What is manipulation? LO16001

Richard C. Holloway (learnshops@thresholds.com)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 18:35:55 -0800

Replying to LO15981 --

Mnr AM de Lange wrote:

> Here is another question to think of in the mean time:
> Can we and may we manipulate other people?

ahhh, a question which, in a slightly different form, frequently occupies
my mind. I know that I can and do manipulate people. My question is an
ethical one--should I manipulate other people?

I thought very quickly of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu, when I read your
question. I also thought about how babies quickly learn to manipulate
their care givers, through behavior.

In organizations and societies, we manipulate through norms--and when
those don't work, coercion or punishment works. That's why I find this an
issue of ethics. I try to apply the principle of harm when considering
whether or not to behave in a manipulative way. The problem lies in not
forseeing the consequences of manipulating people, so that despite a
benign motive, errors are made.

That is why I am becoming more and more convinced that I should avoid all
attempts at manipulation. Instead, by exercising openness,
self-differentiation, advocacy and assertion, I can express myself and my
needs in very direct ways. This doesn't eliminate being direct--even
being directive--when the need arises--but it does eliminate the need to
control other people's lives and behavior through deceptive or indirect
means.

finally, remember Shakespeare used manipulation in many of his plots--most
of them were comedies, as I recall--with great success in pointing out the
foibles of people.

regards,

Doc

-- 

Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Your partner for workforce development Visit me at http://www.thresholds.com/community/learnshops/index.html Or e-mail me at <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com> Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2361 Phone: 01 360 786 0925 Olympia, WA 98507 USA Fax: 01 360 709 4361

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