what is the difference between 'motivation' and 'manipulation'?

Question

does it just depend which side you're on... or whether you want it to happen?

Answer 1

If your motivation is bad (just selfish, just greedy, etc.) then it is likely it will have harmful consequences. It will also drive you to manipulate others in order to achieve your goal.

If your motivation is good overall - though it may take pages and pages to resolve a definition of "good" - then it is likely that you will be an inspiration for others who need to be motivated or who enjoy and even admire your motivation. They want to join you voluntarily. Under these circumstances you can motivate them and vice versa in the same direction because you believe in a good outcome. Under these circumstances it is not really necessary to be manipulative.

Manipulation should never become a prime modus operandi. First and foremost it undermines the self-respect, self-confidence and 'motivation' of the one who is being manipulated. It is very condescending to manipulate another - except in dire emergencies, short-term. People may tolerate it for awhile, but finally it will reach a point where they will have to break free from it. At some point also the manipulator will lose all support. So in the end, manipulating others also undermines the manipulator.

Everything depends upon the quality of one's motivation. That will determine how one goes about achieving it. Through experience, I feel little has been gained if your motivation has not benefited others. Good motivation inspires others and gives them motivation and incentive. Again from experience, there is nothing more satisfying than a group of people who are inspired and motivated to work together for a common goal. There is no need of manipulation in this case. Rather there is a tendency to try and avoid manipulation and to be sure that there is mutual consent and agreement. Misunderstanding and dishonesty easily breed manipulation. But if your motivation is positive you will want to clear up misunderstanding, deception, dishonesty, mistakes before mistrust leads to mutual manipulation.

A person who wants to manipulate clearly feels superior to another. Also a manipulator does not want another to manipulate them. So if both parties are going to practice manipulation they are going to be locked in an unresolvable power struggle.

To avoid manipulating others your motivation has to be beneficent, if possible. Then you have to be vigilant. Manipulation is a short-cut that is usually a sign of weakness and deficiency. I hate being manipulated because I know the goal will not be reached with aplomb. But that's my experience. On the other hand, I admire and love people who motivate me especially when I've gone off course.

Answer 2

Motivation Vs Manipulation

Answer 3

Motivation and manipulation have the same goal - convince someone to do something that they otherwise would not have done (or at least not without alot of hesitation). BUT motivation is often seen as the positive way. Whereas manipulation is often reference to something negative. You motivate someone to do something for themselves - like accepting an awesome job opportunity. You (typically) manipulate someone into doing something that benefits yourself (regardless of its affects on the other person) - like manipulating an employer into offering you an awesome job when you know you are not qualified.

Motivation = good
Manipulation = bad

BUT I don't think this is always the case, there are some GOOD forms of manipulation. For instance, when a little innocent manipulation is needed in the motivation process. Sometimes you know that what you are motivating someone to do is the right thing. But the only way of convincing them is to sneak a little manipulation in. Once they see the light, the manipulation has proven to be a positive tool!

Answer 4

The 2 words "motivation" and "Manipulation" are 2 different concepts, deeds. Motivation is a deed that comes from within you.
ex: After reading a FIX-IT book, he was inspired to fix the roof. or He was motivated to fix the roof.
Manipulation is when you get some one else to do something by using unassuming words or deeds.
ex.While talking to a close friend, Harry said, "I was going to fix the leaking roof but I don't know how, and I'm so tierd, afraid of heights too. Now it will rain all over my house tonight because I couldn't fix the hole in the roof." Is friend will feel badly and offer to fix the roof. See what I mean?
good luck

Answer 5

Motivation.
It's encouraging people to achieve something , to reach an objective/goal which will benefit to the same person or persons ( for example team building in a Company.)
It is a positive action in all aspects.
Manipulation.
Manipulators are usually intelligent people with an inner sense of "reading" in the mind of people .They can "see" what are the needs of these people , influence them to do something , that will fulfil those needs and at the end the benefits of these actions will be to the profit of the manipulator.
They are ,most of the time , very dangerous to society.They are people with an Hidden Agenda.

Answer 6

Motivation is encouraging people, while Manipulation is using people for one's hidden motive.

Answer 7

Uh, they're completely different concepts. Motivation is what drives a person to pursue a goal. Manipulation is when an individual uses tricks and persuasion to convince someone else to do something, usually something that will benefit the tricky person.

Answer 8

Motivation and manipulation in the sense that the motivator/manipulator is trying to get you to do something are about the same thing. The difference is in context: motivation generally has a positive connotation, as in "the coach motivated his players with a rousing speech." Manipulation generally has a negative or sinister context, "the spoiled child manipulated his grandparents into buying him $500 worth of toys at FAO Schwartz."

Answer 9

Motivation Is something you do for yourself
Manipulation Is something others talk you into doing don't follow this one.

Answer 10

It's simple...
Motivation is when you support someone to get something with no particular interests on it.

Manipulation, on the other hand, is almost the same, but with all the interest to get something for you.

Greetings and thank you for asking!!