This word is one to remember: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism Ma·​chi·​a·​vel·​lian·​ism | \ ˌma-kē-ə-ˈve-lē-ə-ˌni-zəm: is a malevolent personality trait whereby a person will exploit, abuse, and manipulate to achieve their goals. Machiavellism is one of the traits in the Dark Triad; along with psychopathy and narcissism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad

Those 3 traits are probably the most important bit of human psychology to memorize and become good at identifying. Everyone knows what a narcissist is and what a psychopath is but I seldom see anyone talk about Machiavellianism. I can't count the numerous times myself or others I've known have been victimized by THOSE type of people. The worst part is, you usually don't realize what's happening, till it's too late and you get that knife in your back. They usually present themselves in such an appealing way. The way that totally disarms you and your peers, gaining unquestioning trust.

Machiavellian Personalities: https://www.learning-mind.com/machiavellian-personality-signs/

These people are cowards who excessively rely upon an unspoken 2nd triad of social tactics:

#1 plausible deniability: The ability to deny any involvement in illegal or unethical activities, because there is no clear evidence to prove involvement. The lack of evidence makes the denial credible, or plausible. The use of the tactic implies forethought, such as intentionally setting up the conditions to plausibly avoid responsibility for one’s future actions. {Details/extended reading: https://politicaldictionary.com/words/plausible-deniability/ }

#2 alinsky tactics: "Ridicule is the most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage." If the target is a concept, if you attack the person who is most effective at presenting it, you have personalized and polarized the concept and can thus attack the person’s most controversial weaknesses. On the person, don’t let up the pressure, ridicule them, threaten them (because power is mostly what the enemy thinks you have so the threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself), avoid the issue because that is their knowledge, avoid what they know and you don’t know, get them into what you know and they don't. Attack them for not living up to all of their ideals regardless of how small, because no one can. Make sure your people enjoy insulting and humiliating them, but don’t use the same tactic all the time — it will bore your people. {details/extended reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_Radicals#The_Rules }

#3 the Hegelian Dialectic: Cognitive dissonance/controlled opposition/PROBLEM — REACTION — SOLUTION in that firstly you create the problem; then secondly you fan the flames to get a reaction; then thirdly you provide a solution. The solution is what you were wanting to achieve in the first place, but wouldn’t have been able to achieve under normal circumstances. {details/extended reading: https://kennethmdouglass.com/the-hegelian-dialectic/ }

When you encounter people of the dark triad, kick them OUT of your life. Call them out immediately on their manipulations and do NOT let them bully you into thinking you are in the wrong for doing so. They are abusive social predators, if ever there were ones.

Stay safe.

Peace.