User:Mpatel48/Manipulation (psychology)

The article primarily mentions a lot of negative stigmas to this act. I would like to include some positive reasons people may choose to manipulate people. I would like to expand on techniques used to manipulate individuals, and to see which ones are primarily used for different age groups.

Article Draft

Lead

Manipulation differs from general influence and persuasion. Influence is generally perceived to be harmless as it respects the right of the influenced to accept or reject it and it is not seen as unduly coercive to the individual's right of acceptance or rejection of influence. Persuasion is the ability to move others to a desired action, usually within the context of a specific goal. Persuasion often attempts to influence ones beliefs, religion, motivations, or behavior. Influence and persuasion are neither positive nor negative, unlike manipulation which is strictly negative. We are led to believe that manipulation is negative and this blinds us from the positives. Positive manipulation is a form of practice where an individual can turn any aspect that may not be going well into a positive experience, by self manifesting. Ultimately, one's goal is to not be manipulated but if the situation does arise, the individual is able to manifest for the best. Creating the best version of yourself allows you to grow, and help influence the behaviors of others as well. Individuals who behave in prosocial behavior manners can be manipulated to have positive mood reactions. Alongside showing encouragement during a time where an individual is feeling down can result in mood

Article body

Manipulation and mental illnesses

Individuals with the following mental health issues are often prone to be manipulative:

• Antisocial personality disorder,
• Borderline personality disorder,
• Conduct Disorder,
• Factitious disorder,
• Histrionic personality disorder,
• Narcissistic personality disorder.

Deceitfulness and exceptional manipulative abilities are the most common traits among antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. It is the major feature found in the dark triad personality traits, particularly Machiavellianism.

Antisocial personality disorder or sociopathy refers to individuals who will not realize the rights and wrongs of their action and the ability to neglect others (emotionally). People with this disorder may not feel that they are doing anything wrong and therefore manipulate others for their own pleasure. This mental disorder relies on features of deceitfulness and arrogance acts.

Borderline Personality Disorder is unique in the grouping as "borderline" manipulation is characterized as unintentional and dysfunctional manipulation. Marsha M. Linehan has stated that people with borderline personality disorder often exhibit behaviors which are not truly manipulative, but are erroneously interpreted as such. According to Linehan, these behaviors often appear as unthinking manifestations of intense pain, and are often not deliberate as to be considered truly manipulative. In the DSM-V, manipulation was removed as a defining characteristic of borderline personality disorder.

Conduct disorder is where behavioral and age appropriate actions are taken advantage of, primarily occurring in children and adolescents. Individuals with this are characterized as "lack of empathy, sense of guilt, and shallow emotion". These behaviors are shown in connection to manipulation by tying in narcissistic traits. Aggression and violence are two factors pursued by individuals with this disorder. In order for this disorder to be consistent and shown, the progression must be made for at least 12 months.

Factitious disorder is geared towards mentally ill individuals whom purposely forge symptoms, physically or psychologically. Fabricating illness's allows individuals to feel a thrill and receive free aid in hospital admissions and treatment. Feelings of persistence, abuse in early childhood, and excessive thoughts were common for these individuals who connected to Borderline Personality Disorder.

Histrionic personality disorder foresee individuals who seek scrutinizing behaviors, inappropriate alluring tactics, and irregular emotional patterns. Histrionic symptoms are geared to this disorder if "seeking reassurance, switching emotional, and feeling uncomfortable." Narcissists and Histrionic Personality Disorders overlap because decisions are sporadic and unreliable. These individuals can experience these symptoms from failed attempts of depression like symptoms.

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized as feelings of superiority, a sense of grandiosity, exhibitionism, charming but also exploitive behaviors in the interpersonal domain, success, beauty, feelings of entitlement and a lack of empathy. Narcissists employ two strategies to maintain their grandiose self: assertive self enhancement (self promotion) and antagonistic self protection (self defense). All of these factors can lead an individual with narcissistic personality disorder to manipulate others.

Psychopathy in the workplace[edit]

Main article: Psychopathy in the workplace

One example of manipulation is seen in the workplace psychopath, who may rapidly shift between emotions to manipulate people or to cause high anxiety. One approach to management in general identifies a very fine, almost non-existent dividing line between management and manipulation.

