Is manipulation good or bad?
Somehow it happened that the word “use” evokes mainly negative emotions and attitudes. And you probably want to ask: “Is it good to manipulate?” I will answer with a counter question: “Is it good to communicate?” Confused? So, know that you apply manipulations every day.
When making appointments, conducting business negotiations, talking with a friend over a cup of coffee, in a cozy cafe, or simply living in society, in each case you try to give the interlocutor a message, on a subconscious level, and wait for feedback, his reaction, actions. All this is nothing more than an attempt to control – to manipulate.
Create problems and then suggest ways to solve them
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This method is also called problem-reaction-solution. A problem is created, a certain “situation”, designed to provoke a certain reaction among the population so that it itself demands the adoption of measures that are necessary for the ruling circles. For example, allowing a spiral of violence in cities to unfold or organizing bloody terrorist attacks so that citizens demand the adoption of laws to strengthen security measures and policies that infringe on civil liberties. Or: cause an economic crisis in order to force people to accept the violation of social rights and the curtailment of city services as a necessary evil.
What does psychology say?
From a psychological point of view, when trying to influence, a person is trying to get to the subconscious, while bypassing the conscious mind. After all, consciousness is capable of controlling any information received and even resisting it. The area of feelings cannot do this; it waits for the green light from consciousness. Therefore, the technique of controlling the superconscious is more of a hidden nature.
But despite this, two spheres of influence are distinguished:
- Directive (direct)
- Indirect (hidden)
Directive influence is usually common between superiors and subordinates. He directly says what he expects from the employee, without veiling his demands. This control technique is today the exception rather than the norm. Since, at this hour, more attention is paid to communication, and it has reached a new level of development.
Indirect control techniques are much more widespread. Each of us has requests, desires to achieve the mutual sympathy of a person important to us, to achieve favor in society. And this is all, programming other people, an attempt to achieve a certain result by influencing their subconscious.
Distraction
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The main element of managing society is to divert people's attention from important problems and decisions made by political and economic ruling circles, through the constant saturation of the information space with unimportant messages. The technique of distraction is very important in preventing citizens from gaining important knowledge in the fields of science, economics, psychology, neuroscience and cybernetics. “Constantly distract the attention of citizens from real social problems, switching it to topics of no real importance. To ensure that citizens are constantly busy with something and do not have time to think; from the field to the pen, like all other animals (quote from the book “Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars”).
Basic rules for manipulative tricks
First, let's look at the most primitive options for influence. For example, if the situation is such that you need to ask a direct question, but it is inappropriate, then the person should bring the dialogue to such a level as to get an answer without particularly annoying the colleague (friend).
To do this, the conversation must contain “hidden” questions: “I would like to know your opinion” or “I wonder what you think about this,” that is, everything that will prompt reflection in the interlocutor.
Simple rules of manipulation also include “hidden” commands and presuppositions. Indirect installations are applicable when a direct order is impossible or incorrect.
For example, the difference in instructions: “Close the window!” and “Look, the window is closed?”, that is, in any case, this instruction must be followed, but which option is more pleasant to follow?
Presupposition is when a situation is taken for granted. That is, a person (manipulator) builds a dialogue in such a way as to get a positive answer (result) from the interlocutor in any case.
This requires a special formulation of the question: “Will you pay by credit card or cash?” This situation already implies that you will have to pay for the service; your choice remains only with the payment option.
Method of gradual application
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To achieve the adoption of any unpopular measure, it is enough to introduce it gradually, day after day, year after year. This is exactly how fundamentally new socio-economic conditions (neoliberalism) were imposed in the 80s and 90s of the last century. Minimizing the functions of the state, privatization, uncertainty, instability, mass unemployment, wages that no longer provide a decent life. If all this happened at the same time, it would certainly lead to a revolution.
For a big ship, a long voyage
The current, perfect human brain requires more and more new knowledge and more complex tasks. After all, the more knowledge, the more opportunities. Thus, manipulative tricks have become much more skillful and skillful.
Of course, this is not always done for the benefit of a person; sometimes people deliberately resort to influencing other people out of greed. In any case, people must have knowledge, and how they use it depends on themselves.
Therefore, you need to know additional, leading methods and methods of influencing the sphere of the subconscious, namely:
- Repetition
- Direct contact
- Frame 25 effect
- Hypnosis
Today, these suggestions are the most effective and widespread. Repetition is a powerful method of influencing a person’s mind through constant influx of information. A good example would be marketing and advertising. Here the instructions start in a circle - the consciousness gets tired, resistance decreases, and now, it turns out, we can reach the superconscious. A person is amenable to manipulation and “complies” with the necessary regulations.
Direct contact of influence is different in that it occurs in real time, here and now. A person who uses this type of manipulation tries to “relax” the consciousness of the interlocutor with friendly dialogue and focused direct contact, in the eