Psychology Tricks
These techniques are presented as effective yet potentially manipulative tools for influencing behavior in social interactions. 1
The Power of Silence: “Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
- Silence makes people uncomfortable.
- They fill the gap, often with more information than they intended.
The Ego-Bait Technique: compliments can manipulate even the strongest people.
- We all crave validation. Even those who pretend they don’t care? They care. I know I do. And if you tell someone what they want to hear their guard drops.
- “Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don’t swallow it.” – Hank Ketcham
- Compliments can be the backdoor to someone’s mind. Use only if they’re genuine enough to pass as believable.
- Stroke their ego: Make them feel important.
- Be sincere enough to be believable.
- Compliments lower defenses, making people more receptive.
- People want to feel seen, to be heard. Stroke the ego just enough, and they’ll give you what you want.
Agree to Disagree: the fastest way to change someone’s mind isn’t arguing with them.
- We all hate being wrong. It’s an attack on our identity. So, when someone comes at us with facts, we put up walls, defend our ground, and shut them out.
- But what if, instead of attacking, you agree?
- “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” – Dale Carnegie
- If you want to win people over, you first have to make them feel understood. Never to argue but instead acknowledge the other person’s perspective.
Mirror Like You Mean It: Mimicking someone’s body language can make them like you.
- “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” — Oscar Wilde
- You’re showing them, without saying a word, that you’re on the same page.
- Mirror their posture: Not in a mocking way, but slowly.
- Reflect on their tone and pace.
The Underdog Manipulation: Sometimes being the underdog isn’t a disadvantage—it’s leverage.
- When you let others see a bit of your struggle, you’d be surprised how they react. They step in to help. They want to see you succeed.
- When you present yourself as someone who’s almost there but could use a boost, people naturally want to be the hero.
- Show vulnerability, but don’t overdo it.
- Invite empathy, don’t beg for pity.
- People love helping the underdog.
The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): when we think something’s about to disappear, we want it more. We think, what if I miss out?
- FOMO can push people to act, sometimes irrationally, just to avoid that feeling.
- Scarcity drives desire.
- People hate being left out, even if they pretend not to care.
The Confession Game: if you confess something mildly negative about yourself first, the other person is more likely to trust you.
- It sounds counterintuitive
- But, When someone confesses something vulnerable, you feel closer to them. Like they’re letting you in. So you reciprocate.
Psychological techniques that can influence human behavior
- Silence: Using silence in conversation to control the room and gain concessions.
- Ego-Bait Technique: Using sincere compliments to lower defenses and make people more receptive.
- Agree to Disagree… Then Twist the Knife: Instead of arguing, agree first to build rapport, then gently introduce your counterpoint.
- Mirror Like You Mean It: Subtly mimicking someone’s body language to foster a bond and make them like you.
- The Underdog Manipulation: Showing vulnerability to invoke empathy and gain support.
- FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Leveraging the psychology of scarcity and the fear of missing out to drive action.
- The Confession Game: Admitting a mild flaw to create trust and make others feel closer to you.