Puppet Master or Puppet?
Puppet Master or Puppet?
Do you run the room — or does the room run you? 20 questions about how you actually influence people. Be honest.
~4 minutes · Answers shuffle every time · Gaslighting section included
01 /How to Play
- 20 social scenarios. Pick what you actually do or have done.
- No judgment. Puppet Masters and Puppets both get interesting results.
- Answers shuffle every time — retaking reveals new angles.
- Your result includes your specific manipulation style (or your specific vulnerability).
- Share it. Your friends will either strongly agree or strongly deny.
02 /The Science
Social influence research distinguishes between legitimate persuasion (open, rational, consensual) and manipulation (covert, exploitative, bypassing consent). Machiavellianism — one of the Dark Triad traits — specifically measures the disposition to manipulate others strategically. High-Mach individuals are characterized by strategic patience, emotional detachment, and a cynical view of human nature. Research by Christie and Geis (1970) established that high-Mach individuals are disproportionately successful in face-to-face persuasion tasks. This assessment measures where you fall on the influence spectrum.
03 /Pro Tips
- Most people are somewhere in the middle — situational manipulators who are also occasionally manipulated.
- The scariest manipulators don't think of themselves as manipulative. They call it 'reading people.'
- Being a Puppet isn't just about being naive — it's often about caring too much what others think.
- High scores are shareable because they're flattering in a dark way. Low scores are shareable because they're relatable.
- If you're offended by a high Puppet score, notice who told you to feel that way.