DUPLICITY IS THE PRINCIPLE GUIDING THEIR CONDUCT
A verse plus a broad look at duplicity from several angles.
A search on Twitter (X) of Republican duplicity revealed a number of interesting posts, several which lend credence to my verse above. It seems others are quite similar in their understanding of the Republican Party in this age of Trump.
In my search for duplicity I came across a psychological term called the Dark Triad. Reading of it, the little amount that I did, I could relate the characteristics of craven politicians like Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, etc., much too easily. Perhaps this psychological theory has much applicability in the duplicity we seem to come across on a regular basis when noting the far right wing behavior. Let’s look at a Psychology Today article first.
Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff
The term “Dark Triad” refers to a trio of negative personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—which share some common malevolent features. The construct was coined by researchers Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002.
Understanding Dark Traits
People with these traits tend to be callous and manipulative, willing to do or say practically anything to get their way. They have an inflated view of themselves and are often shameless about self-promotion. These individuals are likely to be impulsive and may engage in dangerous behavior—in some cases, even committing crimes—without any regard for how their actions affect others.
While many researchers consider psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism three distinct traits with overlapping characteristics, others believe the commonalities suggest an underlying personality construct that has yet to be fully understood.
How is psychopathy related to the dark triad?
Most researchers consider psychopathy—a trait characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse—to be the “darkest” of the Dark Triad, in so far as psychopaths generally cause more harm to individuals and to society than do narcissists or "High Machs." “Psychopath” is not a mental health diagnosis; the disorder that most closely represents it in the DSM is antisocial personality disorder.
What is Machiavellianism?
Machiavellianism is not a mental health diagnosis; rather, it's a personality trait describing a manipulative individual who deceives and tricks others to achieve goals. It is based on the political philosophy of the 16th-century writer Niccolò Machiavelli. Some evidence suggests that of the dark traits, Machiavellianism is most closely tied to high intelligence. If a psychologist refers to someone as "High Mach," it means they behave in a highly manipulative manner.
How is narcissism related to the Dark Triad?
The third piece of the triad, narcissism, is characterized by excessive self-regard and heightened arrogance. While many narcissists are merely frustrating, extreme or “malignant” narcissists can become emotionally abusive or even violent when they aren’t given the special treatment they believe is deserved.
What is “D,” or the dark factor of personality?
Recently, researchers have begun to hypothesize that a single core factor—classified as “D”—may underlie many different negative traits, including those in the Dark Triad as well as sadism, entitlement, and others. “D” denotes a tendency to maximize one's own desires at the expense of other people’s.
What is the “Light Triad”?
Researchers have recently begun to study the so-called “Light Triad” of traits: faith in humanity, humanism, and Kantianism. The theory is often framed as the opposite of the Dark Triad, and hinges on the belief that people are inherently good and should not be treated expediently.
Is there a test for the Dark Triad?
In response to rising interest in the Dark Triad, researchers Peter K. Jonason and Gregory D. Webster developed a concise, 12-item measure of these personality traits called “The Dirty Dozen.” The Dirty Dozen* offers a faster, easier way to identify the Dark Triad traits than does testing for narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy individually.
How can I spot a Dark Triad individual?
It can be difficult to spot someone high in Dark Triad traits, and without a formal evaluation, you may never know for sure. But someone who repeatedly lies, demonstrates a marked lack of empathy, or bullies others to achieve their own goals may be high in one or more dark traits.
If you are inclined to take the twelve question test you can do so from the link below. Personally I passed today on doing so, I don’t trust my proclivity for imagining too much. Perhaps another time.
There has been an exponential increase of interest in the dark side of human nature in the last decade. To better understand this dark side, scientists have developed the Dark Core and Dark Triad tests.
The Dirty Dozen test is a scientifically-validated and shortened version of the Dark Triad test. Like the Dark Triad test, the Dirty Dozen measures the socially undesirable traits of Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. The Dark Triad test is often used by police and the courts, in psychiatric wards and evaluations, and even in big corporations.
Where do you fall on the Dark Triad traits? For each of the following statements, indicate your level of agreement below.
Below is an abstract of duplicity among the dark triad, from a paper from the originators of the Dark Triad. The results of their research are quite interesting.
Duplicity among the dark triad: Three faces of deceit.
Jones, Daniel N. Paulhus, Delroy L.
Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2017). Duplicity among the dark triad: Three faces of deceit. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(2), 329–342.
Abstract
Although all 3 of the Dark Triad members are predisposed to engage in exploitative interpersonal behavior, their motivations and tactics vary. Here we explore their distinctive dynamics with 5 behavioral studies of dishonesty (total N = 1,750). All 3 traits predicted cheating on a coin-flipping task when there was little risk of being caught (Study 1). Only psychopathy predicted cheating when punishment was a serious risk (Study 2). Machiavellian individuals also cheated under high risk—but only if they were ego-depleted* (Study 3). Both psychopathy and Machiavellianism predicted cheating when it required an intentional lie (Study 4). Finally, those high in narcissism showed the highest levels of self-deceptive bias** (Study 5). In sum, duplicitous behavior is far from uniform across the Dark Triad members. A This evidence for distinctive forms of duplicity helps clarify differences among the Dark Triad members as well as illuminating different shades of dishonesty. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
*Ego depletion is the controversial idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up (with the word "ego" used in the psychoanalytic sense rather than the colloquial sense).When the energy for mental activity is low, self-control is typically impaired, which would be considered a state of ego depletion. In particular, experiencing a state of ego depletion impairs the ability to control oneself later on.
**Self-deception bias
Introduction. Self-deception is seeing the world the way we wish it to be rather than the way it is. When people have a self-deception, they use their hopes, needs, desires, theory, ideology, prejudices, expectations, memories, and other psychological elements to construct the way they see the world.
From Dark Triad Wikipedia Entry
The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002, that describes three notably offensive, but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy. Each of these personality types is called dark because each is considered to contain malevolent qualities.
All three dark triad traits are conceptually distinct although empirical evidence shows them to be overlapping. They are associated with a callous–manipulative interpersonal style.
Narcissism is characterized by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy.
Machiavellianism is characterized by the manipulation and exploitation of others, indifference to morality, lack of empathy, and a strategic focus on self-interest.
Psychopathy is characterized by continuous antisocial behavior, impulsivity, selfishness, callous and unemotional traits, remorselessness.
High scores in these traits have been found to statistically increase a person's likelihood to commit crimes, cause social distress, and create severe problems for organizations, especially if they are in leadership positions. They also tend to be less compassionate, agreeable, empathetic, and satisfied with their lives, and less likely to believe they and others are good. A factor analysis found that among the big five personality traits, low agreeableness is the strongest correlate of the dark triad, while neuroticism and a lack of conscientiousness were associated with some of the dark triad members. Research indicates that there is a consistent association between changes in agreeableness and the dark triad traits over the course of an individual's life.
Narcissism
Individuals who score high on narcissism display grandiosity, entitlement, dominance, and superiority. Narcissism has been found to correlate positively with extraversion and openness and negatively with agreeableness. Narcissism has also been found to have a significant correlation with psychopathy.
Assessment of narcissism required clinical interviews until the popular Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) was created by Raskin and Hall in 1979. Since the NPI, several other measures have emerged which attempt to provide self-report alternatives for personality disorder assessment. In addition, new instruments have been developed to study pathological narcissism as opposed to grandiose narcissism, which is what many argue the NPI measures.
Machiavellianism
People who score high on this trait, named after the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, are callous, lack morality, and are excessively motivated by self-interest. They view interpersonal manipulation as the key for life success, and behave accordingly. Individuals who are measured to have a high level of Machiavellianism tend to have low agreeableness and conscientiousness.
The original published version of the Mach-IV is the most widely used measure in empirical research.
Psychopathy
Psychopathy is considered the most malevolent of the dark triad. Individuals who score high on psychopathy show low levels of empathy and high levels of impulsivity and thrill-seeking. With respect to the Big Five personality factors, psychopathy has been found to correlate negatively with agreeableness and conscientiousness.
