Tactic · isolation
Triangulation
"Everyone agrees with me." Bringing in a third party — real or invented — to outnumber you.
What it is
Pulling a third party — friend, family member, ex, therapist, or invented consensus — into a two-person conflict to swing power.
Sounds like
- "Everyone thinks you're overreacting."
- "Even my mom said you were out of line."
- "My ex never had a problem with this."
- "I talked to my friend and they agree with me."
Why it works
Suddenly it's not one voice against you — it's a crowd. You go from defending a position to defending your character.
What it does to you
You start managing an imaginary audience. You measure yourself against people who were never actually in the room.
Pattern check
- Do 'other people's opinions' show up whenever you push back?
- Are you compared to their ex, family, or friends?
- Do you feel like you're on trial for how you feel?
Reclaim
You are not required to defend yourself against a jury that was never assembled. This is a conversation between two people.
Next tactic
Future Faking