When we talk about abuse and control, terms like psychological manipulation (PM) and coercive control (CC) come up often. But what do they really mean? Knowing the difference helps us spot these tactics and support effective interventions. This guide will break down PM and CC, where they show up, and why understanding them separately matters.
What is Psychological Manipulation?
Psychological manipulation is when someone intentionally uses tactics to influence people’s thoughts, emotions, or actions to serve their own goals, like gaining money, power, or social influence. PM targets people’s emotional vulnerabilities to change their beliefs or behaviour.
Common Tactics of Psychological Manipulation
Some PM tactics include:
Us vs. Them Mentality: This creates an insider group against an “outsider” enemy, which builds loyalty to the manipulator and blocks opposing viewpoints.
Promises of Secret Knowledge or Power: Manipulators lure people in with promises of empowerment or special insights.
Controlling Personal Choices: Manipulators may control people’s daily choices, from relationships to finances, to foster dependency and erode autonomy.
Where Psychological Manipulation Happens
PM tactics show up in all kinds of places: high-control groups (or cults), conspiracy and hate groups, MLMs, and even some everyday settings like toxic workplaces or controlling institutions. In each setting, PM uses emotional and psychological tactics to influence and control.
What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a pattern of abusive actions meant to dominate, isolate, and control someone, typically in close relationships. The focus is on creating dependency and instilling fear.
Key Coercive Control Tactics
Coercive control involves tactics like:
Emotional and Verbal Abuse: Constant criticism or gaslighting to erode self-worth.
Financial Control: Restricting someone’s access to money, trapping them in dependence.
Limiting Freedom: Controlling who someone sees or what they do, isolating them from support.
Threats and Intimidation: Using fear and threats of violence to enforce obedience.
Where Coercive Control Occurs
Coercive control is common in intimate relationships, but it can also happen in family abuse, sex trafficking, and even within high-control groups or cults.
Why Differentiating Psychological Manipulation and Coercive Control Matters
PM and CC overlap, sharing tactics like gaslighting and isolation, but differ in scope and context. PM is often broader, affecting larger groups, while CC typically targets individuals in close relationships.
This distinction is important for policy, too. Coercive control has been gaining legal recognition in areas like intimate partner violence, while PM remains less formally addressed, with efforts focused more on crimes such as fraud and trafficking.
Final Thoughts on Building Resilience
Both psychological manipulation and coercive control harm autonomy and well-being. They strip away freedom and leave lasting scars. By learning more, we can build awareness, resilience, and supportive communities that stand against these forms of abuse. If you want to know more or need support, check out Counter’s resources on psychological manipulation and coercive control. Together, we can work to counter manipulation in all its forms.
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