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.
"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."
According to therapist and relationship expert Ken Page, LCSW, everyone can be manipulative from time to time, sometimes without even realizing it. "We are all human, and all of us manipulate because it's a human defense mechanism," he says.
Manipulative people tend to sway personal opinions, always see their side of the situation, and may never let you have your own opinion because they are always pushing theirs. These toxic individuals tend to play the victim, never taking responsibility for their actions or any actions for that matter.
Using manipulation for positive change
Positive manipulation is also used by non-profit organisations and ethical companies to persuade people to act, thereby helping others in need and promoting positive change in the world.
The user can manipulate intelligence, one's capacity for logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, communication, learning, emotional knowledge, memory, planning, creativity and problem solving. They can enhance it, reduce it, or even transfer it.
Manipulators are experts in exaggeration and generalization. They may say things like, “No one has ever loved me.” They use vague accusations to make it harder to see the holes in their arguments. This tactic used by manipulators is meant to poke at your weaknesses and make you feel insecure.
Manipulation is when a person uses controlling and harmful behaviors to avoid responsibility, conceal their true intentions, or cause doubt and confusion. Manipulation tactics, such as gaslighting, lying, blaming, criticizing, and shaming, can be incredibly damaging to a person's psychological well-being.
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.
"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.
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.
Is it best to ignore a manipulator? Yes, you should ignore your manipulator and not react to everything they are saying. They have studied your triggers and expect you to respond to their bait. If you continue ignoring them, they will eventually come around or go away from your life.
These are people who habitually engage in cunning, calculating, and conniving behavior. Master manipulators are Machiavellians, or “High Machs,” as I previously explained.
Emotional manipulation occurs when a manipulative person seeks power over someone else and employs dishonest or exploitive strategies to gain it. Unlike people in healthy relationships, which demonstrate reciprocity and cooperation, an emotional manipulator looks to use, control, or even victimize someone else.
They use guilt trips or ultimatums
During a disagreement or fight, a manipulative person will make dramatic statements that are meant to put you in a difficult spot. They'll target emotional weaknesses with inflammatory statements in order to elicit an apology. For example: “If you leave me, I don't deserve to live.”
“When you are being manipulated by someone you are being psychologically coerced into doing something you probably don't really want to do,” she says. You might feel scared to do it, obligated to do it, or guilty about not doing it.
The Charming Manipulator
They love action and excitement (instead of intimacy), with all the gusto of life, and have a need for external stimulation. They may dress to seduce, shock or impress. Their childhood message was most likely that in order to be Ok you need to be one step ahead of others.
They are afraid of vulnerability. Manipulators seldom express their needs, desires, or true feelings. They seek out the vulnerabilities in others in order to take advantage of them for their own benefits and deflect their true motives. They have no ability to love, empathy, guilt, remorse, or conscience.
Abstract. Managers may use manipulative techniques to facilitate personnel management and enhance productivity. Positive manipulation by a manager is purposeful behavior directed at positively meeting the needs of those involved in the interaction.