Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we will learn twelve psychology
tricks to persuade anyone. Now, let’s begin.
Why do we do the things that we do? Every day, you make hundreds if not thousands of choices.
You choose what to eat for breakfast. You choose how long to brush your teeth. You
choose what you say to others, and how you present yourself to the world. But are all
of these choices yours and yours alone? The truth is that you do not have complete
control over your decisions. While it’s always you who makes the final call,
there are countless subtle stimuli influencing every thought and every impulse that crosses
your mind. Even your ideas, goals, and dreams are seldom your own. It’s more likely those
ideas came from someone or somewhere else. Think, for example, about billboards on
the side of the road. As you’re driving down the highway, you see colorful advertisements
for tourist attractions, restaurants, and new businesses. At that moment, you’re unlikely to
be influenced by those advertisements, but a few days later, a thought might pop into
your head. Suddenly, you have the urge to ride a rollercoaster or treat yourself to a nice dinner.
These feel like your ideas, but in actuality, you’re being subtly persuaded
into giving certain companies your business. For some people, this can be an unsettling
realization. However, our objective here isn’t to criticize advertisements or marketing campaigns
but to demonstrate how subtle, psychological tricks can have a huge impact on real-life
decisions. The goal of a good advertisement isn’t to tell you what you want or need. Instead,
they lead to what seems like your own conclusion. In the same way,
a great salesman does not argue to change your mind or push their agenda. They nudge
you toward something you already want, and that gives them significantly more persuasive power.
With the right tricks and tactics, you can have a similar effect on the people in your life. You
can identify what people want, lead them to their own conclusions, and most importantly,
nudge them toward an outcome that benefits you both. With these twelve psychological tricks — and
a little bit of charisma — you can persuade almost anyone to think and act in your favor.
1. Gifts Create Debts Giving a small gift is
an easy way to persuade anyone, even a stranger, to open their mind. Any little present creates a
feeling of debt in the people who receive them. Friends, coworkers, and even strangers are more
likely to listen to and agree with you when they feel indebted to you in some small way.
After accepting and enjoying your presents, people feel guilty not to give you an
honest chance. When you’re trying to be more persuasive, one chance is often all you need.
2. The Force of Popularity If you want someone to do
something risky or unfamiliar, make yourself more persuasive by normalizing their behavior.
Say something like, “thousands of people do this every day,” and the other person won’t
feel as scared to take the same risk. If that doesn’t work, you can also use
exclusivity to create a similar kind of social leverage. For example, if you want someone to
buy an expensive item, you can make that object more appealing by emphasizing its rarity. The
more precious something becomes, the less likely we are to share it with the people around us.
3. Ask for a Mile Let’s say you need
a small favor from someone. Instead of asking directly for what you want,
start by asking for something much more complex and time-consuming. If they say no,
ask them for something smaller and more accessible. There is a good chance they’ll
say yes to your second offer simply because it’s more reasonable sounding than the first.
4. Expose Real Flaws Here’s a psychologically
persuasive trick that most people never think to try. If you want to make an experience seem
more appealing, you usually highlight its best qualities. You talk at length about
how it’s unforgettable and awe-inspiring while neglecting to mention any flaws or downsides.
People become suspicious when something has too many pros and not enough cons. So,
if you want to be more persuasive, acknowledge a few of those flaws. As long as the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages, the other person won’t feel like they’re being cheated.
5. Statements of Logic The reason people ignore
or disagree with you may have nothing to do with your actual argument. You might
have good ideas with the truth on your side, but people still don’t give you
the credit you deserve. Why? Because they may understand what it is you are trying to say.
If you’re aiming to be persuasive, lead with a clear statement of logic. Define in simple
terms what it is you want and why you think it is important. Don’t overcrowd your argument with
different tangents and unnecessary data. Instead, present the information as clearly as possible.
You’ll be surprised how persuasive you become when people know what you’re saying and why it matters.
6. Reactionary Terms If you are trying to
discourage someone from making a bad decision, try using strong, reactionary
words like “danger,” “risk,” or “hazardous.” These words evoke images of negative ideas,
ultimately discouraging people from taking action. What if, instead of downplaying something,
you want to make it sound more appealing? The same technique can generate positive enthusiasm,
using words like “reliable,” “advanced,” or “high-tech.” It’s a small change, but even a
single word can change someone’s mind. 7. The Power of Touch
The most persuasive people use a variety of tricks, including verbal, spatial, and even
physical powers of persuasion. I’m not talking about intimidating the people you meet. I’m
talking about calculated physical contact, used to establish trust and create an instant connection.
For example, a strategic touch on the shoulder makes people feel like you
are on their side. Suddenly, you seem more like a friend than a stranger, giving you
significantly more persuasive power. It’s important to remember, however,
that people have boundaries, and your physical contact should never violate those boundaries.
As long as you are respectful and mindful of how physical contact affects different people,
you can use this powerful trick to consistently make a strong impression.
8. Collective Language Sometimes, a simple change
in pronouns can make or break an argument or a sale. If you want to be more persuasive,
stop referring to other people as “you” and start referring to you both as “we” or “us.”
When facing a problem, people want to know that they are not facing it alone. By changing
your pronouns from singular to plural, you are creating an implied support system. You provide a
much-needed sense of camaraderie, which persuades other people to have faith in the things you say.
By using collective language, every decision becomes a collaborative effort. In other words,
if you stop singling people out, they’ll be more likely to listen and follow your lead.
9. Emotional Activation Many people place too much emphasis on facts
and data. While your information should be correct and well-researched, it’s equally important to
present it in a way people enjoy and understand. When you apply too much data, some people may
logically understand your point, but most won’t listen to a word you say.
Why? Because you’re not giving them any reason to care. To be more persuasive to almost anyone,
you need to present your ideas in a way that activates real human emotions.
Stop rattling off numbers and start telling stories. Make your ideas personal, relatable,
and compelling. Present them in a way that lights a fire under people and stimulates a
genuine emotional reaction. In the vast majority of people, strong emotions govern every one of
their thoughts and actions. Tell them a good story, and your argument is as good as gold.
10. Memorable Repetition If you want to communicate a memorable idea,
you have to say it twice. People are not always the best listeners, especially when they don’t
know what they’re listening for. So, get in the habit of making your points more than once.
There are a few reasons why repetition works as a reliable method of persuasion. Typically,
your brain uses repetition to define what is essential and what isn’t. If
your brain hears something more than once, it assumes that the idea carries more value.
Repeated ideas are also a whole lot more memorable. Your brain is more likely to store
ideas that are repeated two or more times. Each repetition solidifies ideas within your memory,
making you more likely to recall that information when it counts.
So, repeat yourself as often as you need to get your point across. Don’t be afraid of saying the
same thing multiple times. Because the truth is… most people need to be reminded more than once.
11. Face to Face There are many different ways
to communicate with someone. You can call, text, or use any number of social media platforms to
engage in a conversation. But the most persuasive method of contact will always be face-to-face.
Talking over text or phone instantly strips you of your persuasive power. You can’t use
your body language to emphasize important ideas. You can’t make physical contact to build trust
and establish a stronger connection. The simple truth is that face-to-face
conversations give you the best odds of making your point, so don’t settle for anything less.
12. Moral Incentives People want to feel like they’re
doing something good. So, if you want to be more persuasive, give them a reason to feel good about
themselves. How? By creating a moral incentive. In other words, tell this person that their decision
not only helps you but helps everyone in their community. Make them feel like a good person for
choosing your side… and they almost always will. Thank you for watching TopThink and be
sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.