What is "manipulation"? (Glossary of Narcissistic Relationships)?

Manipulation is when someone tries to control or trick you without you realizing it.

Imagine you have a favorite toy that you play with every day. Now suppose your friend wants to borrow it, but instead of asking nicely, they say you're being rude if you don't give it to them right away. That’s manipulation, they’re using words to make you feel bad so you’ll do what they want.

When someone is manipulating you, it can feel like you're in a game where the rules are unfair. You might not even realize you’re being tricked until later, just like when you think you're playing fair, but your friend has hidden extra pieces under their pillow!

Sometimes people use manipulation because they want to win or feel powerful. It's like when you try to convince your little brother that he really wants to play with the toy, even if he doesn’t, just so you can have more fun.

Manipulation is sneaky, but it’s not magic. It’s just someone being clever with their words and feelings.