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This type of mother-in-law is usually manipulative because she feels as though she is losing her son. It is almost an insecurity that leads her to feel that there is a competition between you as to who can care for her son the best. ... She will feel useful and needed, and this may solve the problem.

In-laws who are toxic have no sense of what's appropriate when it comes to boundaries or knowing their place. “They show up unannounced, stay longer than you want them, and constantly tell you what to do,” says Ross. What you can do: Along with your partner, set firm boundaries upfront.Sep 9, 2021

Researchers tracked the couples over time and collected data, including whether or not the couples stayed together. Marriages in which the wife reported having a close relationship with her in-laws had a 20 percent higher risk of divorce than couples where the wife didn't report a close relationship.Dec 4, 2012

• And they have good reason. In-laws are hopefully forever, and it is so easy to damage these relationships. But when your in-laws don’t communicate their needs, their views often come out in manipulative ways as you seem to have experienced.

• Your manipulative mother-in-law is trying to show her son that she is still necessary in his life. She may feel insecure over losing him and feel the need to prove her value. The best thing you can do is thank her for her help and make her feel valuable. Over time, you may be able to win her over and find a healthy role for her in your life.

• Dr. Toni Falcone, a licensed psychologist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, adds that, in order to fully understand manipulative parents, it’s key to make the distinction between “manipulation” and “persuasion.” Manipulation, per Falcone, is a desire for one’s own needs to be met, at any cost, without considering the consequences or impact on others.

• If any of these situations seem relatable, then you might be the victim of emotional manipulation. Emotional manipulation by parents can lead to devastating consequences for children, leading to low self-esteem, anger, resentment, and shame. Ironically, shame and guilt are primary tactics of emotionally manipulative parents, according to experts.

Manipulative people are really not interested in you except as a vehicle to allow them to gain control so that you become an unwilling participant in their plans. They have several ways of doing this, as many of you will recognize.

In psychological manipulation, one person is used for the benefit of another. The manipulator deliberately creates an imbalance of power and exploits the victim to serve his or her agenda. Most manipulative individuals have four common characteristics: