10 Phrases Prisoners Use to Test a New Guard (People Use Them on You Daily)

Manipulation almost never sounds like manipulation. It sounds friendly, harmless, sometimes even helpful. That’s exactly why it works, and why most people never realize they’re being tested. In this video, I go through ten phrases I heard prisoners use to test new officers during my 28 years inside a maximum security prison. Every one of them had a purpose: to find out how far a guard could be pushed, how badly he wanted to be liked, and where his limits really were. Some become obvious once you hear them explained. Others are so subtle that even experienced staff fell for them. The surprising part is that manipulative people out here rely on the very same approach every day. Learning to spot these manipulation tactics and the red flags behind them is the first step to protecting your personal boundaries. If this video helped you recognize something you’ve heard before, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one. Tell me in the comments which of these phrases someone has used on you. I read them. And if you know someone who tends to trust too easily, share this with them. The test always comes before the takeover.