Psychological Manipulation – How to Protect Yourself from Psychological Manipulation
If you think psychological manipulation only happens in movie theaters and interrogation rooms, think again. It is something that can easily infiltrate your everyday life. You can experience it at work, school, or even while grocery shopping.
Of course, being manipulated into buying chicken instead of beef may not seem like a big deal, but what about being bullied at school or at work? These psychological manipulation tactics often get worse over time.
Unless you take action and protect yourself, these situations could eventually have detrimental effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health!
to be aware
Francis Bacon said that knowledge is power. And you are definitely right about this. By arming yourself with information or simply being aware of psychological manipulation, you are already protecting yourself!
How else can you solve a problem if you don’t even know there is one to begin with? Honestly, just being where you are now and reading this article already puts you three or four steps ahead of your problem!
Stick to your guns
This really isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do. Sometimes you just can’t help but be influenced by other people. However, know that once you resist the urge to follow someone else’s example, it will all be worth it.
You will have the feeling of overcoming something huge and you will even see yourself in a new light, which in turn will only serve to empower you more. This is not the same as being very stubborn, mind you.
educate yourself
The targets of psychological manipulation are often those who don’t really have much confidence in themselves.
If you have a lot of insecurity, other people will just try to use your lack of self-confidence to control you.
For example, if you are someone who cares a lot about your appearance, another person can easily say something to provoke a reaction from you.
To avoid falling victim to such tactics, make sure you are comfortable with who you are. Look for all of its good points instead of dwelling on its not-so-good features. Be grateful for all the great things that happen in your life.
Don’t let psychological manipulation get to you. Moving to a new school or quitting your job is not the solution to your problem. Running away won’t help you get anywhere. All you get is a change of environment, but not a change of mindset. Just remember to stay alert, be firm in your decisions and believe in yourself!
