Signs someone is a master manipulator according to psychology

Gaslighting

They make you doubt your own reality or memory by denying, minimizing, or twisting the truth. This can leave you feeling confused or questioning your perception.

Emotional Exploitation

They use your emotions against you, taking advantage of your fears, insecurities, or desires to make you feel guilty or to gain leverage.

Charm and Flattery

They often start by showering you with attention, compliments, or charm to win your trust. Once you’re emotionally invested, they begin manipulating.

Shifting Blame

They rarely take responsibility for their actions. Instead, they shift the blame onto you or others, making you feel responsible for problems they created.

Playing the Victim

They frequently position themselves as the victim in situations to elicit sympathy, divert attention from their own wrongdoings, or manipulate people into feeling guilty for them.

Lying and Deception

They lie frequently and effortlessly, often combining lies with partial truths to manipulate situations in their favor.

Triangulation

They involve a third party in conflicts or conversations to create confusion, cause division, or reinforce their version of events.

Pushing Boundaries

Master manipulators are adept at testing your boundaries and pushing them little by little. They might ignore or dismiss your discomfort, convincing you it’s normal or necessary.

Use of Guilt and Fear

They make you feel guilty for not meeting their demands or use subtle threats (emotional, social, or otherwise) to instill fear and make you comply.