What is Manipulative Behavior, Anyway?
AUTHORS(s): Nancy NyquistPotter, PhD CEUs: 1 VIEW PAPER (free without CEUs) One of the most common ways of characterizing patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is that they are manipulative. Clinicial usage of the term varies widely, but clearly carres a perjorative meaning. Furthermore, behaviors that look similar to those called manipulative in clinical contexts are not called manipulative in broader society. It is crucial to become clear on what manipulation is, because studies show that carers routinely perceived BPD patients as manipulative and so have less empathy for them. In this paper the concept of manipulativity is clarified and its scope narrowed by distinguishing it from a number of related concepts, and a number of reasons why manipulating others is morally objectionable are suggested. Learning Objectives: 1. To identify behaviors most appropriately labeled manipulative. 2. To determine when it might be problematic to call patients manipulative. 3. To ex
