Thailand Investigations Blog
Do You Want to Know the Truth?

Here we continue our discussion on the techniques that manipulators use to get their way. Some are subtle, and some are easy enough to spot, but it is a sad fact that many are unaware that they are being manipulated by certain people who are around them. Often times, the victims are clueless since they trust the person and because a number of these techniques are so hard to spot. Manipulation plays on the feeling of another person, and this is what manipulators exploit to the fullest.

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We talked about guilt before, which is what manipulators use in several techniques, one of which is pretending to be the victim. Here, the manipulator puts the spotlight on the other person, and tries to portray himself or herself as the victim. For example, Person A is a bit suspicious of Person B. Person B will then proceed to portray himself / herself as a victim, accusing Person A of not trusting him or her, of not loving him or her, or some other ploy to make it look like things should be the other way around. But you’ll notice here that by playing the victim, Person B inadvertently goes on the offensive by subtly accusing Person A and making him or her feel guilty.

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Another technique manipulators often use is something called pretending to be subservient. What manipulators do here is pretend to support a goal or task, allowing himself or herself to become a follower of the other person. But in truth, the manipulator has his or her own agenda, and by becoming a follower he or she becomes less suspicious and even appears helpful and supportive.

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And of course, there’s seduction. It an obvious technique, but many find it hard to resist. For many, seduction makes them forget about all their defences and simply give in. This is what wily manipulators are counting on. Sometimes they’re just teasing you and want to get what they want without necessarily giving you what you want, but it is also not unheard of some going all the way just to get what they want. Of course, seduction does not start overtly, which is what makes it an effective tactic. A manipulator will of course try to get you to open up and trust him or her, and once you do, everything’s downhill from there.

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Remember, manipulators rely on their ability to feel and exploit other people’s feelings. You need to always be alert and aware about yourself so can identify if you are being manipulated. You need to be honest with yourself – which is not always an easy thing to do – because failing to do that is precisely what a manipulator wants you to do. When you are dishonest with yourself, the manipulator gains the power to exploit what you really feel but won’t admit to yourself. It’s important that you always have a mental guard up so that you are safe. Remember that trust is always earned, and not immediately given at the onset.

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