Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior, and is super complex, yet fascinatingly interesting at the same time. Our mind makes us do things and behave in ways that we may not even be aware of. Perhaps we do something or say something that subconsciously turns out in our favor. However, there are some psychological tricks we can use on purpose to effectively manipulate any situation we are in. Do you know how to detect a liar? Can you tell if someone in your friend group has a crush on you? Check out these psychology tricks that will help make life a bit easier.
If you have the feeling someone is watching you, yawn, and look. If someone is indeed looking at you they will yawn too.
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Have you ever gotten that feeling that you’re being stared at? You’re not certain, but it’s just that feeling of strange eyes watching you. If you want to find out if someone is indeed looking at you, try yawning and see if they yawn back. Yawning is contagious so if they yawn, they were looking.
If you want to impress someone, paraphrase what your friend just said. They will subconsciously get the feeling you are a really great listener.
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There are several ways we can impress the people around us. From a small compliment, casually touching their arm, to a smile. However, one of the best psychological tricks you can do to really impress someone you like is to paraphrase their words during a conversation. This will immediately make them believe you understand them and are great at listening.
If you want someone to help you, start your phrase with “I need your help.” They will help you out of a sense of guilt.
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No one likes feeling guilty, and when we can, most of us want to help to each other out. Instead of asking “can you help me?” say, “I need your help.” It’s more direct and gives the other person less time to decide if they’re going to help you or not. Most likely the will give a helping hand so they don’t feel guilty.
If you believe a person doesn’t like you, ask them to borrow a pencil. The favor is so small that your ‘hater’ most likely won’t be able to say no and will come to the conclusion that you’re not that bad.
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Not everyone is going to like you, but if you think someone may have a bone to pick with you, there’s a way to find out. This is called the Benjamin Franklin Effect which is a psychological phenomenon that people like each other more after doing a favor for them. So, trying asking for a super small favor like borrowing a pencil and see what happens.
To make yourself more likable, mirror the behavior and body language of the people you want to be more likable to.
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Copying someone else’s behavior is called mirroring. We may do this subconsciously, but we tend to do it with people we like or are interested in. We mirror someone’s mannerisms, facial expresses and even the way they talk. If you want to seem more likeable, try doing this trick with someone you’re really into.
If you have a request, approach a person with requests when they are tired. They are more likely to agree to the request when their physical and mental energy is drained.
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When it comes to requests, especially ones that are work-related, we know it may be a bit anxiety-inducing. If you want a better chance of getting your request approved, approach the person when it’s later in the day and more tired. There’s a good chance they are more likely to agree. Dark psychology trick for the win!
When someone’s being rude to you, stay completely silent and stare at them. It’ll make them feel uncomfortable and they’ll usually act civilly after a few moments.
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When someone is rude to us we may have a reactionary response to be offensive back to them. But, if you really want to make them feel pretty uncomfortable, just pause and stare. When you ignore the urge to say anything back, this will put them off their game.
If you want to know something specific, ask the question then wait. People want to fill the awkward silence and will end up talking.
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Anytime you want to know something or get more information out of someone, ask your question and just let them speak. No one likes awkward silence, so the other person will likely talk and talk. This trick is more helpful when you think the other person might be lying or full of nonsense.
When walking in a crowded area, look where you’re going and not at the other people. They will naturally move out of your line of sight making it quicker to move around.
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If you’ve ever walked through crowded streets, you may have bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction. To avoid this and make people deliberately move out of the way, walk with your head and eyes forward like you’re determined to get to where you need to be. You’ll be surprised how many people move out of the way for you.
If you suspect that someone is lying look at their body language cues such as lack of expression, a bored posture, and playing with hair or pressing fingers into lips.
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Lying is a common human behavior, and most of us have told a little white lie here and there. According to a Readers Digest poll, 96% of people admitted to lying sometimes. According to psychology, there are some red flags to look out for when you suspect someone is lying to you. Look at body language, especially fidgeting with hair. Also, someone who isn’t talking a lot, or even talking too much, can sometimes hint at deception.
If you want to change your mood, listen to music you’d want to hear if you were in the mood you want to be in. It helps shift your mentality into that state of mind.
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Turns out, there are health benefits to listening to music. From reducing stress to improving your sleep, music also has the ability to help your mood. Music releases dopamine in the brain so if you want shift your mentality to feeling happy, listen to music that makes you feel good or brings back good memories.
