MANIPULATION

Physical, Emotional & Psychological

Manipulation is the action of indirectly interfering with the decision-making process of another person, particularly in a clever or unscrupulous way.

  • Can be abusive, deceptive and sneaky, to make you behave the way the perpetrator wants.
  • Often times, it is meant to confuse and leave you off-balance, and is often very subtle and deceptive.
  • Manipulation can often start with “lovebombing,” an attempt to influence a person by demonstrations of attention and affection.

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?

  • “It’s your fault.”
  • “Don’t wear that.”
  • “You should be grateful you have me.”
  • “Do you think anyone else
    would want you?”
  • “You would be nothing without me.”
  • “Why are you spending so much money?”
  • “You can’t go there without me.”

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?

  • “It’s your fault.”
  • “Don’t wear that.”
  • “You should be grateful you have me.”
  • “Do you think anyone else
    would want you?”
  • “You would be nothing without me.”
  • “Why are you spending so much money?”
  • “You can’t go there without me.”

reCOGNIZE THE SIGNS

  • Isolating you from friends/family
  • Dependence
  • Controlling other people’s perceptions of you
  • Financial control
  • Using your beliefs to control you
  • Not allowed to defend yourself
  • Silent treatment
  • The “no way out” question
  • Guilt tripping
  • Invalidates feelings
  • Forces you to have sex or engage in sexual acts against your will
  • Gaslighting

What You Can Do 

  • Practice trusting your instincts. Give yourself permission to trust your feelings, thoughts, decisions, and intuition.
  • Keep a record - send your experience, emails, voice memos, pictures, or videos to a trusted friend or family member for safekeeping.
  • Take pictures
  • Speak to a trusted friend, family member, teacher, coworker, and/or neighbor.
  • Keep a journal

These are things you can do now!

For help please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline:

1.800.799.SAFE (7233)