Psychological tricks can help you manipulate certain situations or even what you want. We’re not saying these are the perfect solution to every problem. Some people use psychology to mistreat others, but there are times when you need to use every tool at your disposal to get a favorable result.
Some Redditors decided to let us know about the psychological tricks they use most often. Maybe these can help you in the near future!
15. Weed The Options Out
“One that I picked up from a friend of mine whenever he was trying to pick out dinner with his gf: rather than ask `What do you want?’ and getting the typical ‘i dunno, anything’ answer and then having suggestions shot down. Start with “what do you NOT want?”
Used it a few times in some of my relationships and it’s the godsend question.”
14. Rephrase Your Request
“I work front desk in a medical office. Patients hate updating their paperwork.
I used to say, ‘look through the pages and make any changes.’ They would groan and reluctantly take the paperwork, or just complain about it. Now I say, ‘ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is make changes. Saying it that way makes them think it’s not much to do and they take the clipboard without complaint.
It’s the little things that make life at my office easier.”
13. Agree With Anger
If they are at a level 10 you come in at a level 7. Being completely calm, reserved and polite only pisses people off more as you “clearly don’t understand the magnitude of the situation.” If they are screaming and yelling you need to come in loud but not attacking them…agreeing with them (to a point)
Whoa, what the f**k is going on
I understand why you are f**king pissed I would be pissed too
Yeah, that is some bulls*** the situation really sucks
Look I get it I would be angry as s*** too but us screaming is going to get anything done no matter how angry we are
I’m with you I’d be just as upset
No doubt this is annoying but these are our options.
By agreeing with their anger they are more open to listen too you. You then use words to describe their feelings starting out at a 10..’fucking pissed’ and gradually bringing those descriptive words and your tone down to a 2 ‘annoying’
Works pretty much every time but there might be a little up n down in the middle just follow the person’s lead while always being a level below them.”
12. Say Hello With a Smile
“Saying hello to everybody you know, and with a smile.
Often people who know eachother from when they were in primary school or just from the block when they were young give eachother an awkward smile instead of an happy goodday! Just imagine… if someone walks into you twice a year and both times you smile and greet them enthousiastically, they will think of you as a nice person.
So little effort for a person to find you friendly!”
11. Weigh Instant vs. Delayed Gratification
“Think of my future self…
How will my future self feel in an hour or two if I skip my gym session?
Will my future self be happy if I do this pile of dishes now, before bed? Or would he prefer to have to do it in the morning, before work?
I have a three month deadline on this project, will my future self appreciate my current self taking the first three or four weeks easy, or will he be really pissed off?
…essentially delayed gratification. Pretty much all the bad stuff gives us instant gratification, while all the good stuff has delayed gratification. I always try to remember that – if I have to wait to reap the rewards then it’s probably the best option.”
10. Use Eye Contact to Divert Attention
“I used this technique at University where I couldn’t stand the thought of having to answer questions in front of a group of people.
So if you find yourself in a group situation where someone (a leader, tutor, manager etc) is asking questions that must be answered and you want to avoid being picked so that you don’t have to talk, then here is my tip. If the person locks eyes on you as they ask the question, then just as they are about get to the end of their question you break eye contact and look towards another person in the room and hold it. Their attention is diverted to that other person just as the question ends and the person they are now looking at feels compelled to answer. If however the person starts asking the question while looking at someone else then look at that other person and hold it so you can’t get suckered.
Use it sparingly because if you do it enough on the same person, they will be on to you.”
9. Make Someone Happy After Annoying Them
“Idk if this is an actual thing or not… or maybe just distractions… but when I do something annoying or bothersome to my husband and he goes quiet, I wait a few minutes and then I ask him a seemingly innocent question, usually on the subject of how certain parts of a car works, or something mechanical.
This gets him talking about the car thing and he rambles for like 5 minutes and then bam! He’s happy again and not quietly brooding. I’ll never tell him I do that because I’m afraid it won’t work anymore if he knows about it.
It’s foolproof though, it works every single time, no matter how bothered he is.”
8. Just Keep Nodding
“When somebody shy is speaking, if you look at them and nod your head it encourages them to keep talking.”
7. Make Them Laugh!
“I’m a professional poker player. When I am in a pot with one other player, I often try to make them laugh when they are thinking about what to do. If you can get them to laugh, it sets them in a mood where they are unlikely to bluff. (I talk a lot in general it’s very common to make jokes at the table even in hands).”
6. Use Music to Shape Your Mood
“Music.
Putting headphones in and playing the music that I know I’d want to hear if I was in the mood that I want to be in shifts me over to that mentally, and really helps when I need to calm down or when I need to feel happier.”
5. Let Them Talk Themselves Into a Corner
“When someone is trying to throw excuses or generally if they’re getting a bit arsey about something, often the best way to handle it is to stare back with mild interest and contribute nothing to their monologue. If you don’t give them anything to work with they’ll talk themselves into a corner and lose confidence in what they’re saying.
I learned this trick from an old Director who used to control pretty much any meeting room scenario by being the most silent and impassive person in the room. I fondly remember the time someone asked him a ridiculous question and he just stared at him for about 15 seconds. 15 seconds is a long time to be stared at in a room full people. The guy wilted into his chair and nobody could work out if the Director was angry or just quietly mulling it over.”
4. Shorten the Conversation
“My wife calls this the simplest most manipulative thing i do.
Whenever I bump in to an acquaintance (meaning not friend, just a person i know) I of course say hi and the conversation goes like this.
Me: Hey! How are you name? You look good!
Them: laugh Thank you, I’m good how are you?
Me: I’m great, i’m on the way to wherever i am going to at the time and I tell them why too. So what are you doing here?
Them: Go in to same detail to tell me where they’re going and why
Me: Alright, well I won’t keep you up any longer then I have, have a good day name!
It leaves people feeling good, takes away the awkwardness of cutting a convo short and it makes them want to leave.”
3. Force Yourself to Hiccup!
“If someone says they have the hiccups, ask them to prove it. 9/10 times, their hiccups will disappear. Having to summon a hiccup in order to demonstrate will trick your diaphragm into just Not Hiccuping.
I’ve been able to twist it around on myself with some success as well, but it takes practice. You realize you have hiccups, then /try/ to hiccup. Actively try to make yourself do another one.
It’ll stop.”
2. Ask Basic Questions
“If you need to deescalate someone and get them to communicate-
Asking questions about numbers/personal information (I work in emergency services)
If someone is totally distraught and shut down, asking their phone number/address/ssn/birthdate can pull them out of the emotional place and bring them back to a headspace where they can talk about what happened more easily. I often ask these questions even after I have the information just to deescalate.”
1. Suck Up To The Individual
“I work with a bunch of idiot lawyers and I use the phrase “you’re correct” all the time – even if it’s one teeny tiny thing they’re correct about, it makes them feel smart and they instantly soften…it also keeps them listening because they’re hoping more flattery will come down the pike evil cackle.”
Some of these tricks can help you make the conversation flow more naturally and help others feel acknowledged. Now that you know these tips, use them for good.
Are there any other psychological tricks that you think could help fellow readers? The comments section is a great place to share them!
