How to mentally & emotionally manipulate people

I have always been fascinated with psychology and its great experiments and discoveries. In fact, at some point in my life, I was determined to study it and become a psychologist myself. However, winds blow counter to what ships desire and I ended up studying business instead. Let me be very clear here, psychology was more to me than learning how to manipulate people. My motivations were clear and my intentions were pure: I wanted to make the world a better place!

This brings me to my next point, this post might teach you how to get people to do what you want. Nevertheless, this is not why I am writing it. I am writing it to help you spot manipulation in your day-to-day life and help keep you safe from heartache and disappointment.

So how can you protect yourself from manipulative people? What signs do you need to look out for? Read more here to find out.

How to manipulate people 101:

• Use emotional manipulation

One of the easiest ways to manipulate others is by playing on their emotions. Letting people think too hard and too long about something will increase their chances of making logical decisions. So guide them into feeling a certain way, one which benefits you, and you’ll probably get what you want more easily. Actually, many brands use this technique to increase sales especially during the holidays.

• Control your emotions

Using Emotional Manipulation is just the tip of the iceberg. Now it’s time to master your own emotions and use them to incite feelings such as empathy, fear or even love. This means you have to learn when to lose your head in a fit of rage and when to shed a few crocodile tears to help you achieve your goals. (I know this sounds terrible but I have seen many people do it and do it well!)

See Also: Huge Mistakes That Destroy Family Relationships

• Be a charmer

Although crying and throwing tantrums can help you get what you want, they can only get you so far. You need people to like you and to do that, you need to charm them. The more charming you are, the more you can manipulate people around you. Furthermore, you need to use flirting every now and then to weaken your target and make him/her put their defenses down. Sadly, this works best with lonely people and those who have a low self-esteem.

• Overcome doubt & trust issues

Remember this, it is always harder to manipulate people who have been manipulated before. This is why you need to watch out for signs of doubt and trust issues. When you find someone who has issues with trust, share with them something personal about you to get them to put their guard down. The more relevant it is to them the better. Moreover, having a positive demeanor will easily convince others to do what you want.

See Also: How to Handle Passive Aggressive People at the Workplace

• Act altruistic

A good way to conceal your ‘evil side‘ is by appearing to be good. Regardless of the negative action you need to take, make sure that your intentions seem good and sincere. This includes criticizing, blaming or even yelling. It is easier for people around you to absorb negative actions from you if you wrap them up in altruism.

• Don’t get caught in the act

It is always fun and games until you get caught in the act! But what should you do then? Firstly, you need to avoid exhibiting manipulative behavior as a response. Secondly, you need to stay calm and do not get defensive. Instead, allow the other person to be in control of the situation to help diffuse their anger. Finally, aim to create doubt in the mind of your target. So be smart, careful and prepared.

Have you even been manipulated in the past? How did it make you feel and what did you do about it? Don’t hesitate to share with us your experience and feedback in the comment section below. 

The post How to Manipulate People in Your Life appeared first on The Global Now.