
Niccolò Machiavelli, a philosopher during the Renaissance period, once wrote, “Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear,” in one of his most notable pieces, “The Prince.” Though penned in the 16th century, this insight remains strikingly relevant today. You see it in politicians delivering speeches, influencers curating their social media posts, advertisers crafting campaigns and even in people you see everyday – it is all designed to evoke an emotional response. The goal is simple: to convince you to believe in their message. Yet, the line between genuine inspiration and calculated manipulation often blurs, leaving us questioning the true intent behind their words. So if fear could be used as a manipulation tactic, how about something as pure and understanding as empathy? These are the questions we must ask ourselves when navigating a world concentrated in various types of emotional appeals.
Though fictional, the popular Disney movie “Frozen” perfectly illustrates how a character can use empathy to manipulate others for personal gain. Prince Hans preys on Anna’s feelings of loneliness to get closer to her, appearing vulnerable, despite having no genuine interest in her beyond securing his path to the throne. Anna, blinded by his feigned kindness and understanding, trusts his words and eventually falls for him. By the time she realizes she has been manipulated, her perception of him changes completely -– but by then, it is far too late.
These examples do not only occur in fictional works. As mentioned earlier, manipulation through pity and empathy has been employed for centuries -– ranging from political figures leveraging these tactics to gain supporters, to an average person guilt-tripping a friend into going skydiving. A striking real-life example is the Salem Witch Trials, where community leaders exploited empathy to manipulate others and advance their hidden, often absurd agendas.
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693 in Massachusetts manipulated local civilians into believing that witches, often women, lived among them. Community leaders encouraged people to empathize with the so-called “victims” of witchcraft, despite there being no evidence of such practices. The root causes of these fears were complex, often stemming from personal grudges, with accusations of witchcraft serving as a weapon against those who were disliked. Many argue that the trials were deeply rooted in misogynistic beliefs, reflecting societal fears of women wielding power -– any deviation from traditional roles was seen as otherworldly or dangerous during this period.
Fast forward to today, we see similar tactics being used in politics, often fueling public division and debate. Religion, which many turn to for moral guidance and the comfort of unity, is weaponized to advance political agendas all over the world, including the United States. Leaders often exploit empathy by attempting to share religious values and using these connections to push policies that may not even completely align with the faith itself. Modern political expression often hides greed behind a veil of moral or religious legitimacy, something we saw in the Salem Witch Trials. These tactics highlight the importance of being critical and unbiased when evaluating someone’s arguments or ideas, ensuring we question their true intentions and determine whether their words align with their actions, so we can avoid being manipulated for their gain.