Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Most Effective Psychological Tricks They Use To Get By

It puts the lotion in the basket....

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

REDDIT

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshot from meme of Donald Trump looking out the window
Akatsuki_Lvmy/X

Video Of Trump Getting Distracted And Looking Out Window To Admire Ballroom Renovation Sparks Flurry Of Memes

President Donald Trump was widely mocked after footage from a meeting at the White House on Friday about energy policy showed how he suddenly got up to admire the renovations on his new ballroom through a window.

Several months ago, Trump ordered the demolition of the entire East Wing to make way for a 90,000 square-foot ballroom that will dwarf the size of the White House itself, sparking alarm from historical preservationists and the public alike.

Keep Reading Show less
Noah Wyle
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Noah Wyle Shows Off Adorable Homemade Award His Kids Made For Him After His Golden Globe Win: 'Best Night Ever'

Any parent who is successful at work can tell you that receiving recognition for their job is incredibly rewarding and affirmative of what they're doing with their lives... but receiving similar recognition from their children hits on a whole other level.

The Pitt lead Noah Wyle truly won it all this weekend when he attended the Golden Globes Awards night and returned home to yet another surprise.

Keep Reading Show less
Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images

'Leonardo DiCaprio's 1991 'Teen Beat' Interview Is Going Viral After Nikki Glaser Mocked It At The Golden Globes

During her monologue at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, host Nikki Glaser wasted no time roasting the room, and no target loomed larger than Hollywood’s most enduring bachelor mystery, Leonardo DiCaprio.

The 41-year-old comedian, returning to host for a second consecutive year on Sunday, Jan. 11, took aim at nominees including Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Kevin Hart, and DiCaprio during her opening remarks at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. But it was DiCaprio’s dating history—a subject that appears to age in reverse, much like his girlfriends—that landed the hardest.

Keep Reading Show less
Maxim Naumov
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Figure Skater Who Lost Both Parents In DC Plane Crash In Tears After Making Olympic Team

Beyond their talent, athletes have to be incredibly strong-willed, motivated, and filled to the brim with grit if they're going to make it to the Olympics to represent their sport and their country.

But figure skater Maxim Naumov demonstrated some next-level determination, stamina, and commitment to skating when he continued to pursue his dream of performing on the U.S. Olympic Team, despite both of his parents dying in a tragic plane crash in January 2025.

Keep Reading Show less
Amanda Seyfried
Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images

Amanda Seyfried's Unbothered Reaction To Losing At Golden Globes Is Seriously Iconic

Now that the Golden Globes have passed, it's time for that most cherished awards-season tradition: deconstructing stars' reactions to losing!

And this year, the award for Best Reaction to Losing inarguably goes to Amanda Seyfriend, who's gone viral for her hilarious response.

Keep Reading Show less