Dark Psychology Facts
@dpf79.bsky.social
Facts on how people can be manipulated, often in unethical ways. Things like using insecurities against you, playing on your emotions etc.
Dark Triad & Risk-Taking: Narcissism, Machiavellianism & psychopathy are linked to increased unnecessary risk-taking (health, financial, social), partly due to impulsivity & lack of empathy for others' safety.
July 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Dark Triad & Risk-Taking: Narcissism, Machiavellianism & psychopathy are linked to increased unnecessary risk-taking (health, financial, social), partly due to impulsivity & lack of empathy for others' safety.
Power & Reputation in Manipulation: Manipulative power isn't just coercive force; it's also the ability to facilitate others' success (or failure) & the reputation for having such power.
July 21, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Power & Reputation in Manipulation: Manipulative power isn't just coercive force; it's also the ability to facilitate others' success (or failure) & the reputation for having such power.
Malignant Narcissism: More severe than NPD. Includes NPD traits + antisocial behavior, ego-syntonic sadism & paranoia, yet retains some capacity for guilt/loyalty (unlike psychopaths).
July 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Malignant Narcissism: More severe than NPD. Includes NPD traits + antisocial behavior, ego-syntonic sadism & paranoia, yet retains some capacity for guilt/loyalty (unlike psychopaths).
Online Disinhibition Effect: Anonymity & lack of immediate social cues online can amplify harmful behaviors like trolling & cyberbullying. Everyday sadists are often prone to trolling.
July 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Online Disinhibition Effect: Anonymity & lack of immediate social cues online can amplify harmful behaviors like trolling & cyberbullying. Everyday sadists are often prone to trolling.
Dunning-Kruger Effect: A cognitive bias where low-ability individuals overestimate their competence, while experts may underestimate theirs. Can accompany dark traits.
July 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Dunning-Kruger Effect: A cognitive bias where low-ability individuals overestimate their competence, while experts may underestimate theirs. Can accompany dark traits.
Dehumanisation's Neural Correlates: Brain scans show less activity in social cognition regions when people view photos of perceived low-status out-groups (e.g., homeless).
July 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Dehumanisation's Neural Correlates: Brain scans show less activity in social cognition regions when people view photos of perceived low-status out-groups (e.g., homeless).
"Monster Study" (1939): Unethically attempted to induce stuttering in normally fluent orphan children via negative suggestion, highlighting the harm of psychological manipulation.
July 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"Monster Study" (1939): Unethically attempted to induce stuttering in normally fluent orphan children via negative suggestion, highlighting the harm of psychological manipulation.
"Little Albert" Experiment (1920): Unethically conditioned an infant to fear a white rat (and other furry things) by pairing it with a loud noise, demonstrating learned fear.
July 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
"Little Albert" Experiment (1920): Unethically conditioned an infant to fear a white rat (and other furry things) by pairing it with a loud noise, demonstrating learned fear.
Milgram Experiment (1960s): Revealed a strong & unsettling tendency for individuals to obey authority figures, even when instructed to perform actions causing apparent harm to others.
July 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Milgram Experiment (1960s): Revealed a strong & unsettling tendency for individuals to obey authority figures, even when instructed to perform actions causing apparent harm to others.
Stanford Prison Experiment (1971): Showed how readily ordinary people conform to assigned social roles, even when those roles involve power imbalances & abuse (guards vs. prisoners).
July 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Stanford Prison Experiment (1971): Showed how readily ordinary people conform to assigned social roles, even when those roles involve power imbalances & abuse (guards vs. prisoners).
Sadistic Victim-Blaming: Individuals high in everyday sadism are more likely to blame victims, partly due to the sadistic pleasure derived from witnessing suffering & reduced empathy.
July 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Sadistic Victim-Blaming: Individuals high in everyday sadism are more likely to blame victims, partly due to the sadistic pleasure derived from witnessing suffering & reduced empathy.