Robert D. Hare[edit]

See also: Robert D. Hare

Being manipulative appears in Factor 1 of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL).

Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work describe a five-phase model of how a typical workplace psychopath climbs to and maintains power. In phase three (manipulation) the psychopath will create a scenario of "psychopathic fiction" where positive information about themselves and negative disinformation about others will be created, where one's role as a part of a network of pawns or patrons will be utilized and one will be groomed into accepting the psychopath's agenda.

*** i would like to remove this section entirely, it does not flow and it does not give additional information that relates to other information provided in the article.***

George K. Simon[edit]

According to psychology author George K. Simon, successful psychological manipulation primarily involves the manipulator:

• Concealing aggressive intentions and behaviors and being affable.
• Knowing the psychological vulnerabilities of the victim to determine which tactics are likely to be the most effective.
• Having a sufficient level of ruthlessness to have no qualms about causing harm to the victim if necessary.

Techniques of manipulators may include:

Techniques	Description
Lying (by commission)	It is hard to tell if somebody is lying at the time they do it, although often the truth may be apparent later when it is too late. One way to minimize the chances of being lied to is to understand that some personality types (particularly psychopaths) are experts at lying and cheating, doing it frequently, and often in subtle ways.
Lying by omission:	This is a subtle form of lying by withholding a significant amount of the truth. This technique is also used in propaganda.
Denial:	Manipulator refuses to admit that they have done something wrong.
Rationalization:	An excuse made by the manipulator for inappropriate behavior. Rationalization is closely related to spin.
Minimization:	This is a type of denial coupled with rationalization. The manipulator asserts that their behavior is not as harmful or irresponsible as someone else was suggesting.
Selective inattention or selective attention:	Manipulator refuses to pay attention to anything that may distract from their agenda.
Diversion:	Manipulator not giving a straight answer to a straight question and instead being diversionary, steering the conversation onto another topic.
Evasion:	Similar to diversion but giving irrelevant, rambling, or vague responses
Covert intimidation:	Manipulator putting the victim onto the defensive by using veiled (subtle, indirect or implied) threats.
Guilt trip:	A special kind of intimidation tactic. A manipulator suggests to the conscientious victim that they do not care enough, are too selfish or have it too easy. This can result in the victim feeling bad, keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious and submissive position.
Shaming:	Manipulator uses sarcasm and put-downs to increase fear and self-doubt in the victim. Manipulators use this tactic to make others feel unworthy and therefore defer to them. Manipulators can make one feel ashamed for even daring to challenge them. It is an effective way to foster a sense of inadequacy in the victim.
Vilifying the victim:	This tactic is a powerful means of putting the victim on the defensive while simultaneously masking the aggressive intent of the manipulator, while the manipulator falsely accuses the victim as being an abuser in response when the victim stands up for or defends themselves or their position.
Playing the victim role:	Manipulator portrays themself as a victim of circumstance or of someone else's behavior in order to gain pity, sympathy or evoke compassion and thereby get something from another. Caring and conscientious people often cannot stand to see anyone suffering and the manipulator often finds it easy to play on sympathy to get cooperation.
Playing the servant role:	Cloaking a self-serving agenda in the guise of a service to a more noble cause.
Seduction	Manipulator uses charm, praise, flattery or overtly supporting others in order to get them to lower their defenses and give their trust and loyalty to the manipulator. They will also offer help with the intent to gain trust and access to an unsuspecting victim they have charmed.
Projecting the blame (blaming others):	Manipulating scapegoats in often subtle, hard-to-detect ways. Often, the manipulator will project their own thinking onto the victim, making the victim look like they have done something wrong. Manipulators will also claim that the victim is the one who is at fault for believing lies that they were conned into believing, as if the victim forced the manipulator to be deceitful. All blame, except for the part that is used by the manipulator to accept false guilt, is done in order to make the victim feel guilty about making healthy choices, correct thinking and good behaviors. It is frequently used as a means of psychological and emotional manipulation and control. Manipulators lie about lying, only to re-manipulate the original, less believable story into a "more acceptable" truth that the victim will believe. Projecting lies as being the truth is another common method of control and manipulation. Manipulators may falsely accuse the victim of "deserving to be treated that way". They often claim that the victim is crazy or abusive, especially when there is evidence against the manipulator.
Feigning innocence:	Manipulator tries to suggest that any harm done was unintentional or that they did not do something that they were accused of. Manipulator may put on a look of surprise or indignation. This tactic makes the victim question their own judgment and possibly their own sanity.
Feigning confusion:	Manipulator tries to play dumb by pretending they do not know what the victim is talking about or is confused about an important issue brought to their attention. The manipulator intentionally confuses the victim in order for the victim to doubt their own accuracy of perception, often pointing out key elements that the manipulator intentionally included in case there is room for doubt. Sometimes manipulators will have used cohorts in advance to help back up their story.
Brandishing anger:	Manipulator uses anger to brandish sufficient emotional intensity and rage to shock the victim into submission. The manipulator is not actually angry, they just put on an act. They just want what they want and get "angry" when denied. Controlled anger is often used as a manipulation tactic to avoid confrontation, avoid telling the truth or to further hide intent. There are often threats used by the manipulator of going to the police, or falsely reporting abuses that the manipulator intentionally contrived to scare or intimidate the victim into submission. Blackmail and other threats of exposure are other forms of controlled anger and manipulation, especially when the victim refuses initial requests or suggestions by the manipulator. Anger is also used as a defense so the manipulator can avoid telling truths at inconvenient times or circumstances. Anger is often used as a tool or defense to ward off inquiries or suspicion. The victim becomes more focused on the anger instead of the manipulation tactic.
Bandwagon effect:	Manipulator comforts the victim into submission by claiming (whether true or false) that many people already have done something, and the victim should as well. Such manipulation can be seen in peer pressure situations, often occurring in scenarios where the manipulator attempts to influence the victim into trying drugs or other substances.

