4 Salient Features Of Manipulative People
Manipulative people suffer and make others suffer. The way they act makes it difficult for others to be with them. Keeping them close can also make it difficult for us to appreciate ourselves. In this article we discuss the characteristics of manipulative people.
It is easy to outline their “modus operandi”. However, fully understanding what they are like is a more complicated task. The first thing we may need to learn is how to recognize them.
In this way we can help the people who suffer from them but also protect ourselves. We therefore give you an overview of some important characteristics of manipulative people.
Characteristics of Manipulative People
narcissism
An excessive love for oneself is the main characteristic of narcissism. People with this trait tend to think they are better than everyone else. They also only value the equations from which they come out best.
We can recognize a manipulative person by the way they talk. Instead of showing a genuine interest in what the other person is saying, they ignore them. They only focus on what to say. That means that they make others feel unheard and ignored.
On the other hand, manipulative people really believe that they live a life full of emotion. That’s why there’s a very good chance they’ll eventually start talking about times when they were “heroic.” While this trait may not be a symptom of this type of personality, it can tell us a lot about a person.
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is a personality trait that refers to a very concrete tendency. It means treating others as if they were instruments or resources rather than real people. Not making someone suffer can be a goal.
However, it will always be a secondary goal to further pursuit of the stated goals. To do this, manipulative people resort to certain strategies such as lying or blackmail.
When you’re dealing with someone with this profile, it’s normal to feel like you’re not doing what you really want. The manipulative person often convinces us to act a certain way. In the long run, this causes the relationship to become superficial.
The need to put oneself above others
Manipulative people don’t want anyone else to succeed. After all, they are the only ones allowed to be in the spotlight. They will also do whatever it takes to make that happen. These people don’t worry about making others feel bad. In a social environment they only want to remain the most outstanding persons.
For example, it is not uncommon for these people to criticize others in subtle ways. In the long run, continued interaction with a manipulative person will leave an individual insecure.
On the other hand, manipulative people feel bad if they feel that someone else in a group of people is going to take the credit.
This encourages them to do everything possible to regain the spotlight. They will start telling stories. In addition, they will speak louder or even place themselves in the middle of the group.
Envy
Another very important characteristic of manipulative people is that they cannot stand it when others succeed at something they are not good at. This has to do with their need to be better than others and to be recognized. However, it goes beyond that.
When a close friend achieves one of his goals, isn’t it normal for us to be happy for him or her? A manipulative person will feel the opposite. They will be very angry because someone else has acquired something that they do not have.
For this reason, they will begin to criticize them and minimize the importance of the event. They may even distance themselves from them.
How can we deal with manipulative people?
As you can see, there is nothing simple about being in a relationship with a manipulative person. The relationships they build with others are often very toxic. However, the degree of discomfort they cause will depend on how serious their behavior is towards other individuals.
When dealing with people with this profile, there are only two possible things you can do: accept them and try to limit the damage they cause or end the relationship.
Both choices are fully justified. However, it is imperative that you realize what is really going on before making a decision.
Ultimately, setting boundaries is the most important thing you can do when dealing with a manipulative person. If someone manipulates you or makes you feel bad about feeling better about themselves, is it really worth having them in your life?
