Motivation Vs Manipulation

Motivation and manipulation may have a lot of similarities in the way it affects the behavior of an individual - energized activity - but how far that activity is goal oriented or otherwise determine the cause.

Motivation is all about preparing an individual or preparing oneself to perform a set of activities, which are identified as tools to achieve the desired physical, mental or social status (e.g., healthy living, moving up the corporate ladder) that will enhance the individual's self esteem and confidence. Even though motivation can bud from few words or statements from others, the motivational speaker will have no or at the best coerced effect if the individual is not able to identify the goals to be achieved in order to satisfy the vision of his/her very existence. However, having identified the goals, no amount of negative persuasion can derail the spirit of achieving.


Manipulation - in context to speeches - are statements which, in general,  produce the same effect on an individual - "change a perception or behavior" - through underhand, deceptive or even abusive methods (Wikipedia, 2010:6). Manipulated speech can provide food for individual to perform a set of activities but not achieving goals that had been identified by the individual. The goals in this case, are set by the manipulator and reinforced by repetitive statements that produce frenetic activity among the listeners.


Motivation comes from selfless speech, wherein the interests of the to-be motivated person is placed before the interests of the motivator. For example, motivating an average performing employee by associating learning curves to performance, will encourage the employee to learn and benefit from the learning, which will create a sense of satisfaction thereby enhancing performance. Motivation has positive effects on the individual (being motivated) resulting in improved performance in tasks or activities that lead to achievement of goal(s).


On the contrary, manipulative statements are used by individuals to produce results that the manipulator expects from others, the results that are in the best interests of the manipulator. Manipulation can be identified if the true intention of the statement or activity, by the manipulator, is hidden.

By coping with manipulations, manipulators are further encouraged to manipulate (Real Life Spirituality, 2008 : April, 25). It is essential to dodge manipulations to perform task that lead to achievements of self identified goals. Akemi Gaines (2008: 1) adds 'know your action'. She puts 'actions towards one's aspirations' as an antidote to manipulations.


(Points of discussion referred from
Wikipedia (2010) 'Psychological Manipulation' Manipulation as underhand influence.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_manipulation [accessed 27 June 2010]


Akemi Gaines (2008), 'Dodging the many forms of psychological manipulations' Real life spirituality. http://reallifespirituality.com/psychological-manipulation-techniques/ [accessed 27 June 2010])