Everyday Sadism: A subclinical tendency to derive pleasure from others' physical or psychological suffering, even in non-criminal, everyday contexts like online trolling.
July 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Everyday Sadism: A subclinical tendency to derive pleasure from others' physical or psychological suffering, even in non-criminal, everyday contexts like online trolling.
Stockholm Syndrome: A rare coping mechanism where hostages or abuse victims (~8% of hostages) develop positive feelings or sympathy towards their captors/abusers.
July 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Stockholm Syndrome: A rare coping mechanism where hostages or abuse victims (~8% of hostages) develop positive feelings or sympathy towards their captors/abusers.
Folie à Deux (Shared Psychosis): A rare syndrome where delusional beliefs are transmitted from a "primary" (psychotic) individual to a closely associated "secondary" (often dependent/isolated) person.
July 9, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Folie à Deux (Shared Psychosis): A rare syndrome where delusional beliefs are transmitted from a "primary" (psychotic) individual to a closely associated "secondary" (often dependent/isolated) person.
Plausible Deniability: Subtle manipulative tactics are often ambiguous, allowing the manipulator to deny malicious intent if confronted (e.g., "just kidding!")
July 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Plausible Deniability: Subtle manipulative tactics are often ambiguous, allowing the manipulator to deny malicious intent if confronted (e.g., "just kidding!")
Reality Erosion: Many covert manipulation tactics (gaslighting, negging) aim to make victims systematically doubt their own perceptions, memory & sanity.
July 7, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Reality Erosion: Many covert manipulation tactics (gaslighting, negging) aim to make victims systematically doubt their own perceptions, memory & sanity.
Personalised Attack Vector: Successful manipulators often first identify & then exploit the specific psychological vulnerabilities of their target.
July 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Personalised Attack Vector: Successful manipulators often first identify & then exploit the specific psychological vulnerabilities of their target.
Loss Aversion Exploited: Phishing attacks threaten negative consequences (e.g., credit score damage) to prompt immediate, fear-driven action.
July 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Loss Aversion Exploited: Phishing attacks threaten negative consequences (e.g., credit score damage) to prompt immediate, fear-driven action.
Halo Effect Exploited: Scammers impersonate well-known, trusted brands, leveraging your positive associations to lower your guard.
July 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Halo Effect Exploited: Scammers impersonate well-known, trusted brands, leveraging your positive associations to lower your guard.
Authority Bias Exploited: Hackers spoof messages from CEOs or government agencies to compel compliance due to perceived authority.
July 3, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Authority Bias Exploited: Hackers spoof messages from CEOs or government agencies to compel compliance due to perceived authority.
Scarcity Bias Exploited: "Only 3 left!" or countdown timers create urgency & FOMO, pressuring impulsive purchases.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Scarcity Bias Exploited: "Only 3 left!" or countdown timers create urgency & FOMO, pressuring impulsive purchases.
Anchoring Bias Exploited: Salespeople quote an inflated initial price, making subsequent (still profitable) offers seem more reasonable by comparison.
July 1, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Anchoring Bias Exploited: Salespeople quote an inflated initial price, making subsequent (still profitable) offers seem more reasonable by comparison.
Hyperbolic Discounting Exploited: "Free" instant prizes or limited-time deals lure quick, uncritical responses by prioritising immediate rewards.
June 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Hyperbolic Discounting Exploited: "Free" instant prizes or limited-time deals lure quick, uncritical responses by prioritising immediate rewards.
Recency Effect Exploited: Scams often reference current events or recent interactions to appear more relevant, timely, and legitimate.
June 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Recency Effect Exploited: Scams often reference current events or recent interactions to appear more relevant, timely, and legitimate.
Ostrich Effect Exploited: Phishing emails create urgency (e.g., "account closing soon!") to discourage critical thinking & prompt rash action.
June 28, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Ostrich Effect Exploited: Phishing emails create urgency (e.g., "account closing soon!") to discourage critical thinking & prompt rash action.