . It was fascinating, written beautifully, based on multiple case study research to provide a pragmatic set of behavioural recommendations for a leader (Prince) occupying a recently acquired territory to maintain effective control. In the 1960′s psychology used the term Machiavellianism to label a personality Disorder with the core theme of deceiving others for personal gain. I wish I’d kept the essay that prompted the TST’s comment.
You can self-assess yourself for 1960′s style psychology Machiavellianism here.
Today I scored as a ˜Low Mach’. The results say that I reject Machiavelli’s opinions. Indeed, I am not and have never aspired to be a prince, princess or banker. Alternatively, I could have lied here and on the questionnaire¦.
I vote that we rename Machiavellianism with the more topical outbreak of:
