PsychologusWelcome to the dark side of psychology! If you’re itching to learn about the darker aspects of human nature, this is the perfect place for you. Accepting that we are capable of great benefit as well as harm could help us understand ourselves better. Here, in this part of psychologus, we offer analyses and commentary on controversial parts of our psychological blueprint. Everything recommended here is ethical and factual.
Let’s explore!
Few fictional characters are as widely regarded for their manipulative abilities as Light Yagami. Throughout Death Note, he deceives seasoned detectives, evades international law enforcement, recruits devoted followers, and orchestrates elaborate plans that unfold over months or even years. Yet describing Light as simply “manipulative” does little to explain how he achieves these outcomes. His […]
When most people hear the word narcissist, they picture someone loud, arrogant, and obsessed with admiration. The confident boss who can’t take criticism. The partner who always needs to win. The friend who somehow turns every conversation back to themselves. Recent depictions of narcissism often circle around serial killers like Joe Goldberg or Patrick Bateman […]
Anime, or animēshon (in Japanese), is usually referred to animated films or series made in Japan. With the compelling storytelling these anime demonstrate (mostly), they have some of the most complex, terrifying, and unforgettable villains. From calculated masterminds to chaotic thrill-seekers, these characters captivate audiences. Their evil is legendary not only through their actions but […]
Not all heartbreak comes with yelling, slammed doors, or big betrayals. Sometimes, love doesn’t break you loudly. It just… wears you down quietly. It sneaks in quietly, in the form of second-guessing your tone, apologizing when you’re the one who is hurting, or gradually giving up small parts of yourself to keep the peace. And […]
So, you would like to become powerful. Perhaps, your colleagues are treating you poorly. Or maybe you’re tired of experiencing setback after setback. And maybe you’ve been reading on Machiavellianism. Perhaps, gaining power is the only solution you see. It isn’t though! Well, it isn’t the only solution. Maintaining power is equally important. Luckily, we’ve […]
Introduction Have you ever been told not to do something, only to feel an overwhelming urge to do it anyway? That’s reverse psychology in action! This clever psychological technique plays on human nature, often influencing people’s decisions without them even realizing it. But what exactly is reverse psychology, how does it work, and is it […]
Everything that we know about the world is filtered through our own subjective lens. Our trials and tribulations are unique. Our experiences might hold some similarities with others. However, they are distinct and separate from many of the people around us. Even our siblings do not share the same views about everything. This reality is […]
Classically, Machiavellianism has been seen as a negative trait. To define it briefly, Machiavellianism is a tendency towards intentionally and strategically manipulating others to gain and keep power and control. It is also a part of the Dark Tetrad traits of personality. However, is there nothing positive to be gleaned from Machiavellianism? I argue that […]
Psychopathy is a psychological construct that refers to callous and unemotional patterns of attitudes or behaviors. While much of the popular opinion on psychopathy is actually negative, there are some behaviors of psychopaths which are also seen positively. An evidence of the allure of psychopathy can be seen in the fact that Ted Bundy, the […]
Lying is a very common behavior per se. There are various reasons one might choose to lie. Perhaps you do not want to cause trouble with your boss, so you might lie that there no problems at work. Perhaps a young adolescent might lie to his parents to cover up the fact that he was […]