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 evalu

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 Characterist