I do think everyone is fake in some way and manipulate others and such. It might hurt most people's egos to be on the receiving end of this, but it's actually a positive thing if not abused. Meaning, it avoids more direct and disruptive (say, violent) ways of influencing others.
All in all, the most disruptive members of any group will always be those who won't let others influence them, as it provokes the rest to try harder and harder. Things escalate quickly when you perceive others not to be interested in finding a common ground (we're looking at this with Trump).
As an individual with strong convictions and such, I'm pretty guilty of this myself.