Here’s how to spot guilt trip signs, plus how to deal with it, according to experts.
What does “guilt trip” really mean?
Why it’s not OK to guilt trip someone.
Is guilt tripping a form of gaslighting?
Guilt tripping is more about making someone feel bad or guilty for their behavior.
Reasons for guilt tripping.
There are plenty of reasons that people resort to guilt tripping, whether subconscious or very much conscious.
But the key is they’re not willing to be outright about what they’re wanting from the interaction.
“In other words, our guilt around our own needs makes us guilt trip other people.”
How to respond to a guilt trip.
With all that said, Page and Birkel both recommend extending compassion when it’s possible for you to.
“Underneath the guilt tripping is a request, hidden in blaming, passive-aggressive behavior,” Page explains.
And as Birkel notes, that hidden request is often compassion and understanding.
Birkel suggests starting there, and to emphasize that you understand why they’re feeling the way they do.
That can sound like “I understand why you’re upset, and I apologize for X.”
But the good news is, the more you practice healthycommunication, the easier it becomes over time.
The bottom line.
Guilt tripping can range from small, rare instances to extreme cases of manipulation.
