What is manipulation?

Manipulation is when someone uses tricks or clever moves to make another person do something they might not want to do.

Imagine you have a favorite toy, like a ball. Your friend wants to play with it, but you're holding on tight. Instead of just taking it from you, your friend says, “Let’s be friends! If you let me play with the ball, I’ll share my snack with you!” That’s manipulation, using something you want (a snack) to get you to do what they want (let go of the ball).

When someone manipulates you, it might feel like you’re being tricked into a game that you didn’t know you were playing. You think you're making a fair trade, but deep down, you might feel a little unsure, like something isn't quite right.

People use manipulation to get what they want, just like how you might try to trick your friend into giving you their favorite candy by saying, “I’ll give you my sticker if you do!” It’s all about making choices that seem good at first, even if they’re not so fair in the end.