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4.1.12. Seduction
Manipulators use this strategy in order to make themselves appear as caring and sympathetic people for the purpose of gaining people’s trust. They are aware of
the needs of others to feel approved, assured and valued.
Data 21
Ted Bundy : I’ve been told that the parents of these girls are fairly decent
people... I don’t know. I really feel for them because apparently these people suffered some incredible tragedy in their lives. The loss
of a loved one is probably the most extreme kind of loss one could suffer in this life, and I’d say, I feel as much for them as anybody
can.Appendix i, no. 20 This is an interesting strategy in language manipulation, because when used,
it makes the manipulators seem like they are truly honest and trustworthy, while in fact, they are manipulating people.
In his statement above, Ted expressed how he felt upon the victims family’s loss. These statements were uttered by him in 1977, when he denied that he had
committed murders. He showed that he felt the same way as anybody could for the victims’ parents. He even states, “.. apparently these people suffered some incredible
tragedy in their lives.” He used this manipulative statement to influence people’s mind, to make people think that he was genuinely caring for the victims and
therefore he could make people believe in him.
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4.1.13. Projecting the Blame Blaming Others
This is the strategy that manipulators use when they blame something else, such as circumstances or things as the causes of their bad behaviours.
Data 22
Ted Bundy : The issue is how this kind of literature pornography contributed
and helped mold and shape the kinds of violent behaviour.Appendix ii, no. 12, line 4-5
In his statement above, Ted projected his blame on pornography. According to his judgment, pornography has a contribution in helping him mold and shape his
violent behaviour. Simon 2000:91 says that manipulators are people who are skilled at finding scapegoats and they are expert at doing it in subtle, hard to detect
ways.
Data 23
Dr. Dobson : Would it be accurate to call that a sexual frenzy?Appendix ii,
no. 23 Ted Bundy
: That’s one way to describe it – a compulsion, a building up of this destructive energy. Another fact I haven’t mentioned is the use of
alcohol. In junction with my exposure to pornography, alcohol reduced my inhibitions and pornography eroded them
further.Appendix ii, no. 24 In his statement above, Ted claims that the use of alcohol also contributed in
building his destructive actions. Along with his experience in pornography, alcohol
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made him lose his self-consicousness and pornography urged him to act further. Clearly, he was making pornography and alcohol as scapegoats of his actions. He
projected the blame on pornography and alcohol and entailed that he was just taking horrible actions under the influences of these two things.
4.1.14. Minimization
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