Psychology 01 (Nov 08 - Jan 14)

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Mind Manipulation Techniques: How To Protect Yourself From Mind Manipulation Techniques By Michael Lee

Mind manipulation techniques are not only prevalent on TV shows or in movies. In fact, many people today make use of mind manipulation techniques to force an individual to do something against their will.

In order for you to avoid being controlled by these mind manipulation techniques, you need to know the ways that a person can get into your mind and controlling you to gain the advantage.

Here are some mind manipulation techniques that you should know about to avoid being controlled by it.


Not All Truths Are Really True

In most cases, people will often think it's true if they are made to believe that it is. In fact, this method is used by sales agents coercing other people to buy their product, even if it doesn’t really benefit them that much.

To be able to avoid mind manipulation techniques of this kind, don’t take their words as undeniable truth. Spice it up with a little bit of doubt that will lead you to question the credibility and trustworthiness of their claims.

Some people have the gift of convincing people that what they're saying is the one and only thing that's true. Be alert. Do your due diligence and research on their background and other people’s reviews.


Being Perfect Is An Impossibility

You need to realize that we are imperfect beings, and no product and human-related actions can turn us into a perfect man.

In fact, you should realize there are certain types of mind manipulation techniques that prey on those individuals that are quite unsure about their abilities, and even those who are suffering from their imperfection – or so they are lead to believe.

A good example of this are television ads that say being fair-skinned is beautiful and is the only way to beauty.


Illusions Are Considered As Nothing

One of the more common mind manipulation techniques being used by scammers and fraudsters today is giving their actions a "magical" feel.

Many individuals today are quite interested in the concept of magic and mysticism, and some people make use of this pandemic fascination to force an individual to perform something that will in no way produce the expected results. To protect yourself, do not be too easily bowled over by "magic." Applaud it, but don't take it as fact.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Mind ... iques.html

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Psychological Manipulation - How To Protect Yourself From Psychological Manipulation By Michael Lee

If you think that psychological manipulation only happens in movies and interrogation rooms, think again. It's something that can easily infiltrate your everyday life. You might experience it from work, school or even while you're out buying groceries at the supermarket.

Granted, being manipulated to buy chicken instead of beef might not sound like such a big deal, but what about bullying in school or at work? These psychological manipulation tactics often get worse as time goes by.

Unless you take action and protect yourself, these situations might eventually lead to harmful effects on your mental, emotional and physical health!


Be Aware

Francis Bacon said that knowledge is power. And he's definitely right about this one. By arming yourself with information or by just being aware of psychological manipulation, you are already protecting yourself!

How else can you solve a problem if you don't even know there is one to begin with? Honestly, just being where you are right now and reading this article already sends you three or four steps ahead of your problem!


Stick to Your Guns

This really isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. Sometimes, you just can't help but be swayed by other people. However, know that once you resist the urge to follow someone else's lead, it will all be worth it.

You will get the feeling of overcoming something huge and you'll even see yourself in a new light, which in turn, will only serve to empower you more. This isn't the same as being highly stubborn, mind you.


Build Yourself Up

Targets of psychological manipulation are oftentimes those who do not really have a lot of confidence in themselves.

If you have much insecurity, other people will just try to use your lack of self-confidence to control you.

For example, if you're someone who cares a lot about your appearance, another person can easily say something to trigger a reaction from you.

In order to prevent being victimized by such tactics, make sure you're comfortable with who you are. Look for all your good points instead of dwelling on your not-so-good characteristics. Be grateful for all the great things happening in your life.


Don't let psychological manipulation get to you. Moving to a new school or leaving your job isn't the solution to your problem. Running away won't help you get anywhere. All you get is a change of environment but not a change of mindset. Just remember to be alert on your toes, be firm with your decisions and believe in yourself!

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Psyc ... ation.html

[winston]

Color Psychology - How The Psychology Of Colors Can Explode Your Income! By Michael Lee

It’s fascinating how color psychology can influence anyone’s actions and behavior. In this article, you’ll discover some amazing ways to persuade people and skyrocket your profits using the power of color psychology.

If you want your product to represent power and authority, use black in your graphics and promotions. It is also a color of elegance and class, so this is also an ideal color to use if you’re selling high-priced quality materials. However, black may also represent evil or mystery, so be wary when using this color.

White symbolizes innocence and cleanliness. Medical people wear white to signify sterility. White is a neutral color that blends easily with any other color, but it is bland if used more than necessary. Use “white” if you want your products to represent neatness or purity.

