Manipulation: Text to World - Little Fires Everywhere

Manipulation tactics

Main5-6 key ideas

Guilt Tripping

Making someone feel guilty for their actions or decisions. puts individual in a position of submission, so they’ll do what’s asked of them to be rid of that guilt or is used to have power over others (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

Lying

Lying about information to coherence and control the people around them, for example spreading rumors about others (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

Flattery/Love Bombing

Giving excessive gifts, compliments to lower the victim's guard (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

'Moving the goalpost'

Constantly changing their expectations to keep you running towards their 'goalpost' (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

Instills doubt

They may confuse and make the victim doubt themselves to lower the confidence of their victims to make them easier to manipulate (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

Make their tactics seem normal

Try to justify their actions and mask intentions (Manipulation Tactics to Know, 2020; 8 Signs of a Manipulative Personality)

Reflected ideas in novel

Ms Richardson is manipulative character

Chapter 18

When wanting to get dirt on Bebe so the McCullough's could win their court case. She uses multiple manipulation tactics to try and convince Betsy to let her see the abortion files.

Guilt tripping

"Betsy, how many times have we stuck our necks out for each other?"

These tatics Ms. Richardson uses past things she's done for Betsy so that she'll feel guilty and do what Ms. Richardson asks of people.

"Betsy, I ahve to admit I'm hurt. That after all these years of friendship, you don't trust me"

In still doubt

"Well, you trusted my advice all through college, didnt you? And when I told you you should come to our Christmas party all those years ago? You trusted me when I told you that you should call Derrick instead of waiting for him to call you. And you were engaged..."

Ms Rcihardson lists the ways she's aided in Betsy's relationship with her husband, so that she'll doubt her stance on denying Ms, Rcihrdson's request.

Chapter 12

Ms. Richardson Talks to the Wright's

Lying

"I'm writing a feature about promising teen athletes whose careers were cut short. I'd like to talk to you about your son"

Ms. Rcihrdson lies ti Mia's parents about why she's there so she can gain information

Takes advantage of kindness

The section where the Wright's let Ms. Richrdson in

She takes advantage of their kindess and hospitality so that she can go forward with finding out Mia's past.

How does understanding and learning other people’s stories help me understand and navigate the world at large?

Learning key manipulation tactics and studying how characters may use them in Little fires Everywhere book can help me look for people who may try to manipulate me in the real world. Similar to how Ms. Richardson was trying to guilt trip Betsy by using previous ways she's helped her in the past. Ms. Richardson pins those deeds she's done for Betsy to put her in a positin of submission. Guilt Ms. Richardson attempts to instill in Betsy is used to make Betsy feel remorse for what she's done and make her want to do what Ms. Richardson asks of her to be rid of this guilt. Luckily in the book, her tatic ultimately fails. Reding how she uses her tactics and reading about how they manipulate the victim can help me look out for these tactics in real life and avoid them.