6 Signs Your Partner is Manipulating You (2 of 4)

Passive-Aggressive Behavior

Even in healthy relationships, couples will occasionally have their differences. But when they are mature, mentally stable people, they will find solutions. But when somebody is manipulative, they will deny there is any problem at all even when it is clear they are upset. They might, for instance, use avoidance tactics, which ultimately means nothing gets resolved since they refuse to allow the problem to be addressed. Or they will respond with bitter sarcasm, a technique that is intended to make you feel upset and even guilty, even when you still have no idea what you did wrong. Being passive-aggressive is also used when they want to bait you into asking them what’s wrong instead of simply telling you.

Lying and Blaming

When somebody acts as a manipulator, their goal is often to avoid having to be accountable for anything. They will say things that are not true, or they will exaggerate in order to make themselves look better. When they find themselves in a difficult situation of their own making, their self-inflicted problems are all your fault. This behavior shares certain elements with gaslighting. Although we are all occasionally guilty of telling harmless little white lies, those who are emotionally manipulative will tell lies that have serious repercussions.