If someone is “exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage,” then he is being manipulative. In simpler words manipulation is a behavior a person may use in order to get their way without caring for other person’s desire or respecting his emotions.
Manipulators survive by the virtue of emotional arguments. Emotional arguments, unlike logical arguments, are not based on logic or objective criteria; rather they are based on feelings and emotions. Manipulators mostly lack a solid or identifiable evidence to support them, therefore, they use emotional arguments to justify themselves in order to persuade you for something. If ever they’re confronted on logical basis, their logic will always be flawed. This is one common way to unveil a manipulator.
Manipulation is one of the next most lethal emotional and mental poisons, because, most of the manipulators are those who we trust and are very close to. Often in a relationship, manipulator is the one who claims and promises to protect and be fair. Manipulation is often based on fear, so manipulators try to intimidate other person by manipulating him.
No matter what problems you have in your life, a manipulator’s problems are always worse than you. It’s a pretty common maneuver for manipulation. A manipulator will always shift your focus to their supposed problems. They will always display the feelings of being deeply hurt if you confront them about this. They might also call you selfish.
Mostly manipulators will say something, which might hurt you, but later disavow. They will put all the effort to assure you they never said that. As they might never accept what they did, they have a greater tendency to put the blame on others. They will go out of their way to blame everything on someone else, irrespective of the magnitude of matter.
A manipulative person is also a fake flatterer. Such a person will shower you with excessive compliments, which are often undeserved, and a request for favour will follow up the shower of compliments. Manipulative people will often try to make you feel good, so that you can later do them the favour they want. Sometimes, if you tell them a no for their request you will see a negative reaction from them. They might also try to intimidate you, become angry, force you to submit out of fear or try to make you feel guilty.
Using guilt to get your way is a true sign of manipulation. A healthy relationship should be free to any frequent guilt trips. They might make you feel guilty for refusing their request or just about anything that doesn’t go their way. They might also try to use manipulation guised under guilt, as a way to get you back, if you were contemplating to leave for good.
Keywords: Manipulation, manipulator, guilt, emotions, fear.
