Manipulation appeals to emotions, and when a child manipulates, he uses anger, rejection or vulnerability to induce changes in the other that favor his claims. The traits that characterize these minors can begin as early as 10 years of age.
Overprotective parenting, for example, giving excessive attention, usually favors the learning of manipulative patterns. “Many minors do not manipulate out of cruelty, but because they simply see that some strategies work to satisfy their needs,” says Carlos Muñoz, director of the European Institute of Positive Psychology of Valdemoro.. Psychotherapist Claire Lerner, author of the book Why Is My Child in Charge? assures that during parenting manipulation does not exist as such, but rather it is a strategy. ‘Children are always motivated to get what they want and they will use all the tools they have at their disposal to help them achieve their goal, but, in principle, they do not try to drive their parents crazy on purpose,’ she emphasizes.