Thecuy, pernah berhadapan dengan orang yang manipulatif? Menghadapi dan menanggapi seseorang yang bersifat manipulatif memang tidak mudah. Apa pun yang kita katakan, mereka selalu memutarbalikkan fakta dan membuat kita merasa bersalah. Bahkan, pada tahap tertentu, tindakan manipulatif mereka dapat membuat kita ragu terhadap ingatan atau keyakinan diri sendiri.
Anda mungkin pernah mencoba merespons mereka dengan berdebat atau memberikan penjelasan panjang lebar. Anda berpikir telah menyampaikan berbagai fakta, dan berharap mereka akan mengerti. Namun, menurut psikolog, respons seperti ini justru dapat memperburuk situasi, Thecuy.
Oleh karena itu, psikolog membagikan satu kalimat yang dapat membuat orang manipulatif benar-benar terdiam. Kira-kira kalimat apa itu?
<section id="section-detail-2" class="multi-card " data-page="2" data-page-title="Menurut Psikolog, Kalimat Ini Bisa Bikin Orang Manipulatif Diam Tak Berkutik" dtr-evt="halaman selanjutnya" dtr-sec="halaman selanjutnya" dtr-act="tombol halaman selanjutnya" dtr-id="325817" dtr-ttl="Menurut Psikolog, Kalimat Ini Bisa Bikin Orang Manipulatif Diam Tak Berkutik" onclick="_pt(this)" readability="50">
<h2 class="fw-bold fs-5">Psychologists Say This Phrase Can Silence Manipulative Individuals</h2>
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<img src="https://akcdn.detik.net.id/visual/2026/10/19/menurut-psikolog-kalimat-ini-bisa-bikin-orang-manipulatif-diam-tak-berkutik-1792387401453.jpeg?w=700&q=90" alt="Psikolog membagikan satu kalimat yang bisa membuat orang manipulatif diam tak berkutik. Ketika seseorang mencoba memanipulasimu, kamu bisa mengajukan pertanyaan ini kepada mereka: " title="Psikolog membagikan satu kalimat yang bisa membuat orang manipulatif diam tak berkutik. Ketika seseorang mencoba memanipulasimu, kamu bisa mengajukan pertanyaan ini kepada mereka: "/>
<p>Psychologists Claim This Phrase Can Silence Manipulative People/Foto: Pexels.com/Timur Weber</p>
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<p>If someone tries to manipulate you, you can ask them this question: "Could you elaborate on what you mean?"</p>
Citing Parade, psychologist Dr. Ashley Woodhull, PhD, says that when asked calmly, this question can confuse a manipulator and ease tension in the conversation. It shows you are not giving the emotional reaction a manipulator expects.
This phrase keeps you looking composed and in control, even when the manipulator wants you to react impulsively. Moreover, by asking this question, you shift the burden onto them. Now they are the ones who must provide an explanation, while you don’t need to be defensive.
So, in what kinds of situations can we use this phrase?
Dr. Woodhull provides an example. Take a gaslighting scenario. The manipulative person will deny having done anything wrong, insisting that your memory is faulty or that you are fabricating the incident. They might say, ‘That never occurred. You’ve always misunderstood or are just imagining it.’
You can reply to their statement with, “Could you clarify what you mean?”
But what if they keep questioning your reality? Dr. Woodhull suggests saying, “My memory of the situation is different. Could you point out the specific part that you think didn’t happen?”
If they persist with gaslighting, you can say, “I won’t argue about my memory. Let’s stick to verifiable facts.”
Gray‑Rocking Technique to Counter Manipulative Individuals
Gray‑Rocking Technique for Handling Manipulative People/Foto: Pexels.com/Timur Weber
Thecuy, if you have been responding to someone’s manipulative behavior by giving excuses, arguing, being defensive, or offering explanations, this response is actually quite normal and common.
However, it’s important to remember that if your efforts don’t yield results, it doesn’t mean you haven’t communicated well. Because, according to Dr. Woodhull, manipulative people aren’t looking for solutions. They just want control over the situation and over you.
“When you try to hold onto an argument, you actually give extra ‘ammunition’ for the manipulative person to attack you,” Dr. Woodhull added.
Essentially, manipulative people will provoke their interlocutor into feeling obliged to provide an explanation. After that, they will argue in order to gain control. As a result, you will feel increasingly misunderstood, which makes you defensive and trapped in an ‘emotional fog’ that drains your energy.
“They will use your emotional reaction as a weapon against you, while making you feel as though you are the guilty one,” Dr. Woodhull explained.
In addition to using the previously recommended sentence, Dr. Woodhull also suggests responding with a technique called ‘gray‑rocking’, which is a stance of non‑involvement.
“Gray‑rocking means you act like a bland gray stone,” she explained. “You should be boring and ordinary, instead of showing excessive emotions. To practice gray‑rocking, give a brief, calm, and neutral response.”
This attitude does not mean you are agreeing with what the manipulator says. Rather, you are acting like a hard and solid rock, appearing calm without emotion and unshakeable.
This method is effective because it neutralizes the main drivers of manipulative people: provoking an emotional response, gathering personal information, and looking for a way to prove you are wrong,” Dr. Woodhull continued.
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<p>(naq/naq)</p>
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