Mind Games - March 11, 2015

 

Proverbs 21:20 ESV      Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Matthew 7:15 ESV      “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Galatians 5:7-8 ESV      You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

Proverbs 4:23 -24      23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.…

Mind Games are deliberate manipulative attempts to psychologically control someone. They are covert, coercive, manipulative intentions masked by innocent sounding communication. The language of a Mind Game  is designed to confuse and keep the victim from knowing the perpetrator’s true aim.

Some of the Mind Games used to psychologically confuse partners include the blocking from clarifying his ambiguous messages, questioning judgments, and manipulation by responding with lies. Mind Games are an attempt to brainwashing someone into believing they are the guilty party and their viewpoints are irrelevant or pathetic, and need to be realigned to viewpoint of the person attempting to gain power.

Mind Games are especially powerful when the victim totally trusts the perpetrator and believes both their roles in the relationship are well defined and socially ‘normal’.

Mind Games entail brainwashing – a notion that we usually associate with cults or terrorist hostage tactics. But, the truth is, brainwashing is happening nonetheless. Ordinary people attempt to brainwash their partners when they say one thing and do another. For example when partner lectures about a life philosophy of caring for others, but only enacts such caring towards others outside the family – not the partner. They brainwash their partner when they appeal to  instinct and desire to care by saying, “If you really love me you’d do what I want”. This gets confusing when you love and trust your partner. But he/she is slowly – one tactic at a time – oppressing and controlling. It’s insidious – and it can take a while to see, and to realize this is a pattern.