Manipulation
Manipulative behavior is the act of controlling or influencing others.
Most troubled adolescents are masters of manipulation. They attempt to get what they want or avoid consequences by pleading, begging, promising, instilling guilt, and pitting one parent or authority figure against another. Common manipulative phrases are:
- "You obviously don't care about me or you wouldn't do this"
- "I promise, I'll be good"
- "If you don't let me, I'll run away"
- "Dad lets me do it"
Adolescents, who are good manipulators, often break rules and defy authority. Since they do not have to suffer consequences of their behavior by manipulating, they continue to act out. Many of these youths have problems at school and eventually end up in trouble with the law. They have not learned to respect rules and believe they can manipulate their way out of any situation.
Teens cannot manipulate Mother Nature. Aspen Achievement Academy uses the rigors of the great outdoors to teach youth natural
consequences of their behavior. For example, all students have assigned tasks such as building a community fire, preparing the
meals or setting up shelters for the night. They must work cooperatively to meet the basic needs of the group. If a student refuses
to complete a task such as building the community fire, the entire community suffers by eating a cold meal.
Positive peer pressure and therapeutic process are used to address resistance, behavior problems, and manipulation by the group members. In such an environment, students quickly gain maturity, learn the meaning of self-reliance, and have a new appreciation for the care and privileges that came so easily at home.