Book excerpt: This book delves into the intricate evolution of deception and dark psychology across history, exploring how various cultural, psychological, and societal factors have shaped human behavior and beliefs. Beginning with ancient practices and mythologies that influenced early conceptualizations of human nature, it examines pivotal events such as the Black Death and witch hunts, which instilled fear and uncertainty in societies. The revival of classical learning during the Renaissance and the subsequent emergence of Machiavellianism are explored alongside the contributions of Enlightenment thinkers and the controversial rise of phrenology. The impacts of urbanization, crowd psychology, and the seminal contributions of Sigmund Freud to psychoanalytic theory are also analyzed. Modern phenomena like the Nazi regime’s study of evil, the Stanford Prison Experiment, and the role of propaganda in shaping public perception round out this comprehensive study of dark psychology.