Mind games. Life's survival is based on the best of the best of mind games. Sometimes you just gotta get someone to do what you need, like diffuse a dangerous situation. Is it always right or morally ethical? NO. But please, let he is without sin cast the first stone. A little trickery goes a long way... often for good.
Redditor u/PM_ME_UR_PUPPYDOGS wanted us all to fess to some shady yet clever mind games we've all played.... What is the most effective psychological "trick" you use?
Be responsible with your powers....
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. TheGrog1603
Check! People are lemmings...
Set expectations low and blow peoples minds with my mediocrity. midnightcheese
Sometimes you just need a hug!
This isn't something I've used but I think it's worth sharing. Derren Brown said that once there was a muscley drunk guy that wanted to beat him up and said the classic "what are you looking at." Derren replied with "the wall outside my house is four feet tall." The idea is that it puts the aggravated person on the back foot and takes them out of that adrenaline filled state. Anyways he sat down and the guy started crying to him about his GF. He is Derren Brown though so I wouldn't recommend this to everyone. Jimeh86
I'm Listening....
I wear noise-cancelling headphones at work. 90% of the time they're not making a sound, I just want all my weird coworkers to back off. And it works. They are the Headphones Of Shielding. AdamFeoras
The Game of Love...
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. alskdjfhgtk
What they had said was....
To avoid workplace drama and be well liked is to just compliment people behind their back. jakobdee
I would never say this to her face, but she's a wonderful person and a gifted artist. HerpesHummus
Nod and Smile...
When somebody shy is speaking, if you look at them and nod your head it encourages them to keep talking. SectoidEngineer
I'm hard of hearing, I've spent a lot of my life nodding at my family to show I've heard and understood so they don't ask "did you hear that." I do it at work, especially in meetings. I get a lot of attention from the speaker as I look like the only person actively listening. nikkibic
Just 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). Amo4sho4sho
A Positive Outlook....
Instead of arguing I start off by agreeing and then state my point of view after addressing the other person's point. Always ends in a positive interaction. cloudstrife1191
Eye Contact!
When someone is trying to throw excuses or generally if they're getting a bit foolish 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. pinky0926
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