4 weaknesses of a manipulator

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A manipulator is skilled in the social sphere. It is hardly going to show its most vulnerable points. Thus, in this article we want to talk about them and how they fit into their way of acting.

It is possible that right now, perhaps even without knowing it, you are surrounded by one or more manipulative people. A manipulator can be anyone, regardless of gender, age or profession.

Manipulation can be understood as the intentional search for a change in others, whether in their thoughts or actions, for one’s own benefit. It is a form of psychological abuse that can generate guilt, shame, and loss of self-esteem. and feelings of isolation and insecurity.

Being manipulative is associated with narcissistic tendencies and depending on the type of manipulation and the way in which it is exercised, manipulative people can be classified as active or passive.

Passive manipulators are characterized by systematically appearing weak and incapable. They manipulate through self-pity and flattery of others. They are dependent people with a tendency to victimize, who seem to be in search of a savior all the time. On the contrary, an active manipulator will act himself as a savior for otherstrying to influence through the help they offer and the favors, not very selfless, they do for others.

The weaknesses of a manipulator

However, by knowing their weak points we can learn to identify them and avoid falling into their manipulation networks. In general, the weaknesses of a manipulator are the following:

1. Emotional immaturity

A manipulator often has difficulty managing their emotions efficiently.. This is reflected in behaviors such as evading commitments or responsibilities or not keeping promises made.

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Likewise, they are incapable of showing their true feelings because they are always pretending and showing different feelings than what they are really experiencing. They may exhibit behaviors that move across a wide range of emotions, It is difficult to really determine how they feel and what are the reasons for their sadness, anger or frustration.

Added to this, They may burst into inexplicable tantrums or engage in impulsive or ambivalent behavior.. Deep down, it is certain that manipulative people fear rejection, not being accepted or losing influence. This can cause them to be emotionally unstable and fluctuate between affectionate, indifferent, violent and condescending behaviors.

All of this comes from the desire for control over the person being manipulated. and the fear of being discovered in their true intentions.

2. Low self-esteem

Besides, An active manipulator is, in general, an insecure person with low self-esteem, who tries to hide their fears and low self-confidence with attitudes of sufficiency and superiority.

In the same way, A passive manipulator will display his low self-esteem as a manipulation tool, taking advantage of their apparent weakness and submission. However, in both cases what we find are people with self-esteem problems, who are excessively concerned about the judgment that others make about them.

They are people who feel incapable of establishing healthy and horizontal ties with others.so they use different strategies to take advantage of others or to cultivate affection through deception.

3. Little empathy

In this same line, one of his clearest weaknesses is his lack of empathy. They are people who, being only focused on their own interests and motivations, ignore and underestimate the needs of others.

4. They never admit their mistakes

Finally, Manipulative people have a hard time accepting their mistakes.. They will hardly admit that they have made a mistake or that they have not done things right. Likewise, they do not usually ask for forgiveness or offer a sincere apology. Often, if they do so, it will be as part of their manipulation strategy and the apology will not be accompanied by remedial actions.

Manipulators are also characterized by having a low tolerance for frustration., so they will feel upset when things do not go according to their intentions. This trait combines with their emotional immaturity, generating responses of explosive anger, inexplicable crying, or planned indifference.

If you feel like you are dealing with a manipulator, It is important that you strengthen your self-confidence and learn to take advantage of the weaknesses described here.. Let him see that you recognize his self-esteem problems, that you are aware of his attempts to control you, and that you know that what motivates his actions is selfishness and fear of not having control over others.