Signs You May Be Manipulating Someone Attempting to control someone else's feelings — making them feel bad. Lying or misleading people. Withholding communication & affection. Blaming others for your actions.
Sometimes, people may manipulate others unconsciously, without being fully aware of what they're doing, while others may actively work on strengthening their manipulation tactics. Some signs of manipulation include: Passive-aggressive behavior. Implicit threats.
Why do some people use manipulation tactics? Not everyone who manipulates is actually aware they do. They may think that's how relationships work or even believe you manipulate them too and they need to respond. In some instances, they may be aware of their actions but not of how they affect you.
Stop yourself as soon as you notice manipulative behavior.
Then, talk to the other person about the situation and how you feel. Be as direct and honest with them as possible. It's okay to take some time on your own to work through your feelings. It's hard to change your behavior, so allow yourself to take baby steps.
"Unintentional manipulation can show up in exaggerating the facts," Silvershein says. "If someone had an early-morning flight that takes off at 8 a.m., they may say their flight is at 6 a.m. since they technically have to leave for the airport at 6 a.m. They know that this story is better and will gain more empathy."
In general, people manipulate others to get what they want, to protect their ego, and to avoid having to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. They may feel the need to punish, control, or dominate their partner. They may be seeking pity or attention, or have other selfish motives.
“I didn't say/do that” or “It wasn't my idea, it was yours” When things don't go too well, manipulators put all the blame on you: They didn't even mention that subject. You did not understand them.
Signs You May Be Manipulating Someone
Take a close look at the signs of manipulation below to see if you may be behaving this way: Attempting to control someone else's feelings — making them feel bad. Lying or misleading people. Withholding communication & affection.
"If you have voiced a concern but still feel frustrated, anxious, and pacified, you [may] have been emotionally manipulated," says Porche. "If you feel one way and someone is trying to convince you to feel another way, you are [likely] being emotionally manipulated.
It is also important to note that emotional manipulation may be unintentional, and the person may not even be aware of it. You might consider having a conversation with your partner to discuss their behavior and its effects on you.
She micromanages you.
If your girlfriend is manipulative, she might try to control small aspects of your life. She could tell you what to wear, how to do your hair, what to eat, how to talk, or even what to spend money on. Healthy partners don't try to control or change each other—they accept each other as they are.
Manipulation is generally considered a dishonest form of social influence as it is used at the expense of others. Manipulative tendencies may derive from personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, or antisocial personality disorder.
Red flags in a relationship include excessive jealousy and frequent lying. You should also be wary of a partner who frequently criticizes you or puts you down. Another major red flag is an unwillingness to compromise — relationships shouldn't be one-sided.
Experiencing gaslighting can leave you second-guessing yourself constantly, not to mention overwhelmed, confused, and uncertain about your ability to make decisions on your own. Other key signs you're experiencing gaslighting include: an urge to apologize all the time. believing you can't do anything right.
The user can manipulate the innocence of a person, making someone innocent of anything or undoing the innocence of someone, or toning it down so that there may be some bad things the target could do.
While we are all susceptible to manipulation, if you are insecure, overly nice, or worry a lot about what other people think, you may be an easy target. The reason manipulation feels bad is because it feels like you're being pushed or tricked into something you didn't really choose or want to do.
Manipulators Can CHANGE
Manipulators can certainly change, and we can help facilitate that change to make both our lives and the world a better place.
Anyone can use manipulation tactics or any of the games listed here and not have a narcissistic personality disorder. The difference is that for someone with narcissistic personality, these behaviors aren't rare or situational. They're the way they function in relationships all the time.