My Son is seven, he has speech and language but it’s delayed. He has been asking a lot of treats from the local shop, he’s also had loose stools which have made him anxious and resistant to being changed as he isn’t yet toilet trained. He was saying to his Dad change then mousse from the shop as earlier when he’s Grandma changed him she said change then you can look at my phone to pursuade him. My husband his Dad said our Son was manipulating us
Manipulation by definition is a type of control an other or others. Technically, all adverts use a form of manipulation through propaganda or influence of a sort. And in many instances in society, the ability to manipulate is actually rewarded. It's a Social Mechanism requiring an excellent skill with the dominant use of language (vocabulary, syntax, form, gestures, art, etc.) and empathy (relating with and responding as expected).
One of the few very fundamental factors which express the 'Autistic nature' involve a difference with language including a difference in motives, intent and desires. Our differences are often spoken about as a drive toward truth and understanding our envriomental-physical milieu as priority over the social. These are so different that there is not only often a loss in translation, but a difficulty relating with our NeuroTypical peers who might appreciate a bit of social competition in ways we find odd, if unattractive.
All this said, it's good to note that Trauma is often miscalculated and mistaken for Autism.
I'd feel quite certain that most Non-Autistic children might 'try out' and play with forms of social Hierarchy in order to learn how to merge into adulthood, but are just not mature enough nor skilled enough to successfully deceive. And while I'd encourage Negotiating tactics in my own son, a clever enough adult should be able to see when a small human is practicing 'Adult' social skills.
But I sincerely doubt an Autistic child would desire to manipulate unless in very extreme and traumatic circumstances. Even if they were "trying out" the art of manipulation as they perceive it, they'd perform this rather poorly.
