7 Warning Signs of Emotional Blackmail and How to Stop It

Fear, obligation and guilt
The term emotional blackmail was popularized by leading therapists and psychologists Susan Forward and Donna Frazier in their 1974 book of the same name. The book also introduced the concept of fear, obligation and guilt, or FOG. FOG is what emotional blackmailers rely on for success. Their victims can be manipulated by them because they feel scared of them, obligated to them and guilty for not doing what they’ve been asked. The blackmailer knows very well that their victim feels like this, and quickly learns which parts of the FOG triad are most effective in manipulating them. They get to learn which emotional triggers will work. Emotional blackmailers, like any abusers, are often very good at spotting the people who are likely to respond to them the best.