‘Use uncomfortable silences in negotiations’: Resourceful Redditors Share the Best Psychology Tips and Hacks They Know

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 27, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

You can resolve every conflict you have with another person with just a little psychology, one of the most important sciences in human history. Even though it can sound a bit boring or dull, with psychology you can find a way to approach every single social situation with the best tools to properly deal with it. To do that, you don't have to have a PhD in psychology, all you really need is some tricks and hacks in your arsenal. 

This Reddit thread on AskReddit, which was prompted with the question – 'What's the best psychology trick you know?', will take you one step forward in always getting your way with other people, or at least will help you learn a little bit more about the way people think and behave. A truly important and educational experience. 

Scroll down to read some of the best tips people had to share. After that, click here for a story of a man who called out their cousin on social media for not paying her debt.

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  • 01
    What's the best psychology trick you know?
    via u/Orthopod_ace
  • 02
    Q imapangolinn Asking your kid if he wants 3 big broccoli or 6 little ones, same portion size.
    via u/imapangolinn
  • 03
    KnightShiningUK In a negotiation (e.g. when buying a car) stop talking and let the other party speak. Uncomfortable silences work very well in negotiations.
    via u/KnightShiningUK
  • 04
    gidikh Silence also works if you think someone is lying to you. Someone lying will instinctively keep trying to convince you, and will often add more noticeable exaggerations.
    via u/gidikh
  • 05
    Human-Independent999 If you present someone with a limited set of options, usually two or three, instead of asking an open- ended question, you can subtly guide them towards making a decision that aligns more closely with what you want.
    via u/Human-Independent999
  • 06
    For examlpe, instead of asking "What do you want to do tonight?". You can say "Would you like to watch a movie or go out for dinner?".
    via u/Human-Independent999
  • 07
    50MillionChickens Everyone is saying this works well with kids, but not totally unrelated that it also works very well for CEOs. Don't ask them to think or understand. Just give them an a/b/c choice.
    via u/50MillionChickens
  • 08
    2buxaslice If you greet people as though you are excited to see them they will be equally happy to see you. This works great if you work in customer service and don't want to deal with people with bad attitudes.
    via u/2buxaslice
  • 09
    my 'alt Also to the receiver, you never know how being greeted as if you are important can impact a person. There are a lot of people walking around thinking they don't matter, no one notices them, they are a burden, etc. Being greeted with a warm, excited hello does make a difference.
    via u/mya***alt
  • 10
    emmascarlett899 Just promise to do 3 minutes of that thing you are putting off. Usually once you start, keeping going is easy.
    via u/emmascarlett899
  • 11
    mattogeewha If someone is angry with me and yelling or whatever. I will calmly say “I think I understand, but could you phrase the problem differently to help me understand better?" 9/10 times they stop dood in their tracks, regroup and rephrase calmly and way nicer. In short, getting people to actively think about what and how they say something
    via u/mattogeewha
  • 12
    funyesgina I like to say "I hear you, but I just need a minute to process what you're saying." For some reason that calms people down. I started doing it because it was true.
    via u/funyesgina
  • 13
    Pauls RedditUsername Get in the habit of doing something nice for the next guy without expecting reward or recognition. It doesn't have to be anything major, just little stuff, picking up a bit of trash or whatever. It doesn't really matter how it affects others, but it makes you feel better in small increments that can add up.
    via u/PaulsRedditUsername
  • 14
    madkeepz Just because someone asks you a question, it doesn't mean they get to decide what sort of answers they can get. If you're asked about a complicated topic, it's ok to say "i don't think I have enough. information" or "I think I need to think about it better for an answer" if you don't feel comfortable answering
    via u/madkeepz
  • 15
    NoahsMcDonalds Asking someone what color their shirt is before rock paper scissors, they will almost always throw out scissors. Not sure on the relation, but I've used it as a party trick many times. (obviously the person you're playing can't know the trick) I got 5 people in a row once with it at a party.
    via u/NoahsMcDonalds
  • 16
    furciferpardalis If you work with someone who you have a stressed relationship, ask them to teach you something. Even if you already know it. It'll help repair the relationship and that person ill never know.
    via u/furciferpardalis
  • 17
    pingwing Your subconscious listens to how you talk to yourself. It listens to your wants, needs, and goals. It tries to make these a reality, in the background influencing your every decision.
    via u/pingwing
  • 18
    If you talk positive about yourself and your goals, your subconscious will try to make that happen. If you talk negative about yourself and your goals, your subconscious will try to make that happen.
    via u/pingwing
  • 19
    You can "trick" you subconscious by saying positive things when things are going bad. One study showed that this type of behavior, positive reinforcement, helped most patients more than any medicine did. tldr: stop talking/thinking negatively about yourself
    via u/pingwing
  • 20
    not-a-realperson Ask for a smaller favor before asking a larger one. It primes them to say yes. Additionally, asking for favors and being appropriately appreciative increases their over regard for you.
    via u/not-a-realperson
  • 21
    SuperstitiousPigeon5 When bargaining for a price it's important that both sides put up at least some part of a struggle so that you don't have to deal with buyers or sellers remorse.
    via u/SuperstitiousPigeon5
  • 22
    astarisas'../e When someone tells you something you find offensive and then tries to play it off as a joke, ask them to explain the joke to you. Awkward silence ensues.
    via u/astarisasl**e
  • 23
    ThreeLivesInOne When you listen to people openly, they will tell you pretty much anything.
    via u/ThreeLivesInOne

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life tips hacks work smart helpful life hacks askreddit help relationships advice lifehacks silly reddit thread Reddit psychology funny
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