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Manipulation is the use of means to exploit, control, or otherwise influence others to one’s advantage. In the extreme, it is a stratagem of tricksters, swindlers, and impostors who disrespect moral principles and take advantage of others’ frailty and gullibility. At the very least, manipulation is influence used to gain control, benefits, or privileges at the expense of the others. Manipulation can often derive from personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissism, or antisocial disorder.
Manipulation differs from general influence and persuasion. Influence is generally perceived to be harmless as it respects the right of the influenced to accept or reject it and it is not seen as unduly coercive. Persuasion is the ability to move others to a desired action, usually within the context of a specific goal. Persuasion often attempts to influence ones beliefs, religion, motivations, or behavior. Influence and persuasion are neither positive nor negative, unlike manipulation which is strictly negative.
Attitude is considered ones psychological construct, mentally and emotionally. Attitudes are held with respect to some aspect of the individual's world, such as an-other person, a physical object, a behavior, or a policy. Although many definitions of attitude have been proposed, most investigators would agree that a person's attitude represents his evaluation of the entity in question. Attitude is a way of thinking and feeling and it controls how individuals react. It must be emphasized that mere exposure and conditioning are concerned with attitude formation, not change. Attitude is what many consider the root of manipulative behaviors.