While it would be great if people could just be upfront and honest, sadly, that’s not always the case.
Mind games are all too common, especially among people who are emotionally immature, manipulative, or dishonest. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of any of these toxic behaviours, you’re probably all too aware of just how frustrating (and sometimes even damaging!) these tactics can be.
1. They give you the silent treatment.
The silent treatment is one of the most common manipulative tactics. Instead of addressing an issue, someone may ignore you, refusing to speak or acknowledge your presence. This can leave you feeling confused and powerless, often forcing you to apologise for something you may not have done wrong.
2. They make you question your reality.
This is often referred to as gaslighting, where someone denies things that have clearly happened or twists the truth. They might insist you’re “remembering it wrong” or being too sensitive, causing you to doubt your own perceptions and judgement.
3. They constantly change the subject to avoid accountability.
Source: Unsplash When someone doesn’t want to take responsibility for their actions, they may frequently change the topic when confronted. This can make it difficult to hold them accountable and leave you feeling like your concerns aren’t valid.
4. They use guilt to control your actions.
Guilt-tripping is a way of making you feel responsible for someone else’s feelings or actions. Whether through subtle comments or outright blame, this tactic is designed to make you feel bad and force you into doing something you otherwise wouldn’t.
5. They downplay your achievements and successes.
Source: Unsplash When people try to undermine your confidence, they might minimise or dismiss your accomplishments. By belittling your successes, they attempt to keep you from feeling good about yourself, ultimately making you more dependent on their approval.
6. They use backhanded compliments to confuse you.
Source: Pexels A backhanded compliment is a way of disguising criticism as praise. It’s meant to throw you off balance by making you question whether the comment was genuinely positive or a subtle dig at your appearance, abilities, or choices.
7. They shift blame onto you in every situation.
When someone constantly shifts blame onto you, even for things that are clearly not your fault, it’s a form of manipulation. They refuse to accept responsibility for their own mistakes, making you feel like the problem in the relationship.
8. They make you feel inferior through constant criticism.
Source: Pexels Constantly criticising you is a tactic to make you feel unworthy or inadequate. This can range from nit-picking small details about your appearance to undermining your decisions, ultimately lowering your self-esteem.
9. They turn people against you to isolate you.
One way to maintain control is to isolate you from friends, family, or colleagues. By spreading rumours or misrepresenting your actions to others, they create tension, leading to you feeling increasingly alone and dependent on them.
10. They use passive-aggressive behaviour to avoid direct confrontation.
Instead of openly addressing an issue, they might use sarcasm, subtle jabs, or make you feel guilty without ever saying anything directly. This passive-aggressive behaviour is meant to control the situation without having to take responsibility.
11. They make promises they never intend to keep.
Making empty promises is a common tactic used to string you along. They may say things to keep you hopeful or calm in the moment, but they rarely follow through, leaving you disappointed and frustrated.
12. They use your insecurities against you.
People who play mind games often exploit your insecurities to keep you off balance. By bringing up things you’re sensitive about, they aim to make you feel inadequate or ashamed, which can make you more reliant on them.
13. They act overly nice to get what they want.
Sometimes manipulation comes in the form of excessive kindness. They might shower you with praise or favours, but their actions are often conditional. When they don’t get what they want, their behaviour can quickly turn cold or resentful.
14. They create chaos to keep you off balance.
By constantly creating drama or confusion, they make it hard for you to focus on any one issue. This tactic is used to overwhelm you, making you more susceptible to their control because you’re too distracted to see through their manipulation.
