text: Emotional is far worse. Only someone who knows you very well can manage to do this, for they know the buttons to push. For example, if you'e a nice person who doesn't want to hurt other people's feelings, they can appeal to that side to get your compliance, i.e. by begging please, saying it won't take long, who else can help them, etc.  It's worse if your heart is involved because you will want to please them even though they make you unhappy. I equate emotional blackmail with manipulation, conniving, deceit by insecure control freaks. They will not be honest with themselves or others, and they can make life a literal h*ll. They will wear you out completely. I avoid these types of personalities at all costs, no matter how sweet or charming they may seem, because it's all a facade. They try to take advantage of your goodness for their own emotional needs without caring for you truly as a person and certainly they don't respect you.