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No matter how perceptive, cautious, or street-smart you believe you are, you might end up being a victim of emotional manipulation. Manipulators won’t go to a radio station to say they will manipulate you at a specific time.
Instead, they work in the shadows, taking advantage of your openness, genuine interest in connection and kindness.
They are calculating and know when your heart believes they have good intentions. You overlook their manipulative attempts. You may still be off your guard even when your intuition tells you something is wrong, or you feel awkward around them.
With manipulative people, it’s all about control, maintaining the upper hand and control over you. There’s no “we” in their relationship except they feel you’re a “we” bit easy to control
They may have cognitive empathy through which they know intellectually how you feel but lack the emotional and compassionate empathy that makes them think or care about how you feel.
1. They get too close to you too soon.
2. they collect info on you and use your insecurities against you.
3. They mirror and match you.
4. They love-bomb you.
5. They get sexual.
6. They talk big, followed by little action.
7. They play the martyr.
8. They criticize you.
9. They play the victim and guilt-trip on you.
10. They exaggerate, generalize and make vague statements.
11. They use threats.
12. They lie, twist facts, and omit key details.
13. They pass off or minimize your concerns.
14. They pressure you to make decisions.
15. They project unto you.
16. They give you the silent treatment.
17. They try to isolate you.
18. They shift goalposts and change expectations.
19. They gaslight you.
20. They maintain emotional distance.
Source: Psychology Today