Red arouses strong emotions and excitement. It grabs attention, that’s why most marketers who know color psychology use red in their headlines. Red is an extreme color that evokes passion, love and bravery. Red stimulates appetite, so it’s a good color theme if you have a food or restaurant business. If you want your prospects to feel excited about your product, especially if your product is related to love and romance, use red.

Studies in color psychology indicate that blue is one of the most well-liked colors, especially among men. It symbolizes peace, calmness, relaxation, and security. Despite being a favorite color by many, this color can make you “blue” or gloomy. Blue symbolizes loyalty, so wearing blue attire when going for a job interview or getting clients may actually help. Blue can ruin your appetite; so if you own a restaurant, never paint the walls blue nor serve food in blue plates!

Purple symbolizes luxury, wealth, and elegance. It also represents wisdom and mystery. If you have a product that exudes any of these qualities, purple might be a good color choice for you. The only downside is that purple may be perceived as artificial.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Colo ... ncome.html

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Persuasion And Influence - The Remarkable Law Of Expectation By Michael Lee

This article reveals a powerful law in the realm of persuasion and influence – the law of expectation.

When you expect someone to do what you want, and that person treats you with respect or admires/looks up to you, you have already increased your chances of success higher.

The magic word here is "expect". You expect your child to get high grades in school and he will get high grades. You tell your son that he's a bright student, you really expect that to happen, and your son will meet or exceed your expectations.

Why is this persuasion and influence principle so effective?

We aim to meet, if not exceed, others' expectations of us, especially if we stand to gain benefits like getting rewards, earning trust, or being regarded highly.

There have been cases where the law of expectation has produced miraculous results.

Take the case of some cancer patients who were given placebo pills. These are just plain pills that have no healing capabilities. So how did they get well?

They were told that these pills contain tremendous amounts of cancer-busting ingredients that can effectively heal their sickness quickly. They believed and “expected” to be cured, and so that’s what happened. The power of the subconscious mind is truly extraordinary.

They say that people act or behave according to how you treat them. When we assign a person certain positive qualities or attributes, that person will allow us to believe that what we said is true.

So if you treat, let's say, an average student as a genius, and tell him that his performance exhibits that of a highly intellectual person, he will allow us to believe it and indeed become a very smart person. Try it; you'll be tremendously surprised.

If you're a parent, assign positive qualities to your children, even if they don't have those qualities yet. Tell them they're smart, and they will indeed become smart. That's the power of persuasion and influence.

We can use this to our advantage by adding certain words such as "You probably already know" or "You probably realize" in our statements. This is powerful because you are assuming yet unconsciously suggesting at the same time.

Example:
"You probably already know that this is the best deal you can ever find."

Some people assume that they are being perceived in a particular way, and they will act according to their own perceptions.

An employee, who assumes that his co-workers perceive him as incompetent, will probably be unable to fulfill his job well. On the contrary, if that employee thinks that others are praising him for his good work, he will probably produce good results with his job.

This persuasion and influence phenomenon has a lot to do with their beliefs. What you believe will happen, can actually manifest into reality.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Pers ... ation.html

[winston]

Covert Persuasion Technique - Using the Persuasion Principle of Association By Michael Lee

In this article, you will discover a remarkable way to persuade and influence people. I’ll reveal a covert persuasion technique to help you make more sales and succeed in life, and that is by using the principle of association.

You have probably heard of Ivan Pavlov’s experiment where he rings a bell every time he feeds his dog. Now after some time, the dog would salivate every time it hears the bell ring, even if there was no food.

Salespeople also apply this covert persuasion technique today. They would often treat potential clients out for a great lunch. Although these salespeople will shed out a little money for the meal, it’s nothing compared to the big profits they’ll be getting once they get what they want from their prospects. They know that the satisfying emotions accompanied with eating the food will be associated with the business discussion they are engaged in during the meal.

Even if the linking factor between two aspects were only remotely related, people would go all out to support or defend that which they are associated with (even in the most minor ways). Are you starting to realize the potential of this covert persuasion technique?

Why would a hometown crowd cheer for their average basketball team who is fighting against the country’s favorite team? That’s because they are associated with the team in terms of hometown. If the hometown team wins, they will also share that feeling and may even say something like, “Our team won!” If their team loses, they would probably say something like, “They’ve lost the game.” They separate themselves and avoid being associated with the losing team.

By being related (even in the most minor way) to the greatness of an object or event, the ego and reputation are built up.

