Manipulators do not appear to be manipulators, as they tend to act like nice and friendly people.
She is skilled at hiding her true intentions in order to gain a person's trust before revealing her true motives.
Knowing the three main patterns of toxic people's behavior will help you protect yourself from them.
Avoiding responsibility
Manipulators never admit their guilt.
They constantly shift the blame onto others because they want to avoid responsibility and hide their shortcomings.
They use denial, false reasons to justify their bad behavior.
Selective honesty
Toxic people only seem open and honest at first glance.
They practice selective honesty, carefully choosing what to reveal and what to hide.
Most often, there is an inconsistency in their stories or a reluctance to share information about their lives.
Gossip
Another sign of a manipulator is secret gossip.
Such a person will be kind to us in personal communication, but is capable of saying nasty things behind your back.
The manipulator uses this tactic to ruin your reputation, isolate you, and increase control over you.