Are You in a Manipulative Relationship?

Test scores

If your score is between 120 and 150, you are quite likely to be involved in a manipulative relationship. The closer your score is to 150, the greater the negative emotional toll that that relationship is taking on you. The pattern of behavior you have developed is actually rewarding the manipulator and enabling his or her control over you to continue and very likely increase.

If your score is between 100 and 119, you are developing signs of being manipulated. Remember, manipulative relationships rarely change unless the victim stops enabling the process to continue.

If your score is lower than 100, you are not likely to be the victim of manipulation in this relationship. The difficulties in your relationship are likely to have other explanations.

If your score is in a danger zone, focus on this: Manipulators are rarely motivated to be the first to change in the relationship. The paradox of manipulation is that the person who feels least powerful – the victim – is really the one who can become most empowered to make changes.

Remember, manipulation is used because it works. Your score reflects just how well the manipulative methods are working to control you in the relationship. As I have discussed previously and will again soon, the most effective way to thwart and/or change a manipulator is by changing your own responses so that the manipulation no longer is effective.