If you're wondering why you seem to have so many manipulative people in your life, you may be asking questions like: Why do I attract manipulators?
Why am I attracted to manipulators?
Why do I attract manipulative friends? First off, you're not alone. This is something I hear frequently from my therapy clients:
Client: “I’m a magnet for manipulative people! What is it about me that makes me the target?”
Me: “You're vulnerable!”
Read on to find out more about manipulative people, who they target, and why you might find yourself in relationships with manipulators.
What are manipulative people?
An emotional manipulator (EM) is someone who is highly skilled at influencing their partner’s feelings and behaviors to benefit themselves.
Manipulative people often use gaslighting, guilt, button-pushing, anger, and other dishonest tactics to exploit their partner's weaknesses and maintain control.
Why do I attract manipulators?
It’s a common pattern: “nice” people can continually attract manipulative people, such as partners and friends, who emotionally manipulate, exploit, and abuse them.
Why does this happen? And why does it seem to happen to the same people over and over again?
Is there something wrong with them?
The answer is both yes and no.
No, there’s nothing wrong with you, even though you continue to find yourself in relationship after relationship with emotionally manipulative people.
Yes, you have specific traits that manipulative people find captivating. You’re vulnerable! You’re overly empathetic, and you give people the benefit of the doubt. You want to help people!
These qualities are wonderful, however you may also wear a target on your chest that says: “Pick Me.”
However, if you learn to recognize and work on these traits, some time soon that target on your chest will say: “Manipulative People, Go Away!”
5 traits that make you vulnerable to emotional manipulation
1. You’ve got low self-esteem
Ok, I know what you’re thinking: doesn’t everyone have low self-esteem?
Well, yes, but what makes this trait so appealing to emotionally manipulative people is when you have issues with self-love.
You choose someone who unconsciously reminds you of your dysfunctional parent(s).
When you struggle to love yourself unconditionally (psst: that means loving all the stuff that’s easy to love and all the stuff that’s not so easy to love) you may hunt for someone who mirrors you.
Spoiler alert: Emotional manipulators also have low self-esteem and lack unconditional self-love.
So what do I do about it?
Work on your self-love!
Treat yourself like you would treat your best friend.
If you won’t tell your best friend she’s horrible, don’t say it to yourself.
And, oh yeah, you don’t need to believe what you tell yourself for this to work. Fake it till you make it!
2. You love to take care of other people
Empathetic people love to do things for other people. There’s nothing wrong with that, but, in healthy relationships, we care for people, we don’t take care of people.
This may come as a shock, but most people can take care of themselves. They may not be experts, but they are capable.
Emotionally manipulative people are more than willing to play a victim so that you will pay attention to them and take care of them.
So what do I do about it?
Practice letting other people take care of themselves.
It will initially feel very uncomfortable, but if another adult is struggling with something, give him or her time to work it out themselves.
Emotional manipulators love to hook you by playing the victim.
So, call their bluff! Use your energy toward taking care of yourself (see Trait #1).
3. You believe in love at first sight!
Look, I love rom-coms as much as the next person, but let’s be realistic. Love takes time!
That’s right, “love at first sight,” “I loved him the moment we met!,” or “You had me at ‘hello’” is not love! I’ll repeat it… it’s not love!
Emotional manipulators love to target a person who has boundary problems. That means the door is open for an EM to convince you that only selfish people have boundaries.
Remember, having low self-esteem makes you more prone to fall for the harmonious stylings of the emotionally manipulative person who says: “I’ll take you away from all this!”
So what do I do about it?
“Love takes time” to quote the 1970s Yacht Rock classic by Orleans. It is created and developed with trust, communication, understanding, and time.
If the emotional manipulator is asking you to move in with him by the end of the week, exit stage left!
4. You’ve got damaged or nonexistent boundaries
Manipulative people love to target a person who has boundary problems. That means the door is open for an emotionally manipulative person to convince you that only selfish people have boundaries.
How do they know you have boundary issues? People with good boundaries communicate very clearly about their boundaries when they first meet you.
So what do I do about it?
Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries!
Perhaps one of the most important behaviors to learn in life is setting boundaries. Boundaries allow us to say “no,” they permit us to protect ourselves and they are the basis for every healthy relationship from now until forever.
So, learn, study, discuss, and practice healthy boundaries!
5. You pick people who are familiar to you!
Let’s be honest, nobody likes to feel uncomfortable, awkward, or different.
You seek the road well traveled. You connect with people who have characteristics that are familiar to you.
Unfortunately, many times, what is familiar is dysfunctional.
You may choose someone who unconsciously reminds you of your emotionally manipulative parent(s). If you can make the relationship work with the dysfunctional partner, you can fix what was broken in your childhood.
Sounds like a plan, right? Sorry, the only way to fix problems from childhood is to work on yourself.
So what do I do about it?
This would be a job for a therapist. A trained mental health professional can help you sort through any unresolved issues with your family so that you can stop attracting emotional manipulative people.
There you have it. The traits that make you more vulnerable to the manipulator.
Remember that vulnerability isn’t bad, as long as you develop healthy boundaries and learn to protect yourself from manipulative people. After all, no one else is going to.
How to find a therapist who can help
Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find therapists near you and choose to browse therapists and counselors covered by your insurance.
Many therapists listed on Monarch also allow you to book free 15-minute initial consultation sessions.
Am I a Narcissist?
Take our 3-minute Narcissistic Traits Quiz to find if you, or someone you know, has the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. Results are completely confidential.
READ NEXT: How Do You Know If Someone's a Narcissist?
Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.
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