Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Psychological Manipulation Essay

According to Preston Ni psychological manipulation is: “Psychological manipulation can be defined as the exercise of undue influence through mental distortion and emotional exploitation, with the intention to seize power, control, benefits and/or privileges at the victim’s expense.” Joyce Carol Oates authors an individual Arnold Friend to manipulate a vulnerable girl named Connie in the short story “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. Connie had a non-communicative family which included her mom, dad, and sister. A vivid stalker clearly knew much more about her then Connie knew about herself. Therefore, it lead Connie to be the perfect victim for Arnold Friend because of her family relationship problems and not a clear but more like

Connie’s parents are made up of a not so caring father and a judgmental mother: “Their father was away at work most of the time and when he came home he wanted supper and he read the newspaper at supper and after supper he went to bed. He didn't bother talking much to them, but around his bent head Connie's mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over.” (Oates 1). Here the author explains the father's actions when he arrives home. Connie’s father does not pay attention to her nor her sister, June. Her family is unstable and unorganized. Connie’s parents allowed her freedom: “There was one good thing: June went places with girl friends of hers, girls who were just as plain and steady as she, and so when Connie wanted to do that her mother had no objections.” (Oates 1). Connie was allowed to go out with friends with no one objecting, why or no. Her parents never asked the prompting questions “Where are You Going, Where Have You

Arnold was a stranger to Connie when he had barely arrived at her house. Connie appealed to Arnold when she heard his car radio stream the same program she loved: “Hey, Ellie's got a radio, see. Mine broke down. He lifted his friend's arm and showed her the little transistor radio the boy was holding, and now Connie began to hear the music. It was the same program that was playing inside the house. Bobby King? she said. I listen to him all the time. I think he's great. He's kind of great, Connie said reluctantly.” (Oates 4). Arnold Friend knew Connie’s life precisely. He knew what she liked and disliked. Friend also knew exactly the way to get into her sexual mind and lure her to him. Connie was confused and her two personas crashed together: “I’m your lover. You don’t know what that is but you will” (Oates 6). Friend saw Connie as his sexual object. Connie in her adult persona enjoyed that feeling of being stared at and wanted by a man. On the other hand, teenage Connie still trapped in her body somewhere speculated that Arnold Friend was no teenage boy and he was dangerous with no good