The Ultimate Guide - Manipulation by Jacob Staples (paper ebook reader TXT) 📖

Worst Case Scenario

 ”The drinking age should be lowered from 18 to 16” - ”and what next, 14? And then 12? 10? And soon children would be drinking beer! Do you want that?!” to deconstruct your opponents credibility, establish a worst case scenario. To do so, chip away at your opponents argument gradually until the ‘final product’ sounds so terrifying that even your opponent would not want to defend it. As a result of this domino effect the main thing that your opponent will remember is the last thing that was said: the worst case scenario. Nothing will remain for your opponent but retreating and voluntarily withdrawing their argument.

Keywords

 So you’re on the back foot and have already used all of your arguments? Out of ammunition? Turn to keywords that trigger emotion in your opponent (”conspiracy”), paint pictures in their mind (”terrorist attack”) or can be broadly defined (”social responsibility”). The buzzwords divert the opponent from their argument, if this war of words is precisely implemented, the opponents subconscious will focus on the meaning of the keyword. They will be distracted, weakened and on the defensive.  

Time Pressure

 This technique is the very last exit strategy, in this last ditch attempt the manipulator confesses they have a very short amount of time available - virtually no time at all. After all, as soon as people are put under time pressure, they give in much more easily. The gist: ”you can decide. I have to go in five minutes, and you wont be able to contact me when im gone”. Studies reveal that these sorts of statements will generate negative stress in the person being confronted. They will feel under pressure and in most cases will decide in favour of the person questioning and berating them.

Setting

 Like yawning, failure is highly contagious. Studies at american universities prove that those surrounded by successful people are more likely to achieve success later on. And vice versa. If you’re surrounded by losers, there’s a danger that you’ll never achieve your potential.

Censorship

 James greets his new work colleague Frank with a serious look: ”welcome on board, it will be extremely difficult for you to build contacts in the firm here, most people hate being spoken to while working. But if you need help, just ask me.” what sounds like a friendly offer is, on closer inspection, the opening gambit of James’ strategy to manipulate Frank so that he will be able to control him in the future. In the process James uses the censorship technique: the manipulator tries to prevent the victim from receiving information from other sources and only reveals certain facts.

11 Powerful Manipulation Tactics

 

 

Because of (LOGIC): These words satisfy the human expectation of a reason, no matter how absurd the argument. This was shown in an experiment: in a queue to use the photocopier, only 7% of those waiting refused the request ”can i go first because i have to copy something?”.

 

 

 

Only (DOWNPLAYING): Using words ‘only’ and ‘just’ weakens the effect of negative statements aimed at the opponent.

 

 

 

Yet (HOPE): If you incorporate ‘yet’ into a sentence (eg. I don’t know YET), you generate trust in the listener and the feeling that it is only a matter of time until something is achieved.

 

 

 

Statistics (SCIENCE): If you underpin your arguments with statistics you have a bigger chance of getting your listeners to believe you, but watch out, too many figures can overwhelm the persons listening.

 

 

 

We (UNITY): The word portrays communal values, belonging and generates agreement in your opponent.

 

 

 

Immediately (URGENCY): ‘Quickly’, ‘immediately’ or ‘instantly’ are words that affect the brain like drugs. Brain scans show that the prospect of immediacy triggers joy in the listeners subconscious.

 

 

 

Meanwhile (UP TO DATE): ‘In the meantime’ or ‘meanwhile’ suggest current knowledge and that you are up to date.

 

 

 

Exact (PRECISION): Precise details convey a high degree of credibility and the notion that the opponent can rely on this information.

 

 

 

Name (PERSONAL): Using a persons own name has a subtle effect. ”Alongside the word ‘please’ nothing sounds as good to the listener as their own name”, according to the rhetoric expert Rolf Ruhleder.

 

 

 

Yes (POSITIVE): Agreement generates trust automatically. An important basis for convincing others.

 

 

 

Good (PRAISE): Praising someone makes them more likely to agree with later statements, even when these do not match their own opinions.

 

 

Imprint

Publication Date: 01-11-2019

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