If you want to avoid being called on in class or during a meeting, look at the speaker until the end of their question, then look at someone else in the room to divert the speaker’s attention to them.
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As a kid, it was our biggest fear to be called on by the teacher especially if we weren’t paying attention. Same in the corporate world when you don’t want your boss to call on you to answer the question you didn’t understand. To avoid being called on, try this psychology trick. Look at the speaker until the question is asked, then look at someone else in the room. It will divert their attention from you to them.
If you want to find out who someone likes the most in a group, pay attention to who they look at after someone says something funny. We tend to look to our favorite person as they laugh.
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Body language experts reveal that when people are in a group setting with a lot of laughter going on, people will automatically look at the person they feel the closest to. This also rings true if you’re crushing on someone or if they have feelings for you. Look around in your group the next time someone says something funny and see who’s looking at you…it might be your crush!
If you’re on a date, choose an activity that involves an adrenaline rush. This will help stimulate arousal in the brain and make the other person believe they are really enjoying their time with you.
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Is there a connection between adrenaline and levels of attraction toward another person? Turns out, yes! Next time you want to take someone out on a date, skip the fancy dinner and go big. Take them to do something where you’ll both feel an adrenaline rush. Releasing adrenaline in the body increases emotional arousal and attraction between two individuals.
If you want someone to take your words seriously, say that your father told you. People tend to take parents’ advice to heart.
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In hindsight…maybe our parents really do know best. If you’re having a conversation with someone and you don’t want them to doubt what you’re saying or your judgement, they are actually more likely to take what you said to heart if you mention that you’re dad told you this. Fatherly advice goes a long way, so try it out and see how it works.
An easy way to win a “rock, paper, scissors” game is to ask someone a question just before the game starts. Chances are that your partner will most likely throw scissors.
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If you want to become the ultimate rock, paper, scissors champion, you have to know how to throw off your opponent. If you ask a random question before the start of the game, your opponent will most likely throw up scissors. The theory behind this is that scissors are seen as a sign of defense, so if asked a personal question beforehand, they will think scissors will win.
If you want to be an effective liar, build a reputation of being honest. The more you are known as being reliable, the easier it is to deceive and manipulate.
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We have to mention that lying isn’t a commendable trait, but, we’ve all told a little white lie here and there. This dark psychology is a good manipulation tool if you want to be an effective liar. If you appear like you’re reliable and responsible, people will most likely not view you as a deceptive person.
If you want to make a charming impression on someone, try repeating their name throughout the conversation. When we hear our names, it makes us feel special and builds a sense of trust.
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If you’ve ever been addressed by your name in a conversation, you might recall how positively it made you feel. It’s because it makes you feel confident and that the conversation is more personable. If you want to be a charmer, avoid calling people “pal” or “buddy.” Nothing will turn them off more than this. Addressing people by their name will establish a sense of trust and friendship.
If you feel nervous before an event or action, instead of biting your nails or fidgeting, try chewing on gum beforehand. Our brains are wired to believe that we’re safe whenever we’re eating.
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Are you one of those people who get super nervous or anxious before giving a presentation or being center of attention? If yes, keep some chewing gum on hand. Gum can increase our focus and reduces cortisol during psychological stress. Get rid of your nail biting habit and start chewing!
If you’re carrying something heavy and you want to share the load with someone, just keep talking while you’re handing them the bag. The majority of people will automatically take the bag from you without even thinking about it.
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If you have a heavy load on your hands, literally, and need the extra help carrying something, keep a conversation going and hand the item over to the person you’re engaging with. People automatically tend to take things when they’re being distracted. Try it out!
When you try to convince someone over something, make sure they are sitting and you are standing. This makes them more likely to believe you.
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Who knew that just standing is a useful psychological trick. In regards to trying to convince someone of something, make sure they’re sitting and you’re standing. Your posture, relaxed shoulders and even weight on both feet can enhance your impressiveness.
If you think someone might be attracted to you, look at their eyes. They will blink more than usual during a conversation with you.
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Did you know that physical attraction to someone can make your eyes blink significantly more than usual? Humans are emotional creatures, and when we’re into someone it might be hard to hide it. Blinking is an emotional response when we get excited, so if you want to know if your date likes you, just check out their blinking habits.
