Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we can barely control our actions. In this case, it’s not about emotional outbursts, but about situations where someone tries to intrude in your mind and change things there.
Creative Side describes amazing psychological tricks that will help you recognize situations in which someone is trying to manipulate or trick you. Now that you know them, you’ll be able to avoid any mind trap.
Amazing Psychological Tricks
1. Sensationalism And Urgency
The desire to be part of a community is an essential primitive need. Hotel booking sites often use this trick. When notifying people, the following phrases are used most frequently: only one room remains; The same room has just been reserved; 2 people are looking at this ad right now. In 90% of situations, it’s a trick.
2. Mixing Facts And Opinions
The main task of any manipulator is to place it in an illusory environment so that you do not perceive the manipulation, but you perceive it as a set of circumstances. For example, if you need to fire someone, you first show that he’s a bad worker. Dismissal would seem natural if the job is done poorly. Don’t get caught up in that. Evaluate your job performance sideways.
3. Stereotype Activation
Leo Tolstoi once said: “All happy families are equal; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” When we follow stereotypes, we unconsciously project them into our lives. This can be caused by the primitive need to feel unity with others. The next time you feel like you want to be like someone else, remember where that need comes from.
4. Don’t Think. Believe
The main task of a puppet master’s is to remove the victim’s awareness and deprive the victim of the ability to ask logical questions, imposing the idea of mindless believing. You think you make your own decisions, but it is an illusion. The manipulator can successfully plant an idea in your mind.
To avoid it, just stop and think about the following: “What can happen if I don’t achieve those goals?” You are sad when you don’t meet your own needs, but you don’t need to care about imposed ones.
5. Door-In-The-Face Technique
You can tug someone’s feelings of guilt and favor in someone to get what you want. They are more likely to agree to a second more reasonable request in comparison to a big one you asked for first. Also, they can feel obligated and satisfied when they help you.
In that case, you should understand that when someone makes you a favor, thanks are enough. You don’t have to pay for all the good works you did.
6. Non-Trivial Vocabulary
When we use special terminology, we intentionally decrease our opponent’s intellectual state. The opponent may experience serious discomfort due to his own incompetence. To completely break your trust, try to quote famous people. Now you can direct the conversation in the direction you want.
7. Fragmentation Method
The point is, you hide some facts about your life and intentionally expose others. Positive events are more common in all aspects of life. However, a specific fact taken out of context will not reflect the whole situation.
For example, a manicurist hurts you by accident when you move your hand. You’ll leave with a bad impression about the salon in general and all the workers there, but it doesn’t mean they are all bad.
8. Prior Agreement
Sometimes, we don’t have time to evaluate all the pros and cons, and therefore we agree to do something crazy. Remember that, in any situation, you have the right to decline or start looking for an appointment. And here the manipulations begin: “Dude, you promised to help!” Or “I thought I could trust you!” Don’t be shy about saying no and don’t feel guilty about it.
9. The Goebbels Method
© Fireworks Entertainment
Any ad is a good example. The main character of the film would not want to meet this girl so much if he had not seen her so many times before his trip. Don’t let them manipulate you and be careful with your choices. Reasons like “Just because I want to” and “I don’t know how it ended up in my basket” are not good enough.
10. Nonproductive Arguments
According to the survey, the outcome in 60% of the situations will be positive if you use the word “because”. It doesn’t matter what follows that keyword, because it seems quite reasonable. That is why we are willing to agree with opponents more frequently.
Try to listen carefully to the following arguments, because it is important.
What Is The Best Way To Get What You Want?
Now you know everything about mind tricks and traps and how to avoid them. No matter what your future goal is, you can choose between these 2: use tricks or achieve it yourself.
If you think about it, it’s much more rewarding when you don’t touch people’s feelings with tricks. We believe that it is important to have a firm point of view and not rush through many options.
Preview photo credit depositphotos
Author Mark Goulston, John Ullmen “Real Influence”, George A. Akerlof, Robert J. Shiller “Phishing for Phools”, Jo Owen “How to Influence. The Art of Making Things Happen”
