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Manipulation

Literature Review
Manipulation is something that in some way or another affects and has an impact on everyone’s lives. Manipulation occurs in every aspect of life, this includes work, and many different kinds of relationships. Because manipulation is so subtle and under the radar most people do not realize that they are being manipulated.   In the following literature review three areas of manipulation will be covered: (1) How manipulation plays a role in dating relationships. (2) Manipulation and sexual coercion. (3) Interpersonal orientation and gender.

Relationships: how manipulation plays a role
The definition of manipulation, according to Buss (1987) “is the means by which individuals intentionally (although not necessarily consciously) alter, influence or shape those selected environments”(p.479). This idea of manipulation is interesting because people change their behavior due to others actions. Research studies how people manipulate each other and how it relates to different types of personality features.
Buss, Gomes, Higgins, and Lauterbach (1987) come up with six tactics of manipulation in the circumstance of dating relationships. These are: Debasement, Regression, Reason, Coercion, Silent treatment, and charm. In studies, these tactic showed differences distinguishing them from each other in situations where they were behaviorally investigated. However, not all researchers agree that these are the only six tactics. Buss (1992) hypothesized that there were more and found an additional six factors related to manipulation.   Below are a list of the twelve ways to manipulate and an example of each.
Examples of the twelve manipulation tactics used:

Manipulation technique Example
Coercion Make her do it
Responsibility invocation Make a schedule for doing it
Regression Throw a fit till she does it
Reciprocity-reward Promise a favor if she will do it
Debasement Make myself sad until she will do it
Hardball Threaten to hurt her unless she does...