When you are dealing with someone who may be manipulative or aggressive, you should always remain calmer than the other person and avoid escalating conflicts in any interaction. Simply put, the more emotional the other person becomes, the more you need to stay calm, because once you also get emotional, it’s like being pulled into their rhythm. Try not to show obvious reactions to what they say, even if they make exaggerated or provocative remarks. You can respond with neutral replies like “Hmm, okay” or “I understand what you mean.” Many manipulative people try to gain control by provoking your emotions. In a conversation, the person who reacts the least emotionally and stays the calmest often has more control. Because they are not influenced by the other person’s emotions, they won’t be led around by them.