Intimate Manipulation: Bad Either Way

In the context of an intimate relationship, when we discern that the behavior of our partner exhibits manipulative tendencies, we are often inclined to question the nature of such manipulation - whether it is a conscious and calculated act or an inadvertent occurrence. There is a common propensity to rationalize or defend the other person by presuming the latter. However, a more incisive analysis reveals that, irrespective of the intention behind the manipulation, the consequences and implications are equally deleterious.In the case of deliberate manipulation, it signals certain underlying character deficiencies. Primarily, it denotes a lack of self-assurance and a frail internal sense of self-worth. Such an individual operates under the fallacy that the retention of those in their proximity can only be achieved through manipulative stratagems, thereby neglecting the fundamental tenet of reciprocity in human interactions - that giving is essential for receiving. It is not inconceivable that their purported affection for the other person is, in fact, a guise for their enjoyment of the power dynamic that manipulation affords them. Individuals of this ilk are statistically more likely to engage in infidelity in the subsequent course of the relationship.Conversely, if the manipulation is unintentional, it is symptomatic of a profound deficit in empathetic capacity. These individuals are incapable of discerning the ramifications of their actions on others. Their utterances are often spontaneous and unfiltered, bereft of any consideration for the potential harm they may inflict on those in their social sphere. Regrettably, the paucity of empathy in such cases is a trait that is notoriously resistant to modification in later stages of life.