Page 22 - How To Analyze People: 13 Laws About the Manipulation of the Human Mind, 7 Strategies to Quickly Figure Out Body Language, Dive into Dark Psychology and Persuasion for Making People Do What You Want

The Ethics of Manipulation - Is It Possible Manipulation Could

Be Both Good and Bad?

Mention the word ‘manipulation’ and what immediately springs to mind is

the negative connotations which are associated with this term. Manipulation

means deceit. Manipulation means using unscrupulous and underhanded

tactics to take advantage of someone else. Manipulation means fraud and

outright lying. Manipulation is unethical.

The term has certainly got a bad reputation over the years, and even the

phrases used to describe manipulation in play paint a picture that is fairly

ugly or unpleasant. “She’s got him completely wrapped around her little

finger”, “I told my boss exactly what he wanted to hear”, “He’s got a

reputation for being a heartbreaker”, “I talked my friend into doing what I
wanted.” These typical examples of manipulation certainly don’t put a

positive spin on the situation for both parties involved in the process. It

makes the manipulator out to be someone who is selfish, self-serving,

deceitful, and unconcerned about using someone else for their own

advantage, and it makes the one who is being manipulated seem foolish,
clueless and possibly even weak of character for “allowing” themselves to

be fooled so easily.

Manipulation has always been viewed as an act that is ruthless, clever yet

cunning, and always where one person ends up being exploited or taken
advantage of. Manipulation is viewed even more negatively when it

becomes apparent that the conniving individual has heartlessly ignored the

feelings of the other, putting their own selfish needs above everyone else.

Even worse than the manipulator has exploited the other by pretending to