Robert Hare [PsicRobertH1]* revolutionized the study of psychopathy with his Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), and its revision (PCL-R). Hare noted that asking psychopaths to self-report on psychologically important matters does not necessarily provide accurate or unbiased data. However, efforts have been made to study psychopathy in the dimensional realm using self-reported instruments, as with the Levenson Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scales, The Psychopathic Personality Inventory, and the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale.
*Biochemically, romantic love and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder are no different. - Robert Hare on Twitter (X)
In the workplace
Oliver James identifies each of the three dark triadic personality traits as typically being prevalent in the workplace. Furnham (2010) has identified that the dark triad is related to the acquisition of leadership positions and interpersonal influence. In a meta-analysis of dark triad and workplace outcomes, Jonason and colleagues (2012) found that each of the dark triad traits were related to manipulation in the workplace, but each via unique mechanisms. Specifically, Machiavellianism was related with the use of excessive charm in manipulation, narcissism was related with the use of physical appearance, and psychopathy was related with physical threats. Jonason and colleagues also found that the dark triad traits fully mediated the relationship between gender and workplace manipulation. All three dark triad traits lead to knowledge sabotage. The dark triad traits have also been found to be fairly well-represented in upper-level management and CEOs.
Crime
Youth who score higher in dark triad traits show higher amounts of violent delinquency, specifically with interpersonal violence. Individuals with low self control and dark triad traits showed more overall delinquency, however higher self control lowered the delinquency. Another study found that those who have admitted to stealing at some point in their life score higher on Machiavellianism and primary and secondary psychopathy. Those higher in psychopathy and Machiavellianism were shown to predict psychological abuse with intimate partner violence, however agreeableness was found to be the main factor.
Ideology
Dark triad characteristics correlate with support for various extremist ideologies. Support for the alt-right, which is prolifically associated with online trolling and harassment, and politically correct authoritarianism both correlate with all three traits as well as measures of entitlement. To a lesser extent, support for a more liberal form of political correctness correlates negatively with psychopathy. Dark triad characteristics correlate positively with out-group threat perceptions, anti-immigrant prejudice, and social dominance orientation, a psychological disposition toward group-based supremacy. Costello et al (2022) found that left- and right-wing authoritarianism correlate similarly with psychopathy.
Genetics and environment
All three traits of the dark triad have been found to have substantial genetic components. It has also been found that the observed relationships between the three traits, and with the Big Five, are strongly driven by individual differences in genes. Within the triad, psychopathy and narcissism have both been found to be more inheritable than Machiavellianism.
Environmental factors contribute to the development of dark triad traits, although they have less influence than genetics. During childhood and adolescence, environmental factors that are not shared with siblings (such as friends or extracurricular activities) contribute to all three dark triad traits. However, only Machiavellianism is related to environmental factors that are shared with siblings. The results of a study among German adolescents reveal a positive association between the experience of parental rejection by both parents and punishment as well as parental control and overprotection and Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. Some researchers have interpreted these findings to mean that, of the three, Machiavellianism is the trait most likely to be influenced by the environment.
I came across the following from the internet. I felt it touched on several interesting concepts related to duplicity in the person.
Branded as 'odd' and 'weird' for much of their lives (Does this sound like you perhaps?) Helena and Brian Collins [@LifeInSynergy] embraced these labels as badges of honor on their journey towards enlightenment decades ago, A testament to their courage in defying conventional limiting norms.
“You know that dried outside laundry smell? Your consciousness can also get that clean and fresh. 😃 Wash up over at lifeinsynergy.com” - Helena Collins on Twitter (X)
The Duplicity of Human Nature: A Nuanced Examination
The duplicity of human nature has long fascinated psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers alike.
As an inherent aspect of our existence, this duality reveals a complex interplay between seemingly contradictory facets of our character. In this deep blog, we will delve into the origins, expressions, and implications of this duplicity, exploring the factors that contribute to its manifestation and how it shapes human behavior.
Origins of Duplicity in Human Nature
The concept of duplicity in human nature has its roots in various philosophical and religious traditions. Ancient philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, alluded to the duality of the human soul, which comprises rational and irrational elements. Similarly, religious texts such as the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita emphasize the struggle between good and evil within the individual. The notion of duplicity has evolved over time, with more recent psychological theories, such as Freud's structural model of the psyche, also positing the existence of conflicting internal forces that shape human behavior.
