I would venture to opine that in any practical sense "manipulation" and "persuasion" are synonyms, and that "persuasion" is simply a more polite way of manipulating. In a very real sense, all proactive communication is "manipulation"; that is to say, by the very act of communication I am expressing that I see such-and-so and wish that you see it as well.
"Please pass the salt, dear!" is overt manipulation. "Is there a salt cellar at the end of the table down there?" is covert manipulation. In each case, the "desired" result is to get salt on the food.
In the fundamental sense, absent the need to say "I want..." there is no need for speech.
(robt)
|