Mind games refer to psychological manipulation tactics used to gain power and control in a relationship, either personal or professional. These games involve using psychological tricks, such as gaslighting, guilt-tripping, love bombing, projection, and more, to confuse, manipulate, and undermine the thoughts and feelings of the other person. The goal of these games is often to gain the upper hand, to gain control over the situation, or to make the other person feel inferior or dependent. Mind games can have serious consequences on a person's mental and emotional well-being, leaving them feeling confused, isolated, and with a damaged sense of self-esteem and trust. With this in mind, here are 10 commonly used mind games:
- Gaslighting: This is a form of manipulation in which a person tries to make you doubt your memory, perception, or sanity. They may twist your words, deny things that you know to be true, or manipulate situations so that you question your understanding of events. This can leave you feeling confused and isolated and can damage your self-esteem and trust in your perceptions.
- The Silent Treatment: This is a form of passive-aggressive behavior in which a person refuses to communicate with you. They may stop responding to your messages, ignore your calls, or avoid you in person. This is designed to punish you and make you feel rejected and unwanted.
- Guilt Tripping: This is when a person tries to make you feel guilty for something you have done or haven't done. They may use emotional appeals, reminders of past favors, or accusations of ingratitude in an attempt to manipulate you into doing what they want.
- Love Bombing: This is when a person tries to win your affection by showering you with excessive attention and affection. They may compliment you constantly, buy you gifts, and make you feel like you are the center of their world. This is often used as a manipulation tactic and can leave you feeling emotionally vulnerable and dependent on the person.
- Projection: This is when a person attributes their negative traits or behaviors onto you. They may accuse you of things that they are guilty of themselves, or try to make you feel like you are the problem in a situation when they are actually at fault.
- The Blame Game: This is when a person refuses to take responsibility for their actions and instead tries to shift the blame onto others. They may make excuses, play the victim, or try to make you feel guilty for their mistakes.
- Playing Dumb: This is when a person pretends to be ignorant about something to gain an advantage. They may act like they don't understand a situation or a request, or may downplay their abilities to appear more likable or trustworthy.
- Mind Reading: This is when a person assumes they know what you are thinking or feeling without actually asking you. They may make assumptions about your intentions, motivations, or emotions and act on those assumptions, even if they are wrong.
- Triangulation: This is when a person tries to manipulate a relationship by bringing in a third party. They may involve someone else in a conversation or situation to make you feel jealous, or threatened, or to gain the upper hand in a situation.
- Manipulative Questioning: This is when a person uses questions as a means of manipulating you. They may ask leading questions or use questions to make you doubt your perceptions or memories. They may also use questions to gather the information that they can use against you later on.
Summarily, the above makes a list of the many types of mind games commonly used by persons, knowingly or unknowingly to achieve their interests. with this in mind,I'm pretty sure that you are much wiser not to fall into the trap of your manipulator