We all engage in manipulation.
It is a natural human instinct.

Sometimes we manipulate for material gain, and sometimes for emotional connection.

Sometimes the material gain we are pursuing is for others, and sometimes it is just for ourselves.

Sometimes the emotional connection we are pursuing is to build community, and sometimes it is to hide emotional damage.

Sometimes, even, the material gain we are pursuing is to help another hide their emotional damage. But that, in fact, is just an expression of our own emotional damage.

All manipulation is an effort to cope with insecurity.

Initially, all manipulation is to get people to act against their own best interest, as there is no way for a person to know what best interest means without experiencing it for themselves.

All manipulation creates insecurity.

Manipulation is the primary human tool\weapon.