You can find out if someone is smiling genuinely or faking it by looking at their eyes. Wrinkles form near the eye corners when the smile is real.
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We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve been around people we don’t particularly vibe with, or maybe your boss made a terrible joke, but you smile and laugh if off anyways. Well, there’s a way to spot a fake smile from a genuine one. If you think someone might be faking it, look at the corner of their eyes and see if you spot the crows feet. If no wrinkles are in sight, it might be fake.
To know if someone is interested in a conversation with you, look at their feet. If they are pointing toward you, they want to talk. If they’re pointing sideways or away from you, they aren’t interested.
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This is a psychological trick you can try when bumping into someone you know on the street. Sometimes we may want to engage in small talk or perhaps we just want to get to our next destination without any distractions. Our body language, especially our feet, can determine if someone wants to chat with us. Check out their feet, feet don’t lie!
If your kid can’t stop asking, “why?” just look at them and say, “I don’t know, why do you think?” They’ll come up with their own answers and you can both move on.
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Not only is this a psychology trick, it’s also a parent hack! Kids want to know everything and they think we have the answers to everything. Sometimes we do, but when you’re being asked “why?” after every question, we start losing our minds a bit. To solve this, ask them what they think, and they’ll be pondering away.
If someone says they have the hiccups, tell them to prove it. The pressure will usually make the hiccups disappear.
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Is it just us or do hiccups decide to show up at the most random times? We try all the tricks in the book to try and get rid of them, but nothing seems to work. If you want to get rid of your hiccups, just tell someone you have them and you’ll prove it. Your hiccups may not reappear from the pressure. Cool hack!
If you think someone is about to become aggressive toward you, sit next to them. It will make things harder and more awkward for them.
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No one wants to be on bad terms with another person, but sometimes, people can get heated. If you feel like someone might be showing some aggression toward you, take a seat next to them. It’s easier for the aggressor to show off intimidation when you’re across from them. If you’re next to them, they have to turn their body toward you which makes things more uncomfortable.
If you want to stand out and be more memorable in an interview, try and be the first or last candidate. People remember the beginning and the end of something the clearest.
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If you’re looking for a job, a pretty useful tip is to show up as either the first or last candidate. You only get one chance at a first impression, and research shows that the first and last people interviewed will be better remembered.
If someone make a derogatory joke about you in a group setting, play dumb and ask them to explain the joke. It won’t appear funny the second time around and they’ll feel embarrassed.
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This is a psychological trick for the win. The best part, is you don’t even have to play dumb, but just adds that extra dramatic factor. Not only will you see who you’re real friends are, but they definitely won’t be making jokes about you again.
If someone is bothering you at your desk too often, continue the conversation but get up and walk them back to their desk.
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We all have that one co-worker who can be a bit annoying. They approach you at your desk, start chit-chatting, and you feel trapped to engage with them. The next time you’re approached at work while you’re busy, try getting up from your desk and causally walk with them back to their desk. It’ll work every time and you’ll have them wondering how they got there.
Compliment the guy you’re out on a date with if you want to impress him. Most guys don’t get complimented frequently, so when it happens, they tend to eat it up.
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Women are used to getting complimented, so they know how good it makes them feel. Men on the other hand are less likely to receive compliments about their appearance, but on their productivity and actions. So, if you want to make a man feel good about himself and show some charm, give him a nice complement! He’ll eat it up.
If you ask someone to move over to a different location to talk, they are much more likely to listen to you and follow instructions.
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This is a great tactic to get someone to listen to you. Taking someone to the side for a conversation appears to be more serious and private, therefore, the person on the receiving end is more likely to listen and follow instructions.
If you look and sound like you know what you are doing, odds are a fair amount of people will think you know what you are doing.
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We’ve all been there…well, at least some of us when we kind of just ‘wing’ something at work or school. Chances are that you’ll actually appear to others to know exactly what you’re talking about if you show some confidence and just act like you know what you’re doing. They don’t say “fake it till you make it” for no reason.
Use phrases like “Thank you for your patience” instead of apologizing. It removes the blame from you and makes the other person feel better.
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Instead of apologizing directly to someone by saying, “sorry to keep you waiting,” just say “thank you for your patience.” It’s directed more toward the individual and you’re acknowledging them more personally. Maybe they’ll even give you a nice tip!
If you make a favor seem bigger than it is before asking it, the person on the receiving end is much more likely to help.
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If you’ve ever been asked, “hey can you do me a huge favor?” It’s more likely that the favor really isn’t as big as it seems to be. For example, if you’re sitting down already and you ask your partner to grab you something in the kitchen before they sit down, they will probably comply.
Every time you see someone you know, smile and say hello. They’ll think of you as a nice person and may be more likely to help you out in the future.
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Bumping into someone you know on the street and saying hi makes a great impression on them. Being nice goes a long way, and can definitely work out in your favor in the future, if in fact, you might need a favor…literally. They will perceive you as someone who deserves a helping hand.
If you want to calm someone who is distraught and shut down, ask them questions that involve numbers, like their address or phone number. It will oftentimes pull them out of their emotional state and into a better headspace.
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Nobody wants to see another person in distress and no matter what we try and do to help, nothing seems to calm them down. A psychological trick that can be applied to help a friend who is visibly distraught, is to ask them about numbers. Asking them for their phone number or telling them to count to 10 can help reduce stress and anxiety.
If you ask a question and someone’s first response is, “What?” give it a few seconds before repeating the question. Oftentimes they heard you, they just need a moment to process what you said.
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If you know, you know. This is pretty common and it’s probably happened to you while talking to someone. You hear the question and you’re listening, but not comprehending all the words so it takes an extra minute. Saying “what?” is also just an automatic response even though the person did in fact hear the question perfectly.
Slight touches on the body when you’re with the person you like can make them psychologically feel warmer towards you.
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Physical touch is something all humans crave. Without it, we’d feel pretty lonely and physical touch is known to increase oxytocin. Oxytocin is the “love hormone” and when this releases in our body we feel a sense of trust, love, and warmth toward another person.
Instead of asking, “Do you have any questions?” ask, “What questions do you have?” People will be more likely to speak up.
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If you’re giving a presentation or you’re speaking at an important event, this is a great trick to get your audience to speak up more. Proposing a question and asking a question directly are two different things. At the end of your speech, if you want the crowd to engage ask “What questions do you have?” This implies that you should almost be expected to ask something and that the speaker is happy to engage in conversation.
If you don’t feel motivation to do something, just do it for 10 minutes. Even if you don’t keep doing it for longer, 10 minutes is better than 0.
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This is what we call the ten minute rule. Give yourself just ten minutes to do a task that you’ve been procrastinating on and you’ll feel much better about your productivity. Ten minutes here and ten minutes there is all it takes. The next thing you know, you’ve finished your task.
People are afraid of losing things. This is why “Only 2 seats left!” works when buying plane tickets. This is a marketing strategy to get people to buy things.
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Have you searched for flights or hotels and see written in bold “only one room left” or “only two tickets left.” Well, this is all part of a marketing strategy to get people to rush to decisions and purchase something. Most of the time these statements aren’t even true, but people don’t want to miss out on things. This also works in retail which is why sales don’t go on forever.
Pretend that something you don’t want to do is actually really interesting or fun in order to get somebody else to do it.
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Have you ever heard of the slang term Tom Sawyering? This is a term used as means to convince someone to volunteer for something which one should do themselves by using some manipulation tactics. Basically, getting someone to do something you don’t really want to do by embellishing a little bit.
To get yourself in a better mood, bite a pen. This forces you to smile. Forcing a smile, even a fake one, can actually make you feel happier.
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Here’s an interesting psychological trick to get you or someone you know in a better mood. Now, we don’t advise chewing or biting pens regularly, however, it might put a smile on your face. Literally. According to science, if we’re feeling bad or down, even pretending to smile can improve our mood.
For your next phone interview, dress up in your professional clothes. The attire will help you get into a more confident frame of mind.
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Phone interviews are super common these days and definitely less nerve-wracking for the interviewee. But, instead of rolling out of bed and having an interview in your pajamas, one little trick that will boost some confidence is to put on an outfit you’d wear to an in-person interview. You’ll be in a better state of mind.
If you want an answer to something, make an incorrect statement about it rather than asking a question. People love to correct inaccuracies.
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If you really want the answer to something and want to be discreet about it, use this sneaky trick. Maybe you want to know the drama in the friend group, or how much money your colleague is making. Make a statement that you know is wrong, and see how quickly someone corrects you with more accurate information.
