Re: Mind Games
^ To manipulate situations. It's a form of control......so that you can get what you want (whatever that might be).
Playing hard to get, for example, is a mind game used to attract the other person's attention. The objective being to get the other person to come after you. You're trying to manipulate the situation so you have more control of a situation that you might have previously thought unfavorable.
The "cold shoulder" can be like a mind-game. Used to pressure the other person into apologizing........or surrendering to your desires.
An abusive spouse might play a "mind game" where he abuses the wife for several days............and just when she's thinking of leaving.........her surprises her with unbelievable kindess.....making her think he "loves" her. He's hoping that the sudden affectionate gesture might cause her to STAY. He's trying to control the situation.
Sometimes mind games can be used for GOOD. A parent might use mind games to trick a child into eating all of his/her veggies, for example. A teacher might manipulate a situation to teach her students a valuable life lesson.