Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
An analysis of interpersonal manipulation
1Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, NH 03756.
The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|April 1, 1992
Summary
This study defines manipulation in interpersonal settings, distinguishing it from persuasion and coercion. It argues manipulation is intentional, questioning the concept of unconscious manipulation in psychiatry.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Philosophy
- Social Psychology
Background:
- The term 'manipulation' is widely used but lacks clear definition in psychiatric discourse.
- Previous conceptual analyses by philosophers and psychiatrists are reviewed.
- Ordinary language use of 'manipulation' is examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose core characteristics of unambiguous interpersonal manipulation.
- To differentiate manipulation from other behavior control methods like rational persuasion and coercion.
- To explore the intentionality of manipulative behavior and the validity of 'unconscious manipulation'.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the term 'manipulation'.
- Review of philosophical and psychiatric literature.
- Examination of ordinary discourse and interpersonal settings.
Main Results:
- A set of characteristics defining the conceptual core of interpersonal manipulation is proposed.
- Manipulation is characterized by deception and specific communicative contexts.
- Manipulative behavior is argued to be fundamentally intentional, challenging the notion of unconscious manipulation.
Conclusions:
- The concept of manipulation warrants greater attention and discussion within the mental health community.
- The proposal for a 'Manipulative Personality Disorder' diagnostic category is rejected.
- Clarifying the definition of manipulation is crucial for psychiatric understanding and practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Strategies of Self-Presentation I: Strategic Self-Presentation
Strategic self-presentation refers to individuals' intentional efforts to influence how others perceive them. This process is employed in various social and professional settings, such as job interviews, dating, politics, and legal contexts, where individuals seek to shape impressions to gain social or material advantages. While people generally present themselves in ways that align with their authentic characteristics, external factors, such as cognitive load, can hinder their ability to...
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
01:29Impression Management Techniques II: Ingratiation
Ingratiation refers to deliberate behaviors aimed at increasing one’s attractiveness or likability to a target person, often for strategic interpersonal or social gain. This set of impression management tactics is especially prevalent in hierarchical contexts, where influencing someone with greater power or authority can yield significant benefits. Several distinct ingratiation strategies have been identified, each leveraging psychological cues to foster favor and affiliation.Opinion...
01:29Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions
Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
01:14Impression Management Techniques IV: Altercasting
Altercasting is a strategic communication technique in which an individual imposes a specific identity or social role onto another person to influence their behavior and shape the interaction. By presuming a role—such as “responsible leader” or “patient person”—altercasting encourages the target to conform to that identity, often aligning their behavior with the expectations associated with the role. The power of this tactic lies in its subtlety; once a role is assigned, it becomes socially...
01:29Dark Triad and Person Perception
Person perception is influenced by both external behaviors and the observer’s internal characteristics, including personality traits. Individuals with dark personality traits, comprising psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism — collectively known as the dark triad – exhibit manipulative and exploitative tendencies in social contexts. These traits affect how they perceive others and how they are perceived.The Role of Dark Personality Traits in Person PerceptionBlack et al. (2014) explored...