If someone isn’t being kind to you, tell them they have something in their teeth. They’ll obsess about it and you have the upper hand again.
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If you really want people stop messing around with you, do this. Not only will they feel totally embarrassed, they’ll probably never bother you or be unkind to you again.
Nod your head slightly up and down when you want someone to agree with you. Works like a charm.
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Nodding or shaking your head up and down not only gives you confidence in your own thoughts, but influences others to agree with what you’re saying. Something as simple as offering a cup of coffee to a guest might make them say yes if you slightly nod your head. Try it and see how well it works!
If you act really excited every time you see someone, they will eventually start to get really excited every time they see you without realizing why.
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Feeling happy and excited when we see someone regularly can condition them to feel the same way when they see you. Feelings can be contagious and you’ll come across as more likable to be around.
When working on a group project, if you want someone else to do something, say “Can you start on this?” This makes it sound like less work and they will be more willing to do it.
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Knowing how to be a team player and working well with others is an important part of working life, and a good quality to have. Different roles are assigned in group projects and if you’re the team lead who’s giving out tasks, ask your peers to start on something instead of doing it. Starting something doesn’t mean ‘finish’ it, so it comes across as less work for the individual and they are more likely to do it.
Offering someone even the smallest gift can significantly change their opinion of you. It’s one of the easiest ways to get someone to like you.
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People like receiving gifts, especially when they are random and not just on birthdays and Christmas. Gift giving shows the recipient that you like them and works in reverse as well. A simple present goes a long way and helps people like you more as well.
A good way to establish trust is if you admit when you’re wrong, especially on little things.
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No one likes to admit when they are wrong, but there’s a time and place when it’s appropriate to fess up on any wrongdoings. Admitting when you’ve made a mistake can actually teach us important life lessons, help us grow, and boost trust with other people.
If you can’t get your child to do something, give them the choice to do it themselves or offer to help them. Either way, the task gets done and you got them to do what you asked.
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Children don’t always have to be so complicated, and if you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with this trick. If you’re the cool uncle or fun aunt who agreed to babysit for the evening, this little hack is for you. Children need choices and this will help you get what you want if they’re having a tough time listening.
If you find yourself overthinking, stare at a fixated point. Eyes need to move to catch memories so looking at a singular point makes it difficult to overthink.
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If you’re an overthinker, one way to help free your mind is to focus on one fixated point. The more we look around, the more likely we are to constantly think. Breathe, relax your muscles, and hopefully your mind will slow down.
Instead of agonizing over why you can’t sleep, use positive reinforcement instead. Think of things like, “My bed is so comfortable, sleeping is easy, I love sleeping.”
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Positive reinforcement in all aspects of life can go a long way. We tend to focus on the negative more than the positive, so no wonder we have trouble sleeping. Think good thoughts, release good energy and you shall receive an awesome nights sleep!
If you don’t look a toddler in the eye after they’ve fallen or hurt themselves, there’s a good chance they won’t cry.
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Rule of thumb when a child falls, avoid all eye contact! Of course this depends how bad the fall is, but generally speaking, if a child gently falls on the ground while chasing a bird, chances are he or she is perfectly fine. Don’t react, and they won’t either. You’re welcome.
If someone wants to pawn their work off on you, ask them to do something for you first that’s related to the task. Most of the time they’ll leave and find someone else to do it.
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Doing favors for people and getting favors in return is a fair exchange. However, no one wants extra work if it’s not necessary. If someone at the office asks you to finish their work because they want to leave early for the weekend, just ask them to send you a detailed email with bullet points that explain the task. Most likely the won’t put in the effort to do that, and you’re off the hook.
If someone is trying to make you decide in a hurry, they are probably giving you a bad deal.
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If you’re being rushed to make a decision, whether it’s a contract for a new job offer or deciding what flower arrangement you want, walk away. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
If you want to make someone feel uncomfortable, look at their forehead when you’re talking to them.
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Nothing makes a situation more awkward than lack of eye contact. What makes a situation even more uncomfortable is when their staring at your forehead.
If something takes less than three minutes, just do it and you’ll feel much better.
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There’s the five-second rule that refers to how much time food can spend on the floor before we tell ourselves that it’s still ok to eat. Now, we have come up with the three-minute rule that can help us stop procrastinating. If something takes three minutes, like making your bed, just do it! You’ll feel more motivated and happier throughout the day.