“Master and discover the secret techniques of persuasion, negotiation and neurolinguistic programming”, promises in its title one of the books that Amazon offers among its “Best Sellers”. Whether it is to detect and prevent being manipulated by others or to learn to use these control techniques for one’s own benefit, the virtual store offers a wide repertoire of copies that are sold as the definitive guide on “dark psychology” -in English, dark psychology – and “mind manipulation”.
In TikTok, the hashtag
We will not find the definition of “dark psychology†in academic articles. What the Google search engine will yield is a large repertoire of videos -usually from anonymous users-, self-help books -many of them three or more volumes- and blogs, where it is described as a set of psychological techniques – persuasion, manipulation, intimidation, deception, suggestion and even neuro-linguistic programming – used to control and influence other people for selfish and malicious purposes.
It is also described as a branch or field of study of psychology dedicated to investigating the most perverse aspects of the human psyche. But the truth is that it is not a term that has scientific validity. “Putting ‘dark’ next to ‘psychology’ is a contradiction,” says Judit March, Ph.D. in Psychology and psychotherapist, and adds: “Psychotherapy is a science that studies human behavior in order to provide tools that can help a person to be betterâ€. For her, “it’s like the term ‘positive psychology’, which is also very much in vogue and has its dangers, because people believe that to be well they have to have positive thoughts all the time, when in fact negative emotions exist and they are valid, they allow us to understand what is happening to usâ€.
“Dark psychology does not exist,” says the relational psychologist and associate professor at the UOC’s Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Enric Soler, adding: “Psychology is a scientific discipline and, as such, it is clear, sharp , transparent and provable. There is absolutely nothing dark about itâ€.
What does exist -he explains- are certain branches within the discipline that study personality traits and darker psychological profiles, such as criminal psychology, forensics or the psychology of authority and power relations, which are It falls within the realm of social psychology.
Also -indicates the professor-, within psychology we can talk about the “dark triad”, which refers to narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. “The narcissist can appear to be presumptuous and arrogant, when in truth he has very low self-esteem and constantly needs the approval of othersâ€, points out Soler and adds that “Psychopathy is characterized by a total lack of empathy and refers to people who obtain pleasure in hurting others. Machiavellianism includes people who are aware of the damage they do but do not care, anything goes in pursuit of a goal of personal interest.
If “dark psychology” is a term of dubious provenance and without academic recognition, why is the idea of ​​controlling the mind of others so attractive, and are there those who are interested in understanding it, either to be alert and develop defense mechanisms or to apply the techniques you propose?
In many videos and books on “dark psychology” it is presented as an effective tool for seduction and negotiation, as a shortcut to personal success, to the person you want to conquer or the job you want to achieve.
“I think that people who consume this type of content have low self-esteem and that is why they look for strategies to feel that they are valid and that they can get what they want, not through internal elements but through external ones, through magic formulasâ€, says Judit March , for whom “the ethical limit of this type of manipulation techniques, which we sometimes find in marketing, should be when it generates discomfort in the other person”.
For Enric Soler, the appeal of these types of guides lies in the fact that they can generate in those who consume them a sense of control “over a situation that is not under control”. As he explains, “the greater the need to control others, it is because the greater the internal lack of control. When someone seeks to relate to others in this way, it is because they are afraid of failing. They are people who feel that they are not much, â€he says and adds:“ If you like someone, you should feel capable enough to seduce him without fear, and not have to play tricks. It’s simpler and more direct.”
“It is the mentality that prevails in business schools and in this capitalist society, very focused on obtaining benefits without taking into account the needs of the otherâ€, says Judit March, and points out: “It starts from the idea that relationships have to always have a goal. They are not equal to equal, but power, dominance and control, and in order to get what you want you have to take advantage of othersâ€.
For her, “it is important to understand how power games work, to be able to detect them and set limits. Many times we have great manipulators around us and we don’t realize it because they use very subtle techniquesâ€. However, she warns that “if there is an interest in understanding how they work and acquiring tools to protect yourself from this type of personalities, you must seek information from reliable sources and expert professionals, not rely on Internet manuals.”
In the same way, he indicates that “if you want to improve, you have to work at a deeper level. It is important to go to a good therapist and undergo a psychotherapy process. These are processes that take time, they are not resolved in four easy stepsâ€.
“It is very immature to think that there are quick solutions for things that are achieved with personal effort, perseverance and an appropriate level of self-esteemâ€, says Enric Soler and adds: “More than knowing the dynamics of power to manipulate them in your favor, it is about do not relate from that place. That would be much healthier. It is much more worthwhile to go to a psychologist than to buy one of these booksâ€.
