What’s the difference between manipulation and influence?
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Manipulation often is an act one person does purposefully to another person or group, often at the expense of that person or group’s self-interest. Usually when people say they feel manipulated, it means that they did something they really didn’t want to do in the first place. Like one level below being forced to do something.
Influence is a broader concept of a person or group’s actions taking into account (not necessarily fully determined by) another person (the influencer). It often involves actually appealing to a person or group’s self interest, as opposed to manipulation.
Influence is not necessarily direct, either. For example the culture within an organization could have been a result of the influence of a charismatic leader who has long died or left the organization. His or her influence is still being felt today.
So influence is much broader and you can think of manipulation as a specific, nefarious form of influence.
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