Taiwan’s bestselling book of 2017, Emotional Blackmail has sold over 110,000 copies and spent 34 weeks on the Books.com.tw bestseller list.
The concept of emotional blackmail was first posited by the renowned psychotherapist Susan Forward, and it refers to situations when one person induces negative feelings (such as failure, guilt, and fear) in another by being demanding, applying pressure, or refusing to communicate. Emotional blackmail occurs between employers and employees, between parents and children, and between partners, and it often results in a vicious circle of mutual distrust and resentment.
Chou Mu-Tzu explains how emotional blackmail functions with clarity and precision, and analyzes the kinds of mentality that are most susceptible to this negative cycle. She advocates a sense of self-worth and the establishment of clear emotional boundaries as the most important bulwarks against its effects.
The case studies in this book are all especially relevant to Asian cultures, where the traditions of filial piety and the veneration of authority make emotional blackmail a particularly pertinent topic. These practical examples are used to illustrate some of the more specialized psychological terms, making it easy for the reader to come to an understanding of how to avoid becoming ensnared in emotional blackmail.