Tag: Manipulation

Manipulation, 8

Messing with someone's emotional state with the intention to guide your agenda is manipulation. It can't be understated that some folks have only learned to ask for what they need in this manner. The thought process might be, Only when there is a sad story can I lay bare a need. It is okay to call out the need directly if you are feeling manipulated. You are allowed to ask people to speak directly. Journal Prompts: My emotional state feels messed with when... If I ask for direct communication...

Manipulation, 7

Using emotional pressure to enforce a specific perimeter of behavior is manipulation. For example, I will berate and shame you in front of people if you behave outside of my desires. This is different from a healthy boundary. A healthy boundary acts from a place of value and clear language, not reactive and emotional revenge. A boundary says, this is not okay with me and then takes action inservice of emotional safety. Manipulation hovers and attempts to control behavior with emotional aggression. - Journal Prompts: Instead of attempts at manipulation, I need to set a boundary with... It feels emotionally aggressive when...

Emotional Misuse, 5

Responsibility. Emotional misuse happens when there is a pattern of offloading responsibility. It can't always be something or someone else, sometimes it's you. Avoiding responsibility is avoiding yourself. Choosing to deflect responsibility misuses the space where you form intimacy and trust in your relationships. Journal Prompts: I avoid... I avoid... I avoid... I avoid... I avoid...

Emotional Misuse, 4

Gaslighting. Gaslighting takes advantage of intimate influence. When you intend to leave someone questioning themselves and their experience, it's gaslighting. It's manipulative, there is an agenda, there is low tolerance for someone to express themselves authentically. Gaslighting is not respectfully challenging and having a conversation about diverse perspectives. Gaslighting challenges the root of a person and gnaws at their self-trust. Gaslighting harms by promoting a narrative of self-doubt. Healthy relationships claim territory in respecting the perspectives of people they love. Journal Prompts: I try to influence... It's difficult for me to tolerate...