Manipulators are dangerous and cunning. They live for the game, and the game is to do whatever they want as long as they can get away scot-free.
They will have their way and make you dance to their music. Sure, everyone thinks they can recognize when they’re being manipulated, but is that really true?
In this article, you will either test your knowledge or learn exactly what behaviors high-level manipulators display.
So, let’s get started!
1) Threatening negative consequences to get what they want
Skilled manipulators love emotional blackmail. They use threats to force you to comply.
But the matter is not limited to ordinary threats. Oh no. They capitalize on fear or guilt to create chilling personal threats.
how? By manipulating your actions and making you believe that dire consequences will follow if you resist.
Of course, they do not do this in a vacuum. By the time they make these treats, you know them well, and know what they are capable of.
2) Share information selectively
Manipulators strategically reveal positive details while hiding anything that challenges their story.
They make sure they have complete control over the information so they can shape your perception and get away with misconduct.
This usually means that they will stab you in the back as a colleague and not share (all) the information with you, and you will end up looking like an idiot or an incompetent worker.
When you think about it, it’s pretty easy to do, right? You are not sharing with someone a vital piece of the puzzle.
And if you get caught, you just say you forgot, or you’re acting stupid.
3) Acting very nice to manipulate you into liking them
High-level manipulators also use excessive charm, showering you with praise and affection. It is a tool that makes you comfortable and more likely to comply with their wishes.
They get under your skin, and then, when you feel more comfortable with them, they’ll make you do their bidding.
They are smart enough to know that when you view someone as kind and friendly, you are more likely to let your guard down and share information or respond to their requests.
You’re also less likely to question their motives or see how manipulative they are.
4) Pretend to be the person suffering to feel sorry for them
These bad people often portray themselves as victims to elicit sympathy and help from others.
They take advantage of our natural inclination to help others, even when it bothers us, by crying wolf.
By presenting themselves as helpless or needy, they want to make you feel sorry for them and, therefore, more likely to help or support them.
They want to arouse your sympathy, which makes it easier for them to influence your decisions or actions.
5) He made you feel guilty, even when you didn’t do anything wrong
Another thing manipulators like to do is make you feel guilty about things you may or may not have done.
Yes, manipulators skillfully use guilt as a powerful tool for emotional manipulation. Just like your mother did with you when you were a kid, and she didn’t want to eat dinner or anything like that.
But why on earth would they use guilt trips on anyone? Because they know they work like magic.
Here are a few examples:
“I think I’ll stay home alone tonight since you’re so busy with your friends. It’s okay, I’ll manage.”
“I always sacrifice for everyone, but I guess my needs don’t matter. That’s okay, I’ll figure it out myself.”
“If you loved me, you would do this for me. It’s disappointing, but I understand if you don’t care enough.
Oh, right? Just reading this makes me want to do whatever they want me to do. Alternatively, I run as fast as I can from them.
So, yes, recognizing this tactic is crucial to avoid letting their manipulation influence you.
6) Sending mixed signals to keep you out of balance
Imagine that your partner, colleague, or whomever responds quickly to your messages one day and completely ignores them the next.
Or they say one thing today and another thing tomorrow. This is very confusing, isn’t it?
This is what high-level manipulators like to do. They like to create confusion about their level of interest or engagement. They like to send mixed signals or contradict themselves.
All of this drains you emotionally, they maintain power and control over the relationship, and they make you dependent on them.
You begin to doubt yourself, and if you put up with that, you will reinforce their control.
7) Exploit your weaknesses to gain an advantage
High-level manipulators can easily identify your weaknesses and exploit them, using them against you when the time is right.
It’s a playbook for gaining trust and then manipulating it using your weaknesses.
So, for example, they exploit your concerns about relationships, work, or other aspects of your life to force you to comply.
Additionally, imagine if they knew about your past traumas or difficult experiences. They bring up these traumatic memories to gain emotional control and make you more vulnerable to their influence.
It’s a bad game they’re playing, and I, or you, or anyone else, are woefully ill-equipped to deal with it.
We simply don’t expect someone to be so despicable. This is for bad guys somewhere, not for the people close to them. Or so we think.
8) Messing with your head to make you doubt your thoughts and feelings
Mind manipulation. did you hear about it? I’m sure you have. I’ve been throwing up a lot lately. But what does that mean?
It simply means that someone is making you question your reality. Politicians often use this tactic, denying campaign promises once they gain power.
It is widely used by manipulators at all levels. They deny things they said or did, making you question your memory and perception of events. For example: “I never said that. You must be imagining things.”
If you confront them about their actions, they turn the tables and blame you, making you doubt whether you are responsible for the problem. “This is happening because of your behavior.”
9) He praises you excessively to gain your favor
Let’s imagine something again. Imagine how someone keeps telling you how smart, pretty, or handsome you are. I don’t know how you’re the best at pickleball, even though you can barely do it.
things like that. They honk your horn all the time.
High-level manipulators expertly over-compliment your abilities, appearance, or personality, creating a feeling of obligation to reciprocate in some way.
They use flattery as a tool to build connection and loyalty. Excessive compliments are intended to stroke your ego, making you more likely to comply with their wishes.
10) Blame them for their mistakes
Instead of taking responsibility, manipulators like to blame you. This way, they distract from their mistakes when you feel angry and now have to defend yourself.
With them, it’s always someone else’s fault, even when it’s clear they were the one who did it wrong.
So, even when you catch them red-handed, they will say they have no control over the situation, project their guilt onto you and others, say they are a victim of circumstances, and so on.
Often times, they will have an excuse ready to go because they never intended to do the thing they were supposed to do in the first place.
So, beware of those who always point fingers but never look in the mirror.
11) Trying to isolate you from friends and family to control you
Perhaps the most insidious and damaging thing that a high-level manipulator often does is isolate you from others.
Look, in a new relationship, we want to spend as much time as possible with our new partner, right?
So we neglect our friends and even our family members. The difference is that a regular partner will not tempt you to do this.
They won’t say anything about them, so you burn all your bridges and rely only on them for company, love, friendship, support, etc.
Isolating yourself from your loved ones makes you more dependent on the manipulator. Real relationships are essential for support, so be wary of anyone who tries to limit your connections.
12) Being ignored makes you feel anxious and insecure
Purposeful or intermittent silence is a strategy to control you and make you more compliant by creating anxiety in you. It leaves you in the dark, wondering what you did wrong and longing to fix it.
They will give you the silent treatment, deliberately ignoring your messages, calls or presence to make you feel isolated and unsure about their feelings.
In the end, ignoring is a control tactic. It positions the manipulator as the person in control of the dynamics of the relationship, allowing you to navigate their emotionally charged and unpredictable reactions.
finalthoughts
To protect yourself, be vigilant, trust your instincts, set boundaries, and seek support from friends or family. Educate yourself about manipulation techniques and take the time to make decisions.
