Growing up as children, we were taught that it is our duty to treat people the way they treat us. We were taught that people who are morally conscious are seen as social perfection and thus rise in society’s ranks. We were taught to look up to people that were helping their community, people who put the greater good above their own desires and needs. We were taught to subdue our own desires if they were to ever hurt, mentally or physically, anyone else. We are taught to be, above all, kind and caring. We are also taught to be truthful. Honesty is the best policy, or so they say.

I believe that we were taught wrong. And as someone who had swallowed the red pill a long time ago, I wish to express my views of what I have observed to be true in this world. These views I will relay, no matter how cruel and offensive they may seem.

People who are truly considered successful in life are those who have gathered a considerable amount of influence in society. Under this definition, your common constable-like police officer is not powerful. His power over your arrest can be easily broken by lawyers, judges, politicians, and the police commissioner. And to obtain such social influential power, you must be willing to step on other people’s toes. Something Dark Triad people are very good at.

The Benefits of Running Dark Triad in Corporate Life In the world of business, manipulation is key in moving up the corporate ladder. Anyone who is higher up in ranking than you does not want to give up his position to you. He has a family to feed, and his own financial needs to meet, why should he? Getting a promotion is tough business in the corporate sphere. “In most organizations, promotions are governed by unwritten rules—the often fuzzy, intuitive, and poorly expressed feelings of senior executives regarding individuals’ ability to succeed in C-suite positions.” “The bottom line: You’re left to your own devices in interpreting feedback and finding a way to achieve your career goals.” (http://hbr.org/2009/06/why-you-didnt-get-that-promotion/ar/1). You are always working for visionaries who are too lost in their own views of how to better their own goals in the company to give you any thought. So what do you do? You manipulate. You use Machiavellianism. You get close to those above you, while keeping your intentions hidden. You pretend to be a humble protege of those in power in your corporation. You learn to play those who are important against each other. You play by the 48 Laws of Power. Furthermore, you believe you deserve that promotion, you believe that you are better than others, thus boosting your self-confidence through Narcissism. And you wield your manipulation with fearlessness. All while doing this, you protect yourself by feigning daftness or ignorance when the need arises.

Those using Dark Triad traits in the business world also know how to dress well, and to keep an aura around them that impresses fellow co workers. They know through their narcissism that first impressions are important. Through their narcissistic values, they often times dress as impeccably as the upper management, and their aura catches the eye of those above them. Their rank n the eyes of their coworkers rise. Thus, their rise on the social ladder starts. It would be relevant here to say that the number one position that people with high amount of Dark Traid traits hold is the position of CEO.

The Benefits of Running Dark Triad in Social Life

Other than the obvious benefits of being popular with the ladies, there are other social benefits to having Dark Triad traits. Before I delve into this aspect, I would like to address a counterpoint that many of you would have. People say that running the Dark Triad in social life would lead you on a straight path to prison. Of course that is why you should always keep into consideration what is considered taboo in society and only perform those acts (i.e. stealing, embezzlement) when you know for sure you will get away with it, and when the benefits to you outweigh the costs.

Now onto the aspect. One of the many things that people most value in a person is fearlessness. Society sees fearlessness as a result of having courage. In reality, fearlessness, in most cases, comes from having shallow emotions, like not feeling fear on a deep level. Psychopathy is the very definition of this ability. Thus a secretly Dark Triad man who is fearless will be valued in his social circle. Another thing that people value in a person is how calm he can be in times of danger or in other words, how he “holds frame”. Since it is much easier to hold frame if you have shallow emotions, this can also be tied back to Dark Triad traits.

Furthermore, self-confidence is also valued in a social circle. Usually the person with the most amount of self-confidence is the leader of the circle. And self-confidence stems from a degree of narcissism. No one wants to be led by a wimp, they would much rather be led by someone who is sure of himself and holds himself in high regard. If you want others to view you in high regard, you must believe that you yourself are extremely capable and possibly the best. Having this air of extreme narcissistic confidence around you can be thus beneficial for your social life.

Lastly, in order to rise in your social circle, you must learn to effectively manipulate through Machiavellianism. You need to make people of your social circle dependent on you, as well as turn them against each other when the need arises. You hide your involvement in these manipulative schemes by inducing them in such a way that the people you are manipulating do not know they are being manipulated. They will not know because you will make them believe that they themselves thought of what you would want them to do. That is the way a Dark Triad man manipulates those in his social circle and reaps the rewards of getting his friends to do anything he wants.

Now, one thing arises in the reader’s mind......is the use of Dark Triad traits moral? If people who are highly Dark Triad benefit from being such a leech of society, does morality truly matter?

It is one thing to use it in only game, and another to use it in society/career and make it a part of your everyday life