[2] It is the first book on the subject, the first use of the word "Machiavellianism" as the name of a personality variable, and would launch an entire field of study.
[3][4] In the aftermath of World War II, psychologist Richard Christie set out to study the thought processes and actions of those who manipulated others, such as political ideologues and religious extremists.
In creating his psychometric, he first began by seeking out historical figures such as Kautilya and Shang Yang before eventually landing upon Machiavelli.
Those who score highly on the scale of Machiavellianism deceived more and had a cold, calculated, and detached disposition when doing said acts.
[7] The primary goal of their research was to evaluate whether or not agreement (or disagreement) with the test items showed differences in behavior and mentality.