All posts tagged: manipulative

You Can Usually Tell How Manipulative Someone Is By These 7 Things They Do Consistently

You Can Usually Tell How Manipulative Someone Is By These 7 Things They Do Consistently

Published by Jenni Sidey

A master manipulator is a type of person you will date, and at first, things will seem infallible. It all seems too good to be true, and you’ll wonder how in the world you got so lucky. But as time goes on, you gradually uncover their manipulative tactics and how indifferent you’ve become to all the red flags. Once you recognize these manipulative habits, which often happen consistently, it’s best to run as fast as you can. You can usually tell how manipulative someone is by these 7 things they do consistently: 1. They’re emotionally abusive A manipulative person, by definition, is an emotionally abusive person. They are unpredictable with their spouts of anger and are known to lash out fortuitously. They’re typically short-tempered, and you never know what frame of mind they’ll be in.  “You’ll see the seething rage that edges every word, and you will know at that moment, deep within your bones, that this person is manipulative and does not care about you one bit,” explained therapist Joanne Brothwell. That dead you …

Manipulative People Almost Always Say 11 Phrases During Even The Most Casual Conversations

Manipulative People Almost Always Say 11 Phrases During Even The Most Casual Conversations

Published by Jenni Sidey

Manipulators become toxic because they feel inadequate. It might not seem like that in their quest for power and control and dominance, but in reality, most manipulators are compensating for a sense of insecurity or powerlessness internally. Manipulative people almost always say certain phrases during even the most casual conversations, whether it’s sparked by childhood trauma and a hyper-competitive household, or something deeper that comes from a place of helplessness. Manipulative people almost always say 11 phrases during even the most casual conversations 1. ‘You’re lucky you have me’ Monkey Business Images | Shutterstock This is a tame alternative to commonly manipulative phrases like “if you loved me, you would…” and “you’d be nowhere without me.” Manipulators do their best to isolate their victims from everyone else, and while that usually comes from weaponization and blame, it can also come from love-bombing and inflating the feelings of safety in their relationship. They need other people to feel entirely dependent on them to live, or they’re impossible to manipulate and take advantage of. RELATED: 10 Ways …

New study links manipulative personality traits to lower relationship intimacy expectations

New study links manipulative personality traits to lower relationship intimacy expectations

Published by José Betancourt

New research reveals that people with highly manipulative personalities hold lower expectations for emotional closeness in their romantic relationships, with older women showing the strongest negative association. But the findings suggest that existing views on love and attachment habits shape connection more heavily than negative personality traits alone. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences. Developing deep intimacy is widely considered a cornerstone of psychological well-being. A supportive and trusting romantic relationship can provide a psychological buffer against life stressors and improve overall mental health. When individuals struggle to form these bonds, they often experience higher rates of loneliness and ongoing emotional distress. Psychologists identify three socially antagonistic personality profiles collectively called the Dark Triad. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, and an excessive need for admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of remorse, impulsive behavior, and emotional coldness. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview and a manipulative, strategic approach to interacting with others. People who score high on these traits often experience relationship difficulties. Past research links these tendencies to infidelity, low commitment, and …

Manipulative people use both kindness and gossip as separate tools to control their social circles

Manipulative people use both kindness and gossip as separate tools to control their social circles

Published by José Betancourt

People who manipulate social circles through gossip or exclusion are largely driven by dark personality traits, and possessing positive traits generally fails to stop this behavior. Researchers found that while acting kindly toward others can slightly reduce the likelihood of engaging in social sabotage, it does not erase the influence of underlying malevolence. The findings were recently published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Relational aggression involves intentionally harming someone’s relationships or social standing instead of using physical violence. Examples include spreading malicious rumors, giving the silent treatment, or organizing a group to purposely exclude a specific person. Because it is subtle, individuals seeking to avoid open conflict often prefer it over direct confrontation. This dynamic frequently plays out in adult environments like workplaces, community groups, and extended friend circles. Victims of this type of aggression frequently face serious mental health consequences. Being targeted can lead to increased depression, hopelessness, and extreme loneliness. The individuals who dish out this aggression also experience difficulties. Perpetrators frequently report their own struggles with anxiety, risky habits, and …

Manipulative Phrases To Avoid In A Relationship

Manipulative Phrases To Avoid In A Relationship

Published by Sam Flores

And speaking to HuffPost UK, relationship therapist and author at Passionerad, Sofie Roos, said there are “a few types of phrases that almost always do more harm than good in a relationship,” too. “Many of these aren’t mainly about what you say, but about when you use them, and how they shut down a conversation or augment in a way that blames your partner and leaves them feeling that their version [of events] doesn’t matter,” she added. Here, she shared five hurtful comments she thinks we should avoid using with our partner. 1) “You always…” or “you never…” One of the Gottman Institute’s four horsemen of divorce is criticism, especially ad hominem critiques, which turn issues with your partner into comments about their person. Phrases like “you always [do xyz]” can tie “one personal trait to [your partner’s] whole identity… with no nuance,” said Roos. When comments like these are “thrown in your face, the reaction is often to go into defence mode, and the situation tends to escalate into a dirty fight.” 2) “Boo-hoo, …

11 Lies Men Almost Always Tell When They Want You To Believe You’re The Problem

11 Lies Men Almost Always Tell When They Want You To Believe You’re The Problem

Published by Jenni Sidey

When in a manipulative relationship, men can use chronic guilt as a way to make you feel like you’re the problem. The truth is, they are harming the relationship with their own behavior. It’s easier to blame others than take accountability for their actions. If you are constantly hearing lies from your partner, it could be that they are lying to make themselves feel better. Chronic guilt can break you down over time. They may hope that eventually you’ll believe the lies they are telling. Suddenly, you may start doubting yourself. When he says these things over and over, he is trying to take the heat off himself. It’s not a healthy relationship. These are 11 lies men almost always tell when they want you to believe you’re the problem 1. ‘You’re overreacting’ indahlestar29 | Indah Lestari via Canva Everyone has emotions. When something triggers them, they are bound to show it. When someone hurts your feelings, it feels better to talk about it. If it’s met with dismissal, it’s harmful. A man may lie to …

Five US publishers sue Google over ‘manipulative’ adtech practices

Five US publishers sue Google over ‘manipulative’ adtech practices

Published by Sam Flores

Google Ad Manager. Picture: Shutterstock/IB Photography Five major US publishers have filed lawsuits against Google claiming its “deceptive and manipulative” adtech practices seriously limited their potential revenue. Rolling Stone owner Penske Media Corporation (plus its subsidiary She Media), Conde Nast owner Advance Publications, The Verge owner Vox Media, local newspaper giant McClatchy, and The Atlantic have all filed cases against Google in the past week. The actions come after the US Justice Department successfully sued Google for violating antitrust law by monopolising digital advertising markets, harming “Google’s publishing customers” as well as consumers. A ruling on what Google can be made to do to restore competition is expected this year. The publisher lawsuits allege that Google used its dominance over ad servers and ad exchanges to force publishers into its ecosystem, stifle competition and drive down online prices. They say Google could see rivals’ bids through its ad exchange before submitting its own, allowing it to keep prices deliberately low. A Google spokesperson said in response to the complaints: “These allegations are meritless. Advertisers and …

5 Things Really Manipulative People Say When They Want To Control The Situation | Dr. Elayne Daniels

5 Things Really Manipulative People Say When They Want To Control The Situation | Dr. Elayne Daniels

Published by Jenni Sidey

What is manipulation and gaslighting? It might be hard to describe if you’re unfamiliar with the term. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse and manipulation. It occurs across different types of relationships — with someone you are dating or married to, with a work colleague or boss, or with a friend. Gaslighting even happens in families. Potential signs of manipulation and gaslighting are important to recognize in any relationship. Or even to be able to identify if you grew up in a household where you were gaslit by parents or other family members. Once you identify gaslighting, you can take steps to regain your confidence and capacity to trust your own judgment. A common place for manipulative people to show up is in romantic relationships.  By the way, the term “gaslighting” comes from a 1944 movie, Gaslight, in which a husband manipulates (gaslights) his wife into believing she is insane. She’s not insane, but seriously questions her mental stability and identity because of her husband’s lies and stretching of the truth. She comes to …

Hamnet review – Oscar-primed Shakespeare film isn’t as manipulative as its critics claim

Hamnet review – Oscar-primed Shakespeare film isn’t as manipulative as its critics claim

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter What would it have been like to stand among the first audiences of Shakespeare’s Hamlet? Rough-clothed shoulder to rough-clothed shoulder, muscles swollen from a hard day’s work, a stink of garlic and beer in the air – yet, from on stage, those words of madness, of the futility in grief, quietly tethering heart to heart, stranger to stranger? At least five major outbreaks of the bubonic plague struck London within Shakespeare’s lifetime. It’s hard to imagine who in his audiences would not have been touched by some untimely loss of life. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s largely speculative novel about the play’s conception, builds to an immaculate depiction of one of its first performances. We see only a handful of its scenes performed. Still, you feel the full force of its impact, like an enormous, shuddering release of long-held …