Manipulation can happen to anyone in all kinds of relationships, from friends and romantic partnerships to parents and family relationships. Even work colleagues and your boss might have manipulative tendencies. Manipulative people often use common manipulation tactics and behaviors to get what they want.

Here are some signs to look for to identify if you are being manipulated:

• Guilt-tripping: when someone tries to make you feel responsible or guilty of your actions.
• Lying: when someone deliberately tells you something that is not true.
• Flattery: when someone compliments you excessively to gain your favor.
• Projection: when someone blames you for something they are guilty of.
• ‘Moving the goalposts’: when someone changes the terms of an agreement or situation to suit their needs.
• Triangulation: when someone involves a third party to manipulate a situation or relationship.
• Love bombing: when someone showers you with affection and attention to gain your trust and affection.

Manipulative behavior occurs when a person uses controlling and harmful behaviors to avoid responsibility, conceal their true intentions, or cause doubt and confusion. Manipulation tactics are used to control a person by eroding their self-confidence and cultivating a deep dependence on the abuser that makes leaving the relationship difficult. Common tactics include gaslighting and seeking control, but an abuser can use many other tactics to control their victims. Emotional manipulation can undermine close relationships and leave the manipulation victim feeling powerless, confused, and frustrated.