To be better about recognizing manipulative people notice these 8 signs.

To be better about recognizing manipulative people notice these 8 signs.

In 2018 I decided to capitalize on the benefits of social media to share my personal story of success, health and greater life satisfaction.

In the past I wanted nothing to do with social media. I kept my personal life private and enjoyed my anonymity.

However, the power of social media is too compelling to ignore it's positive advantages. If utilized properly and responsibly, social media is a wonderful tool that can help companies and individuals promote their businesses.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people that pray on the vulnerabilities of individuals desperately seeking solutions to unlock the mysteries of personal and professional success.

Their motive. Exploitation, manipulation and greed.

Desperation is a quality that's easy to recognize for seasoned manipulators, and they know how to feast on peoples insecurities.

Manipulators feed on weakness and it’s no different in personal relationships.

Anyone that has been a victim of manipulative behavior can attest to the damage these deviant individuals cause.

What can we do to defend against disingenuous and dangerous personality types?

“Manipulation is moving someone's settings away from the ideal in ways that are typically not in their self-interest, or likely not in their self-interest in the present context”.    Robert Noggle

To be better about recognizing manipulative people notice these 8 signs:

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Shame and guilt

Manipulators target your vulnerabilities and pray on our weakness. They listen carefully to identify any shortcomings they can use to exploit our sensitivities. Coercion is the objective. Be aware of shame and guilt, it’s a huge red flag.

Victim mentality

Manipulators love to lament about their personal challenges. It’s always someone else’s fault because they can’t “get ahead”. I recently overhead a conversation dedicated to aspiring entrepreneurs. Everyone complaining about how investors aren’t being fair based on some “perceived inequity”.  Based on what I heard, they had horrible business ideas and terrible attitudes. I wouldn't invest a dime in their fantasies either.  

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Comparisons

When someone makes comparisons, ridicules or dismisses your accomplishments they are trying to knock you off balance. Their goal. Make you feel inadequate and inspire feelings of insecurity.  When we don’t feel good enough it's easy to be convinced we should do something that isn’t in our best interest.   

Lies

People that constantly make excuses and twist the truth are skilled manipulators. They withhold the facts or fabricate. It's their instrument of manipulation designed to leave individuals believing they did something wrong. Beware of liars. It’s a massive red flag.

“The best way to manipulate a person is to make him think he is manipulating you”.     John Smith

Denial

Manipulators aren't willing to accept responsibility for their behavior. They live in denial and often use silence to avoid having difficult conversations. By making you wait, manipulators create the impression you're to blame and they use silence to force you to break down first. Beware.

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Ignorant

When people play dumb, watch out. By pretending they don’t understand what you want or expect them to do, they are playing passive aggressive games to avoid personal culpability. Ignorance is a distraction manipulator use to conceal commitment and personal responsibility.     

Blame

Manipulators love to exaggerate and generalize. They often make specious claims and unsubstantiated arguments. Vague accusations are a way to assess blame on someone or something. By blaming you or the “alleged obstacle”, manipulators gain power by establishing intellectual superiority. 

Head games

We have all experienced the mental frustration of dealing with a manipulative person. They use gaslighting to confuse people and create uncertainty. Constant judgement and passive aggressive behavior produce feelings of insecurity that can easily be exploited. Making you feel you will “miss out” on a once in a lifetime investment opportunity is a perfect example.

“One of the methods of manipulation is to inoculate individuals with the bourgeois appetite for personal success”.     Paulo Freire

Sum it up.

Have you ever been the victim of a manipulative person? Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn. Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!

Thanks for sharing keypoints

Jurgita Gerulskyte

Kindness and Empathy Advocate, Mental Health Advisor, Life Coach, TESOL Teacher, HR, Author of the books: “From Darkness to Light”, “A Love Tale of the Moon and the Wolf”, “The Rose in the Rain” and “Kindness Heals”

1 年

Great points, Steve Wohlenhaus! And very true? Mind games, gaslighting, fake promises, unwillingness to follow the words with the actions are all the signs of those who have only their own best interests at heart. For me it took a painful life lesson to learn it. However, I took it as an opportunity to explore the depths of human psychology. Thank you for sharing ???

Bettina Koster

Mental Fitness Coach & Transformational Healer (Certified ++) | Empowering Corporate Leaders to Align Inner Strength with Purpose, Balancing Mind, Body & Soul for Fulfillment and Success | DM 'Thrive' to Learn More

1 年

I love this, Steve! Great article.

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