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. Hist

Manipulation Tactic: Red Herring Category: Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators Red Herring is when someone misleads or distracts from an irrelevant topic into an argument or discussion to divert attention away from the original, central issue. It is a fallacy of relevance, meaning the premise, though it may be true, has no bearing on the conclusion or the core point of the debate. In Logic/Debate: It's an attempt to shift the conversation's focus to a new topic to

Manipulation Tactic: Psychological Projection Category: Psychological Manipulation Red Flag Indicators Psychological Projection is a defense tactic where a person uses their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, motives - characteristics to another person or group. The core function of projection is to protect the ego and manage internal emotional discomfort or anxiety by externalizing what the person finds threatening or undesirable within themselves. Psychological Characteri