# 53. Social manipulation ## 53.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 53.5.1. Actor-observer bias This is a tendency to explain the behaviour of other people as the result of their personality rather than their environment. On the other hand we frequently exaggerate the influence of our own environment and downplay the influence of our own personality on our own behaviour. This tendency blames others for their behaviour because they are inherently "bad", but excuses our own behaviour because we are just helpless victims of a poor environment. A manipulator uses this bias to alienate and demonise victims by attributing their bad behaviour to their inherent evil selves. The manipulator remains above such blame by claiming a damaging environment for any of his own particular moral offences.