According to Simon, manipulators generally take the time to scope out the characteristics and vulnerabilities of their victims. Manipulators exploit the following vulnerabilities that may exist in victims:

• Naïveté – victim finds it too hard to accept the idea that some people are cunning, devious and ruthless or is "in denial" if they are being victimized.
• Over-conscientiousness – victim is too willing to give manipulator the benefit of the doubt and see their side of things in which they blame the victim.
• Low self-confidence – victim is self-doubting, lacking in confidence and assertiveness, likely to go on the defensive too easily.
• Over-intellectualization – victim tries too hard to understand and believes the manipulator has some understandable reason to be hurtful.
• Emotional dependency – victim has a submissive or dependent personality. The more emotionally dependent the victim is, the more vulnerable they are to being exploited and manipulated.

*** THIS SECTION IS REPEATED ONLY A FEW WORD CHANGES, I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE***

References

Adcock, S. J., Nelson-Gray, R. O., & Richter, S. (2021). A prosocial manipulation produces increases in positive affect and prosocial behavior, including those high in borderline traits. Personality and Individual Differences, 181, 111019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111019

Carnahan KT, Jha A. Factitious Disorder. [Updated 2022 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557547/

Martini, D., & Martini, D. (2019, July 8). Managing negative thoughts through positive manipulation. Divorce Magazine. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.divorcemag.com/articles/managing-negative-thoughts-through-positive-manipulation

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019, December 10). Antisocial personality disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353928

Pisano, S., Muratori, P., Gorga, C., Levantini, V., Iuliano, R., Catone, G., Coppola, G., Milone, A., & Masi, G. (2017). Conduct disorders and psychopathy in children and adolescents: aetiology, clinical presentation and treatment strategies of callous-unemotional traits. Italian journal of pediatrics, 43(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-017-0404-6

Peer Review Suggestions Additions:

Kayoff: I have decided not to change the wording in my lead section. I feel as if it is easy to follow along. I did like the suggestions you included, so I will try to incorporate that when I add more information to the article.

Gsch23: I will take note of the two sections you mentioned to look at. I think I might remove the psychopathy in the workplace section because it doesn't seem to flow with the rest of the article. I can try to find more assessment tools.

Zafomby: Did not leave me a peer review.

Sriveria6: I did not realize that some of the sources used in the article are out of date. I will try to double check those and add or remove them. The table was a good way to split that section up, but I dont think it would work for other sections. Or I could possibly take all the paragraph bullet points and make it a table instead?

Tolber2K: I agree about removing the psychopathy in the workplace section, because there is already another article addressing this.

Psychcap: Thank you for providing positive reinforcement. I will try to organize the article better to make it more appealing.