Why subtle blackmail could improve productivity

The psychology of power and persuasion is one that is often debated, but one study has found that blackmailing is one way to achieve success through strategic manipulation.

The study found that nearly one in two people would take advantage of another person if the opportunity arose, and would act like a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ to get ahead of their opponents.

Led by a team from Harvard University, the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Behaviour in Plön, Germany, the researchers analysed the behaviour of 160 students, who took part in the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ game.

The game saw two players choose whether or not they will cooperate with each other to receive a monetary prize - the Daily Mail reports.