Usually, when we encounter interpersonal relationships, the power or dominance of one individual over the other can be evidenced to ensure that their behavior and/or thought adapts to a particular interest. In this article we will provide you the Characteristics of Manipulative people.
The power that one person exercises over another is a characteristic of manipulative people, for this reason, we will detail the profile of this type of individuals.
What are the characteristics of a manipulative person?
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Narcissism
Narcissism is exaggerated love for oneself to the point of believing that they are superior to others. In the case of manipulative people, his life is full of emotions where his narrations are framed in pointing out that he is a hero.
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Superiority
Manipulative people can’t stand someone standing out, unless it’s them. Therefore, they will do their best to always be the center of attention. If necessary, they will make the other person feel bad in order to continue to stand out in a social environment.
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Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is the tendency of the personality to treat other people as things or instruments. Their main objective is to achieve their goals regardless of the damage they may cause to another person.
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Envy
People with manipulative behavior do not like achievement and goals achieved by their friends, family or peers, as they need to be superior.
How to identify manipulative behavior?
When identifying the manipulative behavior of a person, the following aspects should be kept in mind:
1. Project selfishness
Manipulative behavior seeks to negatively influence another person, causing the other person to waver in their own judgment and feel that they are unable to stand by their point of view.
This way of influencing the other is known as gaslighting, although it is difficult to identify it at first sight, a common way of witnessing it is by making people believe that they have expressed undue criticism of someone without being true.
2. Use blame strategically.
Commonly one way to manipulate others is to make the other feel guilty and responsible for an event or consequence.
It is likely that the manipulated person has reasons to feel uncomfortable when remembering facts or actions that they carried out previously. Although, because the manipulator will talk about the past to subdue and get what satisfies her interest to be done.
3. Request a false consensus
A trait of manipulative behavior is pretending that we will do what is requested, because presumably most do, forcing the manipulated person to behave that way.
4. Decipher silences at will
Manipulators seek to create an environment in which ambiguous facts are interpreted in their favor.
5. Presence of insincerity
Another manipulative behavior is telling half-truths to arouse the other person’s interest in things they didn’t like before.
6. Use references in an interested way
Frequently the manipulator magnifies the attributes of another person to whom the other should resemble, regardless of the damage that could be caused physically or emotionally.
What to do with manipulative people?
As we have explained, living with a manipulative person can be difficult and toxic; however, the discomfort they produce will depend on how we deal with the individual.
If you are in the presence of a manipulative individual, you can proceed in two ways; recognize and try to counteract the damage, or break the relationship altogether. Regardless, the chosen answer must keep in mind the environment of what is really happening.
In conclusion, if you are living with a manipulative person, it is important to recognize the situation to establish limits that avoid causing irreparable damage.
