PSYCHOMANIPULATION - Tomasz Witkowski

ehaviour is unaccountable) in order to gain time to strengthen his position. He can also obtain
concessions in view of the rule that “it is better to let an idiot have his own way,” if only for the sake
of peace and quiet. Finally, in conflict situations, his behaviour can expose the opposing party’s lack
of skills in the discussion and resolution of conflicts. The use of threats, which are a commonly used
weapon in the next stage of this strategy, creates an impression of irrationality, and can impede the
activities of the other party by forcing him to act much more cautiously. Irrational behaviour also
serves as a kind of smoke screen for the real activities of the manipulator. If we make the effort to
consider what the manipulator is really trying to achieve, we will find that in areas which are beyond
our control his actions are entirely rational, and it is the same areas which may subsequently turn
out to be of central importance for negotiations.
Mark Twain’s short story Interview is a wonderful literary example of irrational behaviour.
A young journalist approaches a famous writer in order to conduct an interview:
- I hope you don’t mind if I do a short interview with you. (...)
- Oh well, yes, all right. Ho Hum! Very well. (...) I went to the bookcase and after six or seven
minutes of browsing, I felt that it was time to turn round and look at the young man.
- How do you spell it?... – I asked.
- Spell what?
- Interview.
- Good Lord! What do you want to write that for?
- I don’t want to write it, I just want to check what it means!
- Hmm, it means, well, I must say, how strange. I can tell you what it means, if you--if you--
- Marvellous! That will do for me; I would be most obliged to you.
- In: i-n, ter: t-e-r, inter-
- So you spell it with an “i"?
- Of course.
- Aha, that’s why I couldn’t find it.
- Very well, Sir, but what letter did you think it began with?
- Oh yes, I... I- well, to tell you the truth, I don’t really know. I picked up an encyclopaedia
42