Manipulative people rely on control, deception, and emotional influence to get what they want. Their tactics may range from subtle guilt-tripping and flattery to more direct lies or psychological pressure. When someone falls for these tactics, the manipulator often responds not with gratitude or respect, but with disdain. They begin to view the person as foolish or naïve — someone easily played. This reaction reveals more about the manipulator’s worldview than the intelligence of their target.

Control Replaces Respect

At the core of manipulation is a desire for control, not connection. Manipulators are not looking for mutual understanding or shared truth. They are seeking outcomes. When a person accepts their version of reality or gives in to their pressure, the manipulator doesn’t see this as cooperation. They see it as a win. And when someone is easy to control, they become easy to dismiss.

This mindset turns relationships into a hierarchy: the manipulator sees themselves as clever and superior, while the person they deceived is seen as weak or gullible. The more easily someone gives in, the more the manipulator mentally reduces them to a pawn — someone to use, not someone to value.

Deception Breeds Contempt

There is a psychological phenomenon known as the “cheater’s contempt.” People who lie or deceive often project their guilt outward. To avoid facing their own wrongdoing, they rationalize it by blaming the victim. In manipulation, this becomes: “If they believed me, they must be stupid.” This mental trick allows the manipulator to avoid shame. Instead of feeling bad for lying, they focus on how gullible the other person was.

Over time, this attitude grows into contempt. The manipulator starts to see honest, trusting people as foolish by default. They mistake openness for weakness and assume that anyone who gives them the benefit of the doubt lacks intelligence.

They Overestimate Themselves

Manipulative individuals often operate under the illusion that their success in deceiving others is a reflection of their superior intelligence. In reality, it often reflects the trust, empathy, or emotional openness of the people around them. But manipulators misread these qualities as defects. They confuse decency for stupidity and interpret kindness as a flaw to exploit rather than a strength to respect.

This inflated view of themselves gives them permission, in their own minds, to manipulate without remorse. If they see others as beneath them, then using those people becomes justified in their internal logic.

They Fear Being Exposed

Ironically, manipulators often fear being outsmarted. If someone sees through their tactics, they may feel threatened or embarrassed. But when someone falls for the manipulation, it confirms their illusion of control and temporarily soothes their insecurity. Calling others dumb becomes a defense mechanism — one that masks the fact that manipulation itself is a form of cowardice. It avoids honest conflict, real vulnerability, and mutual respect.

Conclusion

When manipulative people think others are dumb for falling for their tricks, it reveals their contempt for both truth and people. They see the world as a game, and other people as tools. But their judgment says more about their own lack of character than the intelligence of their targets. Trust is not foolishness. Being kind, open, or forgiving is not a sign of low intelligence. If anything, it takes strength to stay decent in a world where some people choose deceit over honesty. Manipulators may win short-term advantages, but they lose something far greater — the ability to genuinely connect, be respected, and grow.