RE: Manipulation: Who is pulling your strings?
Reading this brought back childhood memories and I will be introducing a different twist.
The fear of punishment from parents could make a child to become a manipulator or puppet depending on the scenario.
I remember how I sometimes held my brothers to ransome for watching TV against dad's instructions. They would buy me all sorts at my bidding in order for me not to leak the secret.
I was forced into doing laundry for my brothers too in order for them not to report my wrong doings to our parents.
In order for children not to fall victim of manipulation, especially now that child abuse is on rampage, parents should strive at building the confidence of their children such that the kids know that when they err, they can still talk about it.
This will prevent the older ones around from manipulating them.