Mind Games: How To Overcome Manipulative People?

I chose this podcast because it covers a subject that everybody around the world, regardless of their culture, class or gender, can connect with.

It is about the mind games that people use in their daily lives. So many times we use mind games consciously or unconsciously. And in so many cases we are subjected to one of those games by our partners, colleagues, managers, sale persons or politicians.

I have to add that the language of the podcast is really easy and does not contain too much psychological terminology, so the people who want to improve their listening skills in English can both practise their English and gain important information about relationships.

In this podcast Dr Gary bell speaks about psychology in a very simple and interesting way. He informs us about the different types of mind games, the motivation behind them, and how we should deal them.

Some of these mind games are:

- disqualifying people: this method is used to project the jealous from other people's success

- forgetting: dates, appointments or promises to make others feel that they are not important enough to be remembered

- passive aggressive behaviours

- persecuting people: by putting them on spot and excluding them for doing some thing, e.g. practising religion

- shaming others

- guilt trapping: which means making people feel guilty for doing something that not necessarily is wrong

- love bombing: or showing people fake affection! 

Dr Bell calls this method “automatic defense mechanisms that are learned in childhood. Mind games are often subconscious patterns people use to get what they want".

After we learn about mind games, what is our role?

Play the game or be passive or set our boundaries to protect ourselves?

I leave you with this entrancing podcast to find out.