Goal Post Shifting

I understand this as a manipulative technique that combines totalist reframing with thought terminating cliches. You or your group or ideology want to exert undue influence over someone. But in order to do so efficiently, they have to accept that you deserve to do that and that they need or want to be controlled.

This central lie can be justified by any kind of system, anything can be co-opted. Neat! No one is safe! As long as you keep the victim from seeing the contradicions! They have to freely chose to give up free choice... tricky.

But never fear. If they ever question you (the group, leadership, dogma), turn it around on THEM immediately! Shift the goalposts from proving that you're legit, to making them prove that they're not complicit.

If they still try to weasel out, proclaim that they're ignoring important details in their misguided attemt to put together the bigger picture. Point them to a detail that is supposedly relevant (bonus point if it isn't) and that is a thought terminating cliche. End of discussion.

Or you complain that they pick apart a detail of something that their limited little mind can't grasp so, you admonish them: How dare you lose sight of the bigger picture! Tell them a thought terminating cliche that vaguely sounds deep.

The less your attack fits what they actually say and do, the better! It keeps them busy.

You can do this all day.

#abuse #gaslighting #MovingTheGoalpost #GoalPostShift #GoalPostShifting #totalism #totalitarianism #MentalHealth #recovery #cult #HighDemandGroup #psychology #manipulation #EmotionalAbuse