Biological and Social Factors
The duplicity of human nature stems from both biological and social factors. On a biological level, the dualistic nature can be attributed to the interplay between the brain's emotional and rational processing centers. The amygdala, responsible for the emotional response, often conflicts with the prefrontal cortex, which governs rational thinking. This tug-of-war between emotion and reason is a cornerstone of human duplicity.
Social factors also contribute to the dualistic nature of humans. Socialization processes, including cultural norms, family dynamics, and peer influences, play a crucial role in shaping the individual's self-concept and behavior. Individuals often learn to navigate social environments by adopting context-dependent personas, which can lead to inconsistencies in self-presentation and behavior.
Expressions of Duplicity
The duplicity of human nature manifests itself in various aspects of human behavior. Some common expressions of duplicity include:
Moral Duality: The struggle between moral and immoral inclinations is a classic expression of human duplicity. Research suggests that individuals often experience a conflict between their moral compass and their self-serving desires, leading to moral dilemmas and discrepancies in behavior.
Authenticity and Inauthenticity: Duplicity can also emerge in the form of authenticity and inauthenticity. Individuals may present themselves differently in different contexts, leading to a discrepancy between their true self and the personas they adopt in different situations.
Cognitive Dissonance: The experience of cognitive dissonance, or the psychological discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, is another manifestation of the duplicity of human nature. Individuals may engage in self-deceptive practices to reconcile these conflicts, further complicating their sense of self.
Implications of Duplicity
The duplicity of human nature carries several implications for both the individual and society. On an individual level, this duality can lead to internal conflicts, emotional turmoil, and a fragmented sense of self. Additionally, the adoption of different personas can strain interpersonal relationships and hinder the development of genuine connections. On a societal level, the duplicity of human nature can contribute to social inequality, as individuals may exploit their duplicitous nature to gain unfair advantages or manipulate others. Furthermore, this duplicity can impede collective action on pressing issues, as individuals and groups may prioritize self-interest over the common good.
The duplicity of human nature is a multifaceted phenomenon with deep roots in biological and social processes.
Its various expressions and implications have profound consequences for both individual well-being and societal functioning. A deeper understanding of this duplicity can provide valuable insights into human behavior and contribute to more effective interventions that promote personal growth and social cohesion.
Another short psychological study on duplicity in that we seem attracted to hypocrites. I found this rather interesting. I’ve written about the author from her LinkIn posting for your information.
Why Are We Taken In By Duplicity?
JOAN AREHART-TREICHEL
Published Online:19 Mar 2004
********
JOAN AREHART-TREICHEL
From LinkedIn:
Senior Staff Writer at Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News Indiana University Bloomington, Oxford University in England, the Institute of European Studies in Paris
Washington, District of Columbia, United States.
About
For many years, I've worked as a science writer, specializing in reporting on advances in medical research, especially in psychiatric research.
In addition to working on staff for "Science News" and "Psychiatric News," I've written for a number of consumer publications, notably "New York" magazine, "The Washington Post," "Glamour," "Harper's Bazaar," "True," "Sexology."
I've also had four books published, notably "Biotypes: The Critical Link Between Your Personality and Your Health," published by Times Books (the "New York Times" book company). "Biotypes" was sold not just in the United States, but in Britain, France, and Canada.
I am also the winner of a national science writer competition for one of the articles I wrote for "New York" magazine. The competition was sponsored by the National Association for Medical Research.
I am now completing yet another book about science for the general public. It concerns evil behavior and how genes, environment, and other factors contribute to it.
*********
Why are we taken in by scams
Why do so many people fall for scams, unproven medical treatments, sexual seduction, empty political promises? In short, why do so many people fall prey to hypocrisy, which for the purposes of a presentation at the recent meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association was defined as “consciously intended deception by a person in a position of trust”?
It may be because they can’t stand uncertainty, idealize the hypocrite, have strong desires for something, and transfer their childhood-acquired trust to the hypocrite.
So suggested Anton Kris, M.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, during a plenary talk at the meeting, held in New York City in January. His talk was titled “The Lure of Hypocrisy.”
Some 20 years ago, Kris reported, he started pondering why people are taken in by hypocrites. He came to the conclusion that one of the major reasons is that people idealize* figures of authority such as their bosses, religious or government leaders, or those in the healing professions.
But idealization alone will not lead a person to being vulnerable to duplicity, he said; it must also be accompanied by anxiety.
“It seemed to me that idealization as a defense against the dread of uncertainty accounted for the susceptibility to hypocrisy,” he explained. “That is, the desire for certainty leads to idealization of the hypocrite in exchange for the individual’s credulity.”
Yet even when idealization and the yearning for certainty are present, he continued, they will not bring about susceptibility to hypocrisy unless they are also accompanied by strong desires to obtain something. For instance, he said, “Terminally ill patients and their families may yield to wishful fantasy in their search for ‘miracle’ cures, [and] under those circumstances, they become vulnerable to hypocritical snake-oil hucksters.”
And yet a fourth ingredient is also necessary if people are going to fall prey to hypocrisy, he asserted—“credulity resulting from a transference-based**, developmentally early form of trust.” All in all, he concluded, “It remains a difficult task throughout life to maintain a balance between trust and distrust.”
But surely many people are impervious to hypocrisy? Kris thinks not. “Everyone is susceptible to hypocrisy under some circumstances,” he cautioned. “In times or conditions of increased uncertainty, that susceptibility will be particularly great.”
*idealization
Updated on 04/19/2018
n. 1. the exaggeration of the positive attributes and minimization of the imperfections or failings associated with a person, place, thing, or situation, so that it is viewed as perfect or nearly perfect.
2. in psychoanalytic theory, a defense mechanism that protects the individual from conscious feelings of ambivalence toward the idealized object. Idealization of parents and other important figures plays a role in the development of the ego-ideal. —idealize vb.
**transference
Updated on 04/19/2018
n. in psychoanalysis, a patient’s displacement or projection onto the analyst of those unconscious feelings and wishes originally directed toward important individuals, such as parents, in the patient’s childhood. It is posited that this process brings repressed material to the surface where it can be reexperienced, studied, and worked through to discover the sources of a patient’s current neurotic difficulties and to alleviate their harmful effects. Although the theoretical aspects of the term are specific to psychoanalysis, transference has a recognized role in various other types of therapeutic encounter, including counseling and short-term dynamic psychotherapy. The term’s broader meaning—an unconscious repetition of earlier behaviors and their projection onto new subjects—is acknowledged as applying to all human interactions.
Two quotes on duplicity broadly on the topic of Christian Republicans in general and the “flow of words” is but an ample description of one certain individual whose name is very easy to surmise.
“A flow of words is a sure sign of duplicity.”
— Honore de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac (born Honoré Balzac; 20 May 1799 – 18 August 1850) was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus. Owing to his keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of society, Balzac is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature.
“Duplicity in matters of religion is not confined to Pakistan, but it hurts the most in societies where debate on religion is asphyxiated and preachers of hate have become keepers of faith.”
— Asma Jahangir
Asma Jilani Jahangir (27 January 1952 – 11 February 2018) was a Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist who co-founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and AGHS Legal Aid Cell. Jahangir was known for playing a prominent role in the Lawyers' Movement and served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief as a trustee at the International Crisis Group. She spent her career defending the human and women's rights, rights of religious minorities and children in Pakistan.
What about duplicity in the Christian faith? Yes it is addressed, and almost in a specific manner.
James 1:8 ESV
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1 Peter 2:1 ESV
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Romans 16:17 ESV
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Proverbs 11:3 ESV
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
So that ends my journey into duplicity in man as witnessed nearly every day in 2024 American politics, particularly on the far right wing of the Republican Party. Trump exemplifies a person clearly in the realm of the dark triad as discussed above. It would seem that I’m no expert to pin him down in any one category. He may actually have pathology which exceeds that of the dark triad. I thought it interesting to consider Trump and some other far right GOP members as possibilities in this psychological grouping. Thanks for reading.
174th Posting, March 2, 2024.