While we can't say for sure that our species is, at its core, good, we can at least take heart from studies that show a link between intelligence and being more thoughtful, considerate, and altruistic. And that's a seemingly positive correlation on the surface, given that intelligence and kindness are both seen as admirable qualities. But while it's certainly a comfort to think that as people get smarter they get kinder, things are a little more complex than that.
Are human beings essentially good or bad at their core? This philosophical question about the basic nature of humanity has been debated for centuries, and yet there remains no clear answer, despite what various religions or political ideologies might claim. In reality, it seems much more reasonable to think that some humans are more essentially decent than others, even though it might be more comforting to think of humanity as a whole as being fundamentally moral.
While the term "Machiavellian" does not refer to a mental health disorder, it does pertain to a personality type. The word itself comes from the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, and generally denotes someone who uses manipulation to get what they want, or refers to the underhanded strategies employed by such a person.
Your DNA, the genetic code that underlies everything from your eye color to a propensity for diabetes, can have a measurable impact on your intelligence. However, the relationship isn't as simple as inheriting a few genes and instantly becoming a genius. In reality, the links between genetics and intelligence quotient are complicated, and a person's environment may also have a large impact on top of any genetic baseline.
These days, you can barely scroll through social media without coming across some sort of life guru promising to make you a more assertive person with one simple trick. Or perhaps your timeline is inundated with rise-and-grinders extolling the virtues of sleeping for just twenty minutes a day in order to maximize your daily potential. Life optimization and self-betterment of this sort is big business, even if a lot of it is, lamentably, hokum. But what about simple ways to improve aspects of our lives that are actually backed by scientific research, such as saying "we" a little more often?
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