People who have a submissive or dependent personality. The more emotionally dependent a person is, the more vulnerable they are to being exploited and manipulated.
"The easiest people to manipulate are the people who believe in free will, because they think they cannot be manipulated."
While manipulative behavior can come up in everyday situations, exhibiting a pattern of manipulation tactics is a sign of abuse. It may indicate that the abuser has a severe mental health disorder, such as narcissistic personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder.
Manipulators may suffer from a personality disorder, such as antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, or histrionic personality disorders. Some social psychologists also use the word “Machiavellianism” to refer to people who are prone to manipulate and indifferent to conventional ideas about morality.
Dr Simon identified the following character traits that can make it easier for you to be manipulated: You have a strong desire to please others, without taking your own needs into account. You don't believe that others would manipulate you, or do you harm, on purpose. You find reasons to excuse people's poor behavior.
ENFJ. ENFJs take the crown for the most manipulative personality type. ENFJs have high emotional intelligence and strong intuition. These combined make them very good at reading people and understanding their needs.
Manipulative behavior refers to a person's use of gaslighting, love bombing, and other styles of interaction in a relationship used to gain power or influence over another. These tactics often include attempts to damage another person's emotional and mental well-being.
Manipulative Intelligence has been classified as a kind of human intelligence which is not amenable to conscious linguistic expression. Examples of what has been classified as manipulative intelligence are the tricks and knack of manipulation and assembly.
Manipulative Behavior
Another common trait of narcissism is manipulative or controlling behavior. A narcissist will at first try to please you and impress you, but eventually, their own needs will always come first.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Deceit and manipulation are also central features. In many cases hostile-aggressive and deceitful behaviors may first appear during childhood. These children may hurt or torment animals or people. They may engage in hostile acts such as bullying or intimidating others.
So yes, in a sense you could say that manipulation is a skill. Almost as if like playing a game of chess. How do you get manipulated easily by people?
Some research shows that people who have the ability to be emotionally manipulative, have high levels of emotional intelligence, which can be seen as a positive asset to the workplace. Emotional manipulation is defined as the act of influencing another person's feelings and behaviours for one's own interest.
Using insecurities against you
Emotional manipulators may use your insecurities, flaws, and fears against you to bring you down, says Veasley. For example, they may bring up insecurities when you're already feeling down, or point out your flaws in front of others. Or, it may take the form of a backhanded compliment.
Chronic manipulation in close relationships may also be a sign emotional abuse is taking place, which in some cases, can have a similar effect to trauma—particularly when the victim of manipulation is made to feel guilty or ashamed. Victims of chronic manipulation may: Feel depressed. Develop anxiety.
This begins between the ages of 3-6 years, and during this time, children learn how to get their needs met while considering what other people need as well. Although they are small, children find power in many ways.
Movement skills that require an ability to handle an object or piece of equipment with control. They include skills such as kicking, striking, dribbling or catching a ball.
Manipulative people are really not interested in you except as a vehicle to allow them to gain control so that you become an unwilling participant in their plans. They have several ways of doing this, as many of you will recognize.
Typically, people do not know they are being manipulated because it is done in a way that conceals the manipulator's intention. It is using influence for a bad cause, to gain a personal advantage at the expense of someone else.
The manipulator may feel stress and anxiety from having to constantly “cover” themselves, for fear of being found out and exposed. The manipulator may experience quiet but persistent moral crises and ethical conflicts, and may have a difficult time living with themselves.
Feigning innocence: Manipulator tries to suggest that any harm done was unintentional or that they did not do something that they were accused of. Manipulator may put on a look of surprise or indignation. This tactic makes the victim question their own judgment and possibly their own sanity.
When people pretend to ask a question when they are actually making a statement, it is manipulative. For example, “I'm sure you agree?” This is not a trust-building question. It is a statement disguised as a question. Others who hear you say this will realize you have no interest in what they think.