Friend? Nah. Just the best MANIPULATORS!

Let’s be REAL!

So. Let’s be real with each other for a second. Have you ever agreed to do something for a friend, that you normally would NEVER do? That’s what I thought. But, they were just so nice? I don’t think the word ‘nice’ fits here, darling. Okay. Let’s cool down.
What about purchasing something at a store, that was WAY OUTTA your price range? But the clock was ticking, there was only a limited quantity left, and it was ‘such a good deal!’ Sure about that, honey? Think hard.
Well, although you may not realize it, your ‘friend’, may be using some secret psychological tricks. Tricks that can have them manipulating you to do whatever they want. Yeah. Bring on the evil laughter!!

Okay. Let’s back up a minute. Not WHATEVER THEY WANT. I mean, you still have common sense, right? Right? Hello? You’re gonna answer me, right? It’s fine. I’ll wait. However, for the unnoticeable tricks, I got you covered. You can count on me!

So, without further delay, here are six psychological tricks to look out for.

Call me by Your Name

Usually, when someone uses our name, it’s to get our attention. Think of your elementary teacher, or your piano teacher, or your boss during an important meeting. Often people use each other’s names to grab their attention and pull them back to focus.
But, we also like the sound of our names. A LOT! Because, not only does it mean someone remembers our name, it could also imply a closeness or friendship starting. You may not remember the other person’s name, and that may mean you might want to owe it to them, by listening more attentively – also because someone just said your name, and it pulled you out of the ongoing daydream inside your head.

“I’d like to thank the Academy. My family and friends have been so supportive during this..”

“So, Minahill…”

“Huh, what!? Oh right. Present!…”

“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Says Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People.

THE BUSINESS STRATEGY

Let’s see if this sounds familiar. So your buddy comes knocking at your door at 2AM. You’re tired, annoyed, an hour earlier you stuffed down half a pepperoni pizza and a near gallon of ice cream watching The Real Housewives of New York City, and it didn’t set well with your tummy.
He’s asking for money. A lot.
Like three hundred dollars a lot.
What ya gonna do?
Deny it! Duh!

But then, before you can slam the door in his face, he asks for just a measly thirty dollars. “Well, thirty-dollars-is-thirty-dollars. That’s a different story.” You mumble to yourself as you reach inside your wallet.
STOP! DON’T!
THIS MAN IS MANIPULATING YOU!!!

In psychology, this technique is called the “door-in-the-face” (DITF) technique and can be used in many situations. Someone simply requests a lot from you, and then when you say no, they simply lower the amount drastically, so the new offer doesn’t sound as bad compared to three hundred dollars.

I mean, you just met this guy at a dinner party. Take it easy, buddy. We’re not ‘three-hundred dollars in gifts’ friends.

Science of Smiling

Go ahead, smile. It makes you feel happier right? Yeah. WE ALL DO!!.
But if you do get happier from smiling, – Congratulations! You’re susceptible to manipulation!

So if someone smiles at you, and keeps smiling. You just may be in a more positive mood, more willing to please others and do favors, and more susceptible to many things. Who really knows what the human race if fully capable of??
And like yawns, smiling has been known as being contagious according to several studies. Not coronavirus contagious though. THANK GOD!

Asking Favors

Remember your ‘friend’? The one late at night, knocking at your door asking for favors? Well, now not only does he want three hundred dollars, but he also wants to move into your newly renovated guest room.

You just painted! You CAN”T even let your niece go in there. So, now what?

Jeez Javeria. You’re such a bad friend.

Well, she may have planned asking you this specifically at 2AM. That’s right. She’s a manipulative little monster!

I knew it!!

Turns out, she’s right for asking you late into the hours of night. According to several studies, people are more likely to be influenced to do something they initially didn’t want to do, when tired.

You’re mentally exhausted as well as physically, do you really want to be up in the wee hours of the night arguing with your barely-acquainted ‘friend’? You’d do anything to have this over with and simply get some rest. Which is why this method works the best.

-MUHAHAHAHA!

Okay. I’ll stop. Maybe. If I feel like it!

It can be pretty exhausting. And sooner or later you’ll do anything to get it to stop. Including the thing you said you’d never do…

Well, say goodbye to that vacation to Karachi. You’ll just have to go some other year. When the weather and money is in your favor.

Mirroring

There several behaviors you can use to your advantage. Behaviors that you can use for…
MANIPULATION!!!
Mirroring is when you mimic another’s gestures and expressions so they can relate and perceive you more like themselves.

And we just uh, are extremely positive and deeply in love with ourselves!
Right? Right? *sobs*
This mimicking of others can happen to yourself subconsciously too! This instance is called the ‘chameleon effect’ and was explored in further studies.If someone thinks you are like them, they will want to be your friend. So, someone could be mirroring you subconsciously, or to gain your trust…
Likely, they just want to be your friend.

They Nod Their Head Too Much…

People like it when others agree with them. So when your friend is nodding away, fascinated with your story about that time a wild hyena jumped in through the window at KFC’s and stole your potato salad –

Okay. TRUE STORY COMING THRU!!

According to a 1980 study published in the Applied Psychology Journal, psychologists found that when others nod while listening to someone, they are more likely to agree with them.

So remember the ‘chameleon effect’? And all that mumbo jumbo about mirroring we just went through? Well, if your new friend ‘Javeria keeps nodding at that hyena-potato-salad KFC story you were just telling, that in turn may make you subconsciously want to nod in response.

Which means, he may not be interested in the hyena…

Now when it’s her turn to talk, – gosh Javeria, you’re so boring! – she may start to nod her head while talking. This may make you nod your head subconsciously. So, this keys her into the idea her manipulation tactics are working. Which may then make your nodding become a further subconscious signal to your brain signifying to agree to what he’s saying.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING!!

If you’re not too tired, read this too!