When someone challenges your character, realize that your composure and authority aren't just traits—they are the signals that dictate the social environment. Overriding a conflict without performing or reacting Reacting emotionally triggers a threat response in the other person that you are a threat to their identity, control or safety. The moment you react and attempt to defend yourself. Your raise your voice, just to try to prove them wrong or you start over explain yourse

Explore the beautiful state of true self-awareness and how observing your own thinking can unlock endless possibilities in your career and life. First-Person (Internal Focus) : You’re only focus is your thoughts. In first-person, you are a character telling your own story. You react guessing what other people are thinking. Second-Person (External Focus): You focus on what people think, says and do. You listen, watch and acknowledge another person without personal opinions, em

Manipulation Tactic: Ad Hominem Category: Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators Ad Hominem is a personal attack on the person making the argument, rather than addressing the actual argument itself. Core Psychological Characteristics Appeals to Emotion and Bias:  Instead of engaging with logic, the attack seeks to trigger emotional responses (like contempt, distrust, or anger) in the audience toward the opponent. This makes the audience less likely to objectively eval

Manipulation Tactic: Bait and Switch Category: Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators Bait-and-switch is a deceptive sales tactic that is often a form of fraudulent advertising.  It involves advertising an alluring, often low-priced product or service (the "bait") that a seller has no intention of selling, or has only a very limited stock of, to lure customers into their business. Once the customer is there, the seller pressures them to buy a more expensive, less desi

Manipulation Tactic:  Straw Man Category:  Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators Straw Man is when someone distorts and misrepresents an opponent's argument making it easier to attack, claiming to have defeated the opponent's actual position. The name comes from the idea that a man made of straw is easy to knock down, unlike a real person. The opponent replaces the strong, actual argument with a weaker, fictitious one that is easily defeated. Psychological Characteri

Manipulation Tactic:  Scapegoat Category:  Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators A scapegoat is a person or group that is unfairly blamed for the faults, mistakes, or problems of others, deflecting attention from those who are truly at fault. Deflection of Blame:  The primary function is to redirect negative feelings (aggression, frustration, guilt, or anxiety) away from the true source (which may be complex, or difficult to confront) onto a more vulnerable target.