Signs of Manipulative Behavior

Signs of Manipulative Behavior Emotional Manipulation and Tactics By Geralyn Dexter, PhD, LMHC

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. Emotional manipulation influences the dynamics of a relationship and affects males as well as females.1 A manipulative person often engages in harmful behaviors over time, creating an imbalance of power. The behaviors can damage your self-confidence and sense of identity, leaving you confused, isolated, or even depressed. This article discusses emotional manipulation, as well as the signs and causes of manipulative behavior. It offers insights on how to recognize manipulators and protect against manipulation.

What Is Manipulative Behavior? Manipulative behavior includes actions a person uses to gain influence or control over someone else. They can be a form of psychological aggression, with behaviors often associated with intimate partner violence.2 These behaviors can include: - Lying - Denying - Passive-aggressive behavior - Gaslighting (a manipulative - relational style named after a 1939 film) - Silence (the silent treatment) - Criticizing (sometimes a form of verbal abuse) - Withholding - Blaming - Getting a person outside of their comfort zone to give themselves an advantage

People who manipulate others may have difficulty identifying and expressing their wants and needs appropriately and healthily. Manipulative behavior can also serve other purposes. For instance, control and manipulation can help the manipulator by: - Causing doubt and confusion - Helping them avoid conflict - Concealing their true intentions - Blame-shifting (avoiding responsibility for their behavior)3 - Not having to change their behavior

Search Ad MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER SYMPTOMS Signs of Manipulative Behavior Emotional Manipulation and Tactics By Geralyn Dexter, PhD, LMHC Updated on June 15, 2023 Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Table of Contents VIEW ALL Table of Contents Definition Tactics Signs Causes How to Stop It 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. Emotional manipulation influences the dynamics of a relationship and affects males as well as females.1 A manipulative person often engages in harmful behaviors over time, creating an imbalance of power. The behaviors can damage your self-confidence and sense of identity, leaving you confused, isolated, or even depressed. This article discusses emotional manipulation, as well as the signs and causes of manipulative behavior. It offers insights on how to recognize manipulators and protect against manipulation. Couple sitting on a couch fighting PixelsEffect / Getty Images What Is Manipulative Behavior? Manipulative behavior includes actions a person uses to gain influence or control over someone else. They can be a form of psychological aggression, with behaviors often associated with intimate partner violence.2 These behaviors can include: Lying Denying Passive-aggressive behavior Gaslighting (a manipulative relational style named after a 1939 film) Silence (the silent treatment) Criticizing (sometimes a form of verbal abuse) Withholding Blaming Getting a person outside of their comfort zone to give themselves an advantage People who manipulate others may have difficulty identifying and expressing their wants and needs appropriately and healthily. Identifying and Coping With a Passive-Aggressive Narcissist Manipulative behavior can also serve other purposes. For instance, control and manipulation can help the manipulator by: Causing doubt and confusion Helping them avoid conflict Concealing their true intentions Blame-shifting (avoiding responsibility for their behavior)3 Not having to change their behavior What Makes Covert Narcissist Traits Different? Emotional Manipulation Emotional manipulation can feel like a person is playing mind games, because it can cause: - A person to question what is happening in their relationship and environment - Fear and doubt - Degrading trust in self and others This helps the manipulator gain power over another individual and undermine their ability to think rationally. It's important to recognize that emotional manipulation is abusive.4 How Common Is Manipulation? Emotional manipulation and related tactics can be used in any type of relationship, but data on intimate relationships provides some insight. One study revealed that 40% of women and 32% of men report expressive aggression in relationships, while 41% of women and 43% of men experience coercive control.5