- By Bornika Das
- Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Relationship Red Flags: Healthy relationships are built on trust, communication and mutual respect. In the world of romance, emotional dynamics play a major role between partners. Sometimes, emotions can take a dark turn without realisation and come out to be manipulative moves. Partners began to manipulate each other, disguising it as love, concern or even silence. Although men and women can both be at the receiving end, it is important for women to be careful about these manipulative moves.
The manipulation techniques can make women’s emotional well-being vulnerable, affecting their long-term happiness. Some partners use subtle, manipulative tactics to control the other without overt confrontation. These relationship red flags can erode the foundation of a relationship over time. Thus, it is essential to identify and recognise these tactics and important to work on them to achieve a respectful and loving relationship. From gaslighting, stonewalling and others, here are some of the manipulative moves that women should be careful of in romantic relationships.
Manipulation Techniques To Be Watchful By Women In Relationships
Gaslighting
This is a form of psychological manipulation where one partner makes the other doubt their perception of reality. The partner uses common phrases like “You’re overreacting” or “That never happened” to distort the truth and to create self-doubt. This manipulative move often makes the victim feel confused and dependent on their manipulator for validation. Fight gaslighting by trusting your instincts and seeking external perspectives if you feel that your experiences are being invalidated.
Silent Treatment
This is a passive-aggressive behaviour that is used to punish or control a partner. One partner withdraws communication rather than addressing conflicts openly, leaving the other confused and anxious. This manipulative move fosters insecurity and emotional distress, making the affected partner feel unworthy or ignored. In healthy relationships, there is a need to have open conversations, so rather than using silence as a weapon, discuss feelings and concerns with your partner respectfully.
Playing The Victim
Some manipulators tend to avoid responsibility by constantly portraying themselves as the victim. They deflect blame, exaggerate their suffering or make their partner feel guilty for expressing their own needs and feelings. Although genuine struggles should be resolved with empathy, repeated victimhood can be a tactic that must be watchful of by women in relationships. In a healthy relationship, both partners should take responsibility for their actions.
Manipulative Techniques To Avoid By Women In Relationship (Image Credits: Canva)
Stonewalling
This is a manipulative move when one partner shuts down conversations or refuses to engage in one, making it impossible to resolve conflicts. This technique leads to frustration and helplessness in the other partner. It is important to have effective communication that reflects openness and a willingness to resolve issues together rather than avoiding them.
Guilt Tripping
Guilt-tripping makes one partner use guilt to influence the other’s decisions. For instance, one partner might say, “If you really loved me, you would do this for me,” creating undue pressure on the other person, making them feel obligated rather than willing. The key to a healthy relationship is to respect boundaries and choices, thus, guilt should never be used as a means of control.