Emotional blackmail is a form of subtle manipulation whereby the manipulator attempts to influence or control the target person through psychological and emotional pressure in order to get them to act in a certain way, to the detriment of their own interests and well-being. Emotional blackmail usually works in closer relationships (parent-child, family, couple, friendships), because the manipulator uses the meaning of the relationship and often tries to create feelings of (unjustified) guilt to get what he wants.