Since the 1980s, there has been an interesting hypothesis in psychology that suggests that we manipulate everyone all the time: the child screams and manipulates the parents into feeding him;
Parents manipulate their children into doing what they must by rewarding or punishing them; In friendships, in free time, in the office - it goes on everywhere.
When you look at the term "manipulation", negative associations inevitably arise. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish what goals are behind influence. It is necessary to understand that the goals can be different.
In everyday life, there are various types of manipulation. The impact of advertising on consumer behavior is undeniable; The process of approaching flirting is pure manipulation: we smile, play with hair, pick up smart words in a clear voice and generally do not mention all the skeletons in the closet.
The same can be observed in social networks. On Facebook, but especially on Instagram: self-portrait in full swing. Only exciting, great things are done, no slack, no defeat. And all this against the background of the fact that the picture is bought by the rest.
And work life. A colleague who asks you for help because you are doing a much better job than him is also using manipulation. For example, a compliment.
We are all manipulated and we also influence others. To prevent this from happening to your detriment, it is important that you recognize the manipulation.
Here are some tips and strategies you can use to spot manipulation:
- Don't be charmed
Charm pairs well with other people, but it can also be used to influence them.
- Question Information
Therefore, in order to be able to recognize a possible manipulation, you must be very critical.
- Check Your Solution
When you make a decision, you should stop and ask yourself: Was it really my decision? Do I choose what I personally want?
