Some people can emotionally manipulate their peers to gain an advantage or influence social situations. To prevent getting entangled in their problems, you should avoid engaging with them since they will likely employ dishonest or exploitative tactics. Keep in mind that we are all capable of some degree of manipulation. But if we see that it’s becoming a regular occurrence, we need to be cautious and watchful, so we don’t get wounded and stop fostering this kind of environment.
As a public service, CuriousMob.com has compiled a list of some of the most prevalent emotional manipulation tactics so that you may recognize them if they are being used against you.
10. They don’t want to do something even if they say they do, avoiding direct confrontation.
People with manipulative personalities are usually pessimistic and angry. They hide their anger by putting things off, being stubborn, and being inefficient, so it’s not unusual for them to act this way. Imagine that someone at work says “no” to a request, but instead of just saying “no,” they do it in a way that doesn’t make it clear that they said “no.” Most of the time, they’ll also try to avoid dealing with the results of their choice. This could be a type of behavior called “passive-aggressive.”
When dealing with this kind of problem, it’s best to show the person who is being passive-aggressive that they are to blame for their actions. That way, they won’t blame you if that’s the case. At the same time, this will help you put your own needs first and keep you from falling into their trap, which is meant to make you take the blame. Any way you look at it, you should never play games with manipulative people. Never face the situation when you are angry. Instead, you should first think about your health and happiness.