Coach Ziana, CBT

Mind Games vs. Personality Disorders

Photo complements of Charlie Solorzano

The difference between mind games and personality disorders (PDs) lies in intention, frequency, and underlying structure: mind games are often strategic, situational manipulation tactics, while personality disorders are deeply ingrained, inflexible, and chronic patterns of dysfunctional behaviour, thinking, and relating. While individuals with personality disorders (especially Cluster B) often use mind games to control their environment or manage internal distress, not everyone who plays mind games has a personality disorder. 

This section focuses on Mind Games, which are often intentional, designed to manipulate others and/or cause confusion. 

Examples of mind games:

• Gaslighting: Making someone question their own reality.

• Triangulation: Bringing a third person into a conflict for manipulative purposes.

• Love Bombing: Excessive affection/attention later followed by devaluation.

• Blame Shifting: Projecting responsibility for their actions onto someone else.

• Stonewalling: Ignoring or refusing to communicate with intentions of devaluing the other person.

In this digital world,  there are many who play these games. Let's look at a few, along with possible ways to change these behaviours: