Defining Manipulation

What is manipulation? There is no single definition; manipulation comes in many varieties. But consider this understanding: Manipulation is a form of influence that does not respect its victim’s capacity for reflective and deliberative choice. That understanding captures many cases of manipulation, and it helps to distinguish manipulation from coercion and deception. Many cases of manipulation involve trickery or covert influence, which also fail to respect people’s capacity for reflective and deliberative choice.