PAIRINGS

On the verge of the NCAA basketball brackets, I got the random thought about the dynamic between Jacob and MIB. If Jacob "touched" characters as a way of guiding, pushing or trapping part of his soul in them for later reconstruction, then whom did MIB touch, push or corrupt?

In a quick memory scan, I found a couple of "pairs," one person who ruined, controlled or otherwise deeply moved another character's life.

Locke, touched by Jacob, had his life ruined by his father, Cooper.
Sawyer, touched by Jacob, had his life ruined by con man, Cooper.

Jack, touched by Jacob, had his life run-complicated by his father, Christian.
Claire, unknown if touched, had her life complicated by her absentee father, Christian.

Desmond had his life turned upside down by Widmore.
Ben had his island life turned upside down by Widmore.

I am wondering if this pattern shows that MIB was influencing Cooper, Christian and Widmore. If so, how did Ben get Cooper to the island (besides the unknown "magic box" explanation.)?