Can you tell when people are trying to manipulate you :) ?

Question

How?

Thank you for your answers! :)

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

(((( You all )))) :)

Answer 1

Yes.

I take very close account of detail and certain aspects of every situation. I determine for myself what is true and accurate, and what is not, because in every situation, it seems there's a bit of each: A little fact, as well as a little propaganda.

Therefore, I always feel as if I'm being slightly, though often unsuccessfully, manipuled. However, I believe that in some cases, those that are trying to manipulate me, have been manipulated, themselves. I don't often hold it against them; if you tell a child that 3 + 9 = 15, and they tell their friends, "Mommy told me 3 + 9 = 15, and one of their friends loses a point on a math test because of it, do you blame the child? No. That child was given the wrong facts by someone he or she trusted, and therefore believes them to be real.

However, I must admit, I often manipulate people to get what I want, to get someone close to me what they want, or just to learn the truth about certain things. Am I proud of it? Sometimes, but not usually. Do I regret it? No. Will I stop? Never.

I guess that's the full circle of it: At some point or another, we all manipulate; we all spew out lies and untruths, but what goes around comes around; eventually, someone does the same to us.

Answer 2

This happens at work quite often. Sometimes it's like a mental chess match with co-workers, seeing who can pretend to do more than the other. Some want to manipulate others, simply because they don't have the drive to expend any more energy then they have to. The workers who have to tell everyone what they did are justifying their calculating actions. This is obvious. And yes, I'm always aware.

Other co-workers pitch right in and don't play these games. I don't keep track of who does what with these people. It's total teamwork and the way I'd prefer to work, and it even makes the workday enjoyable.

You have to go by a person's track record also. A team player can have an off day or be sick, and their poor performance wouldn't be manipulative then. I'll gladly carry their weight when this happens. If a habitual manipulator has a bad day, I'll be less likely to sympathize. All in all, it comes down to each individual as you see them.

Hope you are doing good Moon. You have a great weekend also. :)

Answer 3

It really needs some serious reasoning when someone is trying to manipulate you but its not that hard to make out though. One must remember, there is always some kind of ulterior motive (Bad Intention) and false pretence hidden in every manipulative action of a person. Usually, manipulators are great actors and they can pretend to be very polite with their words so much so that any naive person could easily be lured and trapped within a second. They could even pretend to be as close as your own sister and walk with you and eat with you but you really gotta reason out her such interest in you before anything goes wrong. It could also be your own friend too, who could somehow use you directly or indirectly without your knowledge for her own selfishness. For instance, she might even ask you to call her parents and lie about her sleep-over at your place in order to spend a night with her boy friend somewhere. But what if her parents come to know about this? You gonna be in trouble. So stay away! they're dangerous.

Answer 4

Usually you can tell by coming up with hypotheses as to why they are being nice or making the requests that they are. Everyone who manipulates has ulterior motives which can usually be discovered with a few questions and a little insight on your part. Most often people who manipulate do so by using flattery, kindness, and small but insignificant favors they do for you.

Pretty interesting question to ask...is someone trying to manipulate you??

Answer 5

I wonder if this would help:

Assuming the dishonest is motivated in the lower range of human need, those people who fail to present symptoms of the higher needs are suspect for dishonesty.

'According to Maslow, the tendencies of self-actualizing people are as follows:

1. Awareness

efficient perception of reality
freshness of appreciation
peak experiences
ethical awareness
2. Honesty

philosophical sense of humour
social interest
deep interpersonal relationships
democratic character structure
3. Freedom

need for solitude
autonomous, independent
creativity, originality
spontaneous
4. Trust

problem centered
acceptance of self, others, nature
resistance to enculturation - identity with humanity '

'Maslow postulated that needs are arranged in a hierarchy in terms of their potency. Although all needs are instinctive, some are more powerful than others. The lower the need is in the pyramid, the more powerful it is. The higher the need is in the pyramid, the weaker and more distinctly human it is. The lower, or basic, needs on the pyramid are similar to those possessed by non-human animals, but only humans possess the higher needs.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow#Maslow_hierarchy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow

Answer 6

When people blatantly try to manipulate me, I usually see it. Unfortunately, I wear my heart on my sleeve and even though I am cautious, if someone is good with a long sob story, I listen and feel sympathy. When it comes to time, I am manipulated; money, I am extremely savvy! I won't buy a deep freezer from someone living in Alaska, but I will feel sorry for them, and in that respect, I am an easy target.

Answer 7

Sometimes it's pretty easy. Anyone who approaches me wearing a suit or uniform, for example. Or the first words out of their mouths when they call me on the phone are, "Mr. Kalic." My last name's Kalac. Pronounced "Kay-lack."

Whenever someone begins appealing to my emotions, that's a sure tip-off. "Mr. Kalic, are you aware that there's several millions of people who are hungry and homeless right now?" Not that I'm against donations--I've done plenty in my time, and will continue to do so as long as I draw breath. But I've never gotten to the point where I appreciate the manipulative approach of the cold-call.

If I don't know them--and they are at my home, knocking on my door--I brace myself. Nothing good can come out of it, whether their first words are, "How happy are you with your current vaccuum?" or "Do you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?"

90% of my Email is aimed in much the same direction. Whenever I ignore Emails offering to sell me something, sooner or later I'm greeted with: "Mr. Kalac, I thought we were friends!" No, we're not. Nor have I ever done anything to create that impression.

In a friendship circle, I know the manipulation's on its way whenever someone wants to gossip about someone else. I even dread hearing from that someone else, since I know that the request to take a side in something that never involved me in the first place is close at hand. For that matter, I always know the manipulation's about to begin when the conversation centers on the other person's financial hardships, and they keep noticing how well I'M doing (whether I'm doing well financially or not).

During election time... you know what? This is getting lengthy enough as it is! So I'll just say that it's often not too hard to spot.

Answer 8

YES! My ex was the most manipulative person I've ever met & after living w/ that for 10 years I've learned to recognize it! Seems they always make you THINK they're doing you a favor, when in fact it's quite the opposite! Or they always tell you what you want to hear--make you think they have your best interest in mind--but it's all a BIG FAT LIE!!!

Answer 9

Cool question. Depends on who is trying to manipulate me, I guess. I wouldn't really be able to tell unless a) they weren't very good at it or b) I knew them very well. If someone I know well is trying to manipulate me, I can tell by recognizing patterns of behavior that they might employ in order to get a particular reaction out of me.

Answer 10

Most of the time, yes I can tell. I'm not saying I'm always aware of it, because I'm sure there are a lot of very good manipulators out there, but life has taught me that I should be very careful in whom I trust.