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There are emotional versions of common mob-related crimes.

An emotional gangster manipulates others using emotions.

Manipulation is always to the benefit of the emotional gangster.

In our culture, it is hard not to have stereotypes about mob activities. Perhaps what many of us know comes from The Godfather movies, The Sopranos series, or media coverage about various New York crime families. Don Corleone, Tony Soprano, and John Gotti are gangsters. These are tough guys—and while we may not have met any actual gangsters, most of us probably know some emotional gangsters. Some of us may even realize that we ourselves are emotional gangsters.

Emotional gangsters seek to enrich themselves emotionally, physically, and socially through the exploitation of others. Emotional gangsters are marvels at manipulation. (Emotional gangster is a gender-neutral term though there may be some gendered dimensions to the means used to manipulate others.)

An emotional gangster is someone who participates in emotional versions of some of the most common forms of mob-like criminal activity to further their interests.

Money laundering is a scheme that aims to turn illicit or illegally obtained funds into legitimate funds; it turns dirty money clean. A drug dealer who partners with a cash-heavy business like a laundromat can run his money........

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