Good Psychological Tricks People Use With Success Most Of The Time

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mattstaff
Sep 9, 2019 3:00 PM EDT

Someone on AskReddit asked for people to share good psychological tricks that work successfully for them. Whether it's pretending that an event you're nervous for already happened and went well (positive visualization), or asking people for small favors to trigger the "Benjamin Franklin effect." Try out enough of these, and you might get a leg up in the world. 

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  • 01
    Text - cleochatraa 1d When I'm super stressed about an upcoming event (usually amedical appointment or some social event), I pretend it's a week or a month after the event and that the event wasn't that bad at all. It helps me to get over the anxiety leading up to the days, hours, and minutes leading up to the event. In my mind I know the event isn't that big of a deal, but anxiety always messes things up. So thinking beyond the event is the game changer for me.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 02
    Text - guacsolid 1d 3 1 Award One of the best ways for cementing your knowledge of something is to teach it to someone else.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 03
    Text - pickmeacoolname 1d If my kids are giving me a hard time about eating something I tell them It's ok they're probably not big enough yet...then they eat it to prove me wrong
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 04
    Text - Flootle 1d 3 2 Awards Tell someone "If I can make your hand flip over without touching it, will you buy me [insert whatever] Then ask them to put their hand out and when they do, say "No the other way."
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 05
    Text - boiwings 1d Whenever I get upset and realize that I'm spiralling, I start listing things out loud that I'm grateful for. It's very hard to be anxious/ depressed/scared when you're thinking about what's gone right for you. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy to make it into a long process to give yourself more positivity time. "I'm grateful to have a functioning car." Well what else about my car am I grateful for? All the awesome CDs I have, my car stereo, songs I like on the radio, hey
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 06
    Text - hedpe70 1d When you need something from someone, explicitly say "I need your help" before making your request. Most people like to be needed and feel fulfilled when they've helped someone.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 07
    Text - pocketjets347. 1d The lesser of two evils. Working as a manager part of my job is to keep people busy. Some people do not respond well with being told what to do. Offering two tasks- the one I want the employee to be doing against an equally feasible yet less desirable task- often will send the employee into a productive and happily grateful mode of doing said task. Then I take on the less than desirable one I was planning on doing anyways with good spirit, leaving a positive example on b
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 08
    Text - bacjusio 1d Acting confident to convince people you know what you are doing
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 09
    Text - Being_grateful 1d In a argument find something to agree on then push your main point. I have had great sucess using this method and it always works.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 10
    Text - Nicsanerd 1d My therapist gave me the great advice that the word "should" is terrible for motivation / procrastination. I'm resaying it far less eloquently; but basically instead of saying you "should do the dishes" you should say "I will do the dishes" which tricks your brain into doing it. Because "should" is far less matter-of fact, meanwhile "I will" is very set in stone. It took me a while to do it, but now I barely ever say "I should do X, Y, Z..." and actually my motivation has gon
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 11
    Text - Toyslinger 1d S 1 Award I am an occupational therapist with Early Intervention, which means I do home therapy with the 0-3 age group. Sometimes they are preemies or micro-preemies, sometimes they have autism, sometimes language delays, sometimes genetic disorders. Whatever the "diagnosis" is, it often leaves Moms feeling isolated, over-whelmed and incompetent. Whenever I am doing therapy, I will subtly orient the child so that the Mom is on the direction that's easiest for the child to tu
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 12
    Text - naturalborncitizen 1d Cunningham's Law. Say something slightly wrong, and you'll almost always find someone desperate to correct you (and do the work for you). Works great on reddit when you get the SOURCE? SOURCE? SOURCE? squawks.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 13
    Text - Lalina13 1d S 1 Award I work with kids so I really use social referencing to my advantage. If a kid falls, they look around to adults to see how the adult reacts. If the adult rushed over and starts coddling, the child will usually over react because they think it's needed. If the adult doesn't seem concerned the child is quicker to move on Also when I was younger my mom would use a trick on me. She told me that she knew when was lying because my tongue would turn green. She'd ask me a qu