It might not be too surprising to know that the more insecure a person is, the more he strives to be associated with external factors. Those who know deep inside that they have achieved great things and don’t need to prove their worth any further, are the ones who are not much concerned about associating with outside forces such as their school team who won the championship.

Other examples where this covert persuasion technique is used:

1. Some companies donate to charities in order to be associated with being generous and sincere; some companies sponsor special events such as athletic contests to be associated with camaraderie, teamwork and the winning attitude.

2. There have been reports of weathermen being blamed, threatened, or even hurt because people associate them with the bad weather they’ve reported, even if these poor weathermen have absolutely no control of nature.

3. Cigarette commercials use young, energetic, and healthy-looking individuals so viewers would associate the cigarettes with them, despite the dangerous effects of cigarettes.

There’s no doubt this covert persuasion technique can help you succeed in your relationships, business or career. Now go out and use it ethically.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Cove ... nique.html

[winston]

How to Remain Happy When the Financial World Crumbles
By Sonja Lyubomirsky / Source: Psychology Today

Sometimes I think our country has gone nuts. We have collapsing financial markets, unprecedented housing foreclosures, $4 gas, and an emperor without any clothes on perambulating in the aftermath of an incredibly critical presidential election. But despite everything, many people (myself included) have a remarkable capacity to maintain optimism and confidence and even some cheer – about ourselves and the world around us.

The label for the process by which we manage to survive – and even thrive – in the face of stress, trauma, and adversity is coping. It's how we assuage the hurt, anxiety, or suffering caused by a negative event. There's a massive – and I mean massive – literature in psychology on coping, but I will tell you about my two favorite findings regarding successful coping.

First, successful coping involves construing some kind of benefit in the ordeal or trauma

Second, successful coping fosters personal growth and even transformation.

Three potential paths that we can take in the face of a major challenge:
A) survival,
B) recovery, or
C) thriving.

Survival essentially translates to a permanent impairment of functioning. This path shows a person who is merely surviving following a trauma, someone who may have lost much happiness and desire to enjoy love, work, or play.

Recovery (Path B) describes a person who suffers in the aftermath of a trauma, perhaps losing the capacity to work productively or have satisfying relationships for a period of time, but who eventually returns to his original state.

Finally, thriving (Path C) involves someone who also suffers in the immediate aftermath but who ultimately not only returns to her original state but rises above it! This person has experienced a transformation.

How can we thrive – let alone recover or survive – in the face of the severe hardships and stresses that life not infrequently throws us? How do we remain upbeat in the face of gloomy television news night after night? It is not easy. For some people and in some situations, it may not even be possible. But for most of us, it's within reach.

http://www.mindpowernews.com/RemainHappy.htm

[winston]

The Triggers of Mind Control By Paul J. Mascetta

10 Proven Tactics to Gain Compliance from Others


1. Obligation/Reciprocity

"People generally feel obligated to return favours or good deeds that have been done to them by others."

Just look at how we smile at strangers who smile at us first!

Make sure you know what to offer and ensure it will be on the same level of what you expect in return.


Source: Mind Power News

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2. Contrast

"The perception of something changes when it is compared to something else."

This is why a pair of $100 jeans looks like a bargain if it was marked down from $500 or why a realtor might show you a really ugly house before showing you a better one.

Another approach here is to break something down to the minimum ("$2.50 per day" sounds better than "$75 per month") or make concessions by starting at a much higher price and then working down to what you actually want.

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3. Internal Conflict

"We must act in a way that is conducive to our morals and beliefs." Behaving against what we feel is right is something we struggle with.

It makes us feel unbalanced, which is why we'll do whatever we can to restore our moral equilibrium.

We do this in many ways including rationalisation (justifying our behaviour to make ourselves feel better), denial (pretending the problem doesn't exist or the source isn't reliable), correction (finding evidence to support why the information we received is inaccurate), reframing (interpreting the meaning behind the message in a different way), and separation (distancing themselves from events or matters that are causing the internal conflict).

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4. Connection

"The link that exists between others can be enough to create the emotional need to act." When creating a connection, the four factors involved are:

Rapport – This is created primarily through body language techniques like subtly mirroring and matching what the other person does

Attraction – While physical aspects (including wardrobe and grooming) are noticed first and matter initially, nonphysical aspects like intelligence and warmth are more important in the long run.

People Skills – Humour (when used correctly) and respect

Similarity – We can think and act like people who share similarities (background, interests, values, etc) without worrying about internal conflicts