Methods of manipulation

First, let's remember what manipulation is. By manipulation is implied impact on a person or group of people to achieve a specific goal. Manipulation can be explicit and hidden, positive and negative (with positive manipulation, not only the person who manipulates the gain, but also the one who is manipulated) benefits.

There are various techniques and methods of manipulation, some of them we use consciously, some of them are not (for example, when an infant cries not becausehe is hungry, freezes or feels pain, but simply because he wants to attract the attention of his parents, this can be called unconscious manipulation). We examined some manipulation methods in an article on manipulating people, but there are many more.

Lie is the simplest method of manipulation. Here are just the shortcomings of his much more,than advantages: to say lies it is necessary to be able, and if your lie will be opened, to you any more will not believe. Remember the story about the boy who shouted "Wolves!"? That's the same. Other common and relatively simple methods of manipulation - blackmail, threats, intimidation, bribery. Despite their simplicity, they are quite effective.

Another simple way to manipulate - reiteration. When you repeat the same thing over and over again(perhaps in different words, but the essence of the message remains constant), sooner or later you will believe it. Thus stereotypes are introduced into the minds of people, thus parents "program" children for the future they want (parents, not children).

Temptation Is also a fairly common methodmanipulation. It is rumored that first it was tested by a certain Serpent on Adam and Eve. With this kind of manipulation, you've probably come across. You are offered something, and when you refuse, you begin to paint all the advantages of the offer. And sooner or later you can agree - if you are tempted by advantages (which the manipulator wanted to achieve), or you will simply get tired and want to be finally left behind.

A more subtle way of manipulation is guilt. It is for this purpose that parents punish children: the punished child feels shame, so in the future, most likely, he will not risk repeating the offense for which he was punished. However, a person does not necessarily have to be guilty: the manipulator is enough to make him feel guilty. The stronger the sense of guilt, the easier it is to manipulate a person.

Similarly, a person acts a pity. Imagine: you feel bad, you are sorry, you feel grateful to the person who has pity you. The manipulator can use this sense of gratitude to achieve the desired. Of course, this does not mean that every person who feels sorry for you is trying to manipulate you. But if you suddenly regretted a man who should not have anything to do with you, you should be alert.

Just like pity, they are used to manipulate people care and attention. Ideally, of course, attention and concern forthe relation to close people should be disinterested. However, in practice they are often used to achieve their own selfish goals. This is not always bad (because usually both are winners), the main thing is not to forget how to take care of people unselfishly, without any background.

Of course, this is far from all the existing methodsmanipulation. The list can be continued for a long time: flattery, influence on pride, sarcasm, intentional withdrawal of the person from himself (to force him to make a decision under the influence of emotions), silence, talk of teeth, contempt, discontent, resentment (quarrels, tears, etc.) , using stereotypes, appealing to authorities ... Every day we come across these types of manipulation and use them ourselves. And if you do not want to become a victim of manipulation, you need to know about these methods of manipulation and be able to recognize them.