Overthink Manipulation
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Jan 20, 2026 Explore the intriguing world of manipulation and the traits that define manipulative personalities. Discover how manipulators often employ covert tactics like gaslighting and feigned confusion. The discussion delves into the ethics of manipulation in politics, drawing on Machiavelli's views on power and virtue. Should leaders embrace badness for effectiveness? The hosts also debate how to spot manipulators and protect oneself, emphasizing setting clear boundaries and understanding one’s vulnerabilities. Not all manipulation is inherently negative—where do we draw the line?
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Discovering The 48 Laws In Youth
- Ellie recounts discovering Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power as a teen and trying to apply its seduction advice with little success.
- The book framed power as practical stories and left her morally unsettled about manipulation as a strategy.
Manipulation Traces Back To The Hand
- 'Manipulate' literally ties to handling things with the hand and explains why humans are built to manipulate environments and others.
- This etymology invites a broader view of manipulation beyond interpersonal trickery to include tool use, science, and magic.
How Broadly Should We Define Manipulation?
- A broad definition of manipulation is simply exerting interpersonal influence for one's own advantage.
- Under this view many everyday acts, from advertising to nudging, count as manipulation and make the term ethically neutral unless narrowed.
