Master manipulators are experts at playing on people’s emotions and exploiting their vulnerabilities.
1. Gaslighting:
- Constantly questioning your reality or making you doubt your own memory.
- Claiming you’re overreacting or imagining things.
2. Projection:
- Accusing you of doing something they themselves are guilty of.
- Shifting blame onto you to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
3. Triangulation:
- Involving a third party to create drama or to pit people against each other.
- Using others to control or manipulate you.
4. Guilt Tripping:
- Making you feel bad for your actions or for not doing what they want.
- Using guilt to manipulate your behavior.
5. Love Bombing:
- Overwhelming you with affection and attention at the beginning of a relationship.
- Quickly withdrawing affection or becoming abusive once they have you under their control.
6. Isolation:
- Trying to isolate you from friends and family.
- Making you feel like you can only rely on them.
7. Playing the Victim:
- Portraying themselves as the victim to gain sympathy or avoid taking responsibility.
- Using their perceived victimhood to manipulate others.
8. Using Emotion as a Weapon:
- Threatening to hurt themselves or others to control your behavior.
- Using emotional outbursts to intimidate or manipulate you.
9. Gaslighting Continued:
- Constantly questioning your reality or making you doubt your own memory.
- Claiming you’re overreacting or imagining things.
10. Projecting Continued:
- Accusing you of doing something they themselves are guilty of.
- Shifting blame onto you to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
11. Triangulation Continued:
- Involving a third party to create drama or to pit people against each other.
- Using others to control or manipulate you.
12. Guilt Tripping Continued:
- Making you feel bad for your actions or for not doing what they want.
- Using guilt to manipulate your behavior.
13. Love Bombing Continued:
- Overwhelming you with affection and attention at the beginning of a relationship.
- Quickly withdrawing affection or becoming abusive once they have you under their control.
14. Isolation Continued:
- Trying to isolate you from friends and family.
- Making you feel like you can only rely on them.
15. Playing the Victim Continued:
- Portraying themselves as the victim to gain sympathy or avoid taking responsibility.
- Using their perceived victimhood to manipulate others.
16. Using Emotion as a Weapon Continued:
- Threatening to hurt themselves or others to control your behavior.
- Using emotional outbursts to intimidate or manipulate you.
17. Future Faking:
- Making promises they have no intention of keeping.
- Painting a rosy picture of the future to keep you in the relationship.
18. Stonewalling:
- Refusing to communicate or engage in a conversation.
- Shutting down to avoid dealing with conflict.
19. Minimizing Your Feelings:
- Dismissing or belittling your emotions.
- Making you feel like your feelings are unimportant or invalid.
20. Playing Hot and Cold:
- Being overly affectionate one moment and distant the next.
- Keeping you on edge and unsure of their feelings.
21. Gaslighting Continued:
- Constantly questioning your reality or making you doubt your own memory.
- Claiming you’re overreacting or imagining things.
22. Projecting Continued:
- Accusing you of doing something they themselves are guilty of.
- Shifting blame onto you to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
23. Triangulation Continued:
- Involving a third party to create drama or to pit people against each other.
- Using others to control or manipulate you.
24. Guilt Tripping Continued:
- Making you feel bad for your actions or for not doing what they want.
- Using guilt to manipulate your behavior.
25. Love Bombing Continued:
- Overwhelming you with affection and attention at the beginning of a relationship.
- Quickly withdrawing affection or becoming abusive once they have you under their control.
26. Isolation Continued:
- Trying to isolate you from friends and family.
- Making you feel like you can only rely on them.
27. Playing the Victim Continued:
- Portraying themselves as the victim to gain sympathy or avoid taking responsibility.
- Using their perceived victimhood to manipulate others.
28. Using Emotion as a Weapon Continued:
- Threatening to hurt themselves or others to control your behavior.
- Using emotional outbursts to intimidate or manipulate you.
29. Future Faking Continued:
- Making promises they have no intention of keeping.
- Painting a rosy picture of the future to keep you in the relationship.
30. Stonewalling Continued:
- Refusing to communicate or engage in a conversation.
- Shutting down to avoid dealing with conflict.