Playing Both Villain and Hero

When someone breaks what’s working just to fix it and take the credit, that’s manipulation dressed as mercy. This is a quick look at “manipulative control” to impact positive discernment from all angles.

*Step 1: Remove or restrict something valuable (a privilege, resource, or sense of safety).
*Step 2: Wait for the discomfort or dependency to build.
*Step 3: Reinstate it as if they’ve done something generous or heroic.

The person doing it gets to play both villain and savior, which keeps them in the dominant position. It creates an emotional loop where others start to associate relief with the manipulator’s “kindness,” even though the suffering was the manipulators own doing.

Our systems often celebrate the behaviors that used to be red flags. Confidence becomes entitlement. Leadership becomes dominance. Help becomes leverage.

Stay safe out there.