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 14
    Text - DNSGeek 1d Just after you see someone check the time, ask them what time it is. They will check again.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 15
    Text - astralrig96 1d I have two: -Ask people to do small favors for you, they'll tend to like you more this way (benjamin franklin effect) -when arguing verbally repeat your opponents position and ask "is this what you mean?" or something similar. Firstly this makes you understand their point better but if it's bullshit it also makes them realize it faster
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 16
    Text - FurFaceMcBeard 1d Steelmanning. It's the opposite of strawmanning, when arguing, if you know you're right, then paraphrase the strongest, most ideal and robust possible version of your opponents argument, and then argue against that. This builds trust and shows that you really do understand/see their perspective and aren't trying to downplay their ideas. It's disarming, and people tend to agree more when they feel like their opinions have been understood.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 17
    Text - kito99 1d Starting phone calls with "Did I catch you at a bad time?" Learnt this 'trick' from 'Never Split The Difference' (the author is a former FBI hostage negotiator). Most people start conversations with "hey do you have a minute to talk" which makes people defensive (for what reason? why with you? talk about what? etc..). Getting people to say 'no' is a key factor that allows them to open up by saying 'no, of course not, I'm not doing much anyways'. Definitely helps when calling, es
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 18
    Text - PMMeKaraokeRequests 1d If you want people to like you (in a friendship way, this won't trick people into love), ask them to do you a quick and easy favor. Most people will say yes to something simple, and help you out, then their brain justifies why they helped you out with 'I guess I like him'. It works surprisingly well.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 19
    Text - catdude142 1d If you work for a micromanager, don't ask them for their opinion or tell them too much. Do the task and do it well and let them know you've taken care of it.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 20
    Text - madolche_puddingcess 1d If you feel a panic attack coming on, embrace it. Tell yourself it's happening and welcome it, More often than not the panic attack will subside. The way they work is through fear of having a panic attack for example,"I'm going to embarrass myself, "people will look at me" etc. If you take away that fear and allow it to come, it will go away
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 21
    Text - cleancutPunk - 1d When someone has the hiccups telling them to prove it to make the hiccups go away
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 22
    Text - stupidjames 1d Ask someone 'what colour is your shirt?', before rock paper scissors and they'll do scissors
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 23
    Text - kiteonmyleg 1d if someone makes me uncomfortable and i want to make them stop, i always stare at their forehead during conversations. it makes them feel like they're doing something wrong and most of the time changes the behavior that made me uncomfortable in the first place
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 24
    Text - -DCPT- 1d If you hold something out to someone without saying anything, they will probably take it.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 25
    Text - AmyBums88 1d If you're trying to get more than a short answer from someone. For example, if you're interviewing someone for a job or something, this simple psychological trick works almost every time. When they finish speaking, extend the pause and don't say anything. Just keep looking at them neutrally and tilt your head slightly Most times, people feel the need to fill the silence and will say more/ give more detail etc. I use this all the time when I'm trying to get my grumpy daughter
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 26
    Text - Pyrotundra ld Convincing someone your idea was there idea. It works 90% of time. Even simply "adding" to their great idea works. I've turned people completely over to agreeing with me when it has little to do with what they originally thought. I'm not some psychic master and yes this is manipulative when you use it maliciously.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 27
    Text - Knower-of_Things 1d Ask an easy question your boss/manager would be more-willing to answer than asking them to weigh in on an entire project at once. They haven't digested the information and given the time needed they might forget. Don't: "so what would you like me to do, given the last 15 minutes of explanation?" Do: "would it make sense if I do 'x' now, given the results?" You're much more likely to get an answer instead of waiting and can move forward.
    via u/doctor_jackal
  • 28
    Text - Rezzone 1d STOP YOURSELF from passing judgement. As soon as you hear yourself making a statement about another person, take a second. You never know what is going on in someone's life
    via u/doctor_jackal

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