What is the Difference Between Persuasion and Manipulation

The main difference between persuasion and manipulation is that, usually, persuasion associates with a positive outcome whereas, manipulation, commonly, associates with a negative outcome. Similarly, the intention in persuasion is more noble and positive while manipulation has an evil and negative intention.

A person can influence another in different ways. Thus, persuasion and manipulation are two ways of influencing another, especially using words or talking with the other person. Though these two have a common outlook on the whole, the impact or the result of these two differ.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Persuasion
     – Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Manipulation
     – Definition, Characteristics
3. What are the Similarities Between Persuasion and Manipulation
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Persuasion and Manipulation
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Behavior, Manipulation, Influence, Persuasion, Society, Words

What is Persuasion

Persuasion is the act of causing people to do or believe something, which will usually bring positive outcomes. Hence, if someone is persuading you to do something, usually that is something that will give you positive outcomes in life. Therefore, this term is most often used in religious contexts where the importance of faith is highlighted, persuading others to believe and act according to what the religious leaders have preached.

If someone says ‘it is because he/she persuaded me to do this’ then it means that someone has guided them to do something that has given that particular person a good result in the end. Therefore, unlike manipulation, persuasion has no evil intent.

What is Manipulation

Manipulation, the noun of manipulating, means ‘to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skilful manner”. However, it specifically refers to the act of controlling or playing upon someone by artful, unfair, or insidious means, especially to one’s own advantage.

Thus, manipulation implies an intention to mislead, victimize or fool someone else, especially for their benefit. Hence, being manipulated by someone leaves you in great harm and danger in the end.

Similarly, if someone accuses another of manipulating him, it means that he is complaining that the other is treating him badly or cheating him. Accordingly, manipulation is essentially evil and immoral. Manipulating someone indicates that you have a selfish desire to benefit by making the other party lose something or by cheating them.

Similarities Between Persuasion and Manipulation

• Persuasion and manipulation are  ways of influencing another person.
• Both make a person follow and be subservient to another’s skill or authority.
• Also, a person should be skilful and assertive to be both persuasive and manipulative.

Difference Between Persuasion and Manipulation

Definition

Persuasion is the act of causing people to do or believe something, which will usually bring positive outcomes. On the other hand, manipulation is the act of controlling or playing upon someone by artful, unfair, or insidious means, especially to one’s own advantage. Thus, these definitions explain the main difference between persuasion and manipulation.

Intention

Another major difference between persuasion and manipulation is that the intention in persuasion is noble and positive while it is evil and immoral in manipulation.

Impact/Result

The person who is persuaded by someone else will get something good as the result while the person who is manipulated will get victimized and will be badly treated by the person who manipulated. Hence, this is another important difference between persuasion and manipulation.

Trust

Trust is another difference between persuasion and manipulation. While persuasion can build trust on the other person, manipulation destroys the trust held on the other person.

Affiliation

Persuasion is more related to religious terms while manipulation is more related to immoral and evil acts, etc.

Conclusion

Since both persuasion and manipulation indicate a certain influence on someone, some people tend to think these two terms are synonymous, which is absolutely incorrect. Though they appear similar on that aspect, they have stark differences that should be considered. Thus, the main difference between persuasion and manipulation is that, usually, persuasion associates with a positive outcome whereas manipulation usually associates with a negative outcome. Therefore, the intention in persuasion is more noble and positive while it is evil and negative in manipulation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Poster – Friendly Persuasion 03” By Employee(s) of Allied Artists Pictures Corp. – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “876989” (CC0) via Pxhere