Manipulation is the act of influencing or controlling someone else unfairly or underhandedly to achieve personal goals. Feigning ignorance is a manipulation tactic that can be used to avoid accountability, confuse the other party, or gain the upper hand in a negotiation.

Narcissistic individuals feign ignorance so they don’t have to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Playing dumb is a way of avoiding responsibility. Pretending not to know or understand something to evade responsibility or gain an advantage is disingenuous, which is a pretty exact fit for "feigning ignorance."

Self-help authors sometimes "feign ignorance" to create a sense of relatability with their readers, making them feel like the author understands their struggles and is on a similar level, which can foster trust and encourage engagement with the presented solutions, even if the author is quite knowledgeable on the subject matter; this tactic can also be used to present complex ideas in a more accessible way by breaking them down into simpler terms. This approach will backfire if the author is not actually qualified to provide advice on the topic.

It seems ironic that even ancient philosophers feigned ignorance to stimulate others to articulate and defend their ideas.

Brent M. Jones

Brent writes with quiet confidence and curiosity, exploring communication, reinvention, and what truly matters. His reflections invite readers to slow down, reconsider their stories, and reconnect with the values that guide them. Through books, essays, and his What Matters newsletter, he offers writing that doesn’t shout—but still speaks clearly.

Reflections on communication, reinvention, and what truly matters—delivered in a quiet, thoughtful voice.