Manipulation techniques are a common tool used by psychopaths, psychopaths, narcissists, and other types of predators to exert control over their victims.
We all use manipulation at some point in our lives, whether it’s telling a little white lie to get out of a situation, or using flattery to get what we want. However, for some people, using manipulation is a way of life, and their number one weapon in their arsenal of techniques to manipulate their victims.
Who is at risk from a predator?
Predators use a range of manipulation techniques to gain control over their victims, but they often target specific personality types. This is because they want to be able to easily manipulate someone, and a certain weakness in a person makes them vulnerable to manipulation. You’re more likely to become a victim of a predator if you have low self-esteem, are gullible, easy to please, lack a strong personality, and lack confidence in yourself.
Here are 20 of the most common manipulation techniques:
- Lying
Predators constantly lie about almost everything in their lives. They do this to mislead and confuse their victim. Lying is one of the manipulation techniques that psychopaths often use because they don’t hesitate to do so.
- Not Telling the Whole Story
This is different from lying, as predators often keep a key part of the story to themselves in order to put their victim at a disadvantage.
- Frequent Mood Swings
Not knowing what mood your partner will be in when you get home, whether they are happy or angry, is a very useful tool for a predator. It makes their victim unbalanced and more susceptible to change.
- Love Bombing and Devaluation
Love Bombing is often used by narcissists as a manipulation tactic. They will charm you into believing that this is the best relationship ever, and then they will dump you like a ton of bricks without explanation.
- Punishment
This can include anything from constant nagging, yelling, the silent treatment, physical violence, and mental abuse.
- Denial
Often the simplest way a predator manipulates someone is to deny the thing they are accused of happening.
- Twisting the Truth
How many times have politicians twisted the facts to suit themselves? Often times this twisting of the truth is used to hide bad behavior by predators such as psychopaths.
- Minimization
Where the predator tries to downplay their actions as insignificant or harmful and blames the victim for their overreaction.
- Playing the Victim
The manipulator will play the victim in order to gain sympathy and compassion from those around them. As humans, we are naturally drawn to helping people when they are suffering.
- Targeting the Victim
When the manipulator accuses the victim of doing something wrong, they make the victim defend themselves while the predator is able to hide their manipulation techniques. The focus is on the victim, not the accused.
- Positive Reinforcement
This includes buying them expensive gifts, complimenting them, giving them money, constantly apologizing for their behavior, being overly charming, and giving them a lot of attention.
- Moving the Goalposts
You may think you know where you stand with someone, but if they are constantly moving the goalposts in order to confuse you, you are probably dealing with a predator.
- Diversion
Directing the conversation away from the perpetrator’s actions and moving the conversation to a different topic is a typical way predators manipulate their victims.
- Mocking
A predator will often ridicule their victim in front of others. They do this to lower the victim’s self-esteem and to show others how powerful they are.
- Guilt
The manipulator often feels guilty when he says that he doesn’t care about them, that he is selfish, or that his life is easy. All of this helps to keep the manipulator confused and anxious.
- Flattery
Using charm, praise, or flattery on the victim is one way to gain the trust of the manipulator. The victim is naturally happy to receive such compliments, but in doing so, he lowers his guard.
- Playing innocent
A true manipulator pretends to be extremely shocked and confused when accused of any wrongdoing. His surprise is so convincing that the victim may question his judgment.
- Exaggerated aggression
Manipulators often use anger and aggression to shock their victim into submission. Anger is also a tool to shut down any further conversation on the subject as the victim feels scared but is now focused on controlling the anger rather than the original subject.
- Isolation
It is much easier to keep a person under control if they are isolated from family members and friends who can shed some light and truth on the situation.
- Pretending to Love and Empathy
Predators such as psychopaths and psychopaths do not know how to love anyone other than themselves, and they cannot feel empathy, but they can pretend to do so in order to lure others into their lives.
If you watch out for the above manipulation techniques, you can keep yourself out of a predator’s clutches.
