Manipulation is all around us – from advertisements to everyday conversations. Some people can spot it a mile away, others don’t even realise they are doing something they didn’t intend to do in the first place. Find out where you fit in.

We face dozens of attempts to influence us every day. The store clerk who says the promotion is only valid today. The colleague who asks you for a favor and then casually mentions how much it helped him last time. The partner who changes plans and suddenly you don’t know how you ever agreed. Manipulation isn’t just the domain of some big con artists – it’s a normal part of human communication. Some use it consciously, others unconsciously, and we all react to it differently. Interestingly, what works for one person doesn’t affect another at all.

There are basically three types of people. The first group has a kind of built-in alarm – when someone tries a classic trick, they immediately think of it. These people notice inconsistencies, ask for details and don’t get carried away by emotions. They are the ones who never buy anything under pressure and can say no even when the whole room is pushing them to the contrary. The second group are the empathetic adapters – people who want to be nice, don’t want to let anyone down, and often end up doing something they didn’t originally want to do at all just to maintain harmony. And then there’s the third type: trusting optimists who simply believe that the world is basically okay and people mean well by them. As long as you give them no reason to doubt, they take your word for it.

Neither of these approaches is absolutely wrong or right. Vigilance protects you from scams, but it can insulate you from sincere offers. A willingness to back down creates comfortable relationships, but can drain you of energy and money. Trustfulness brings ease and openness, but it also makes you vulnerable. Interestingly, most people think of themselves as belonging to the first category – but the reality tends to be different. It’s only under pressure or in an emotionally charged situation that who you really are becomes apparent.

What about you? Which type do you lean towards when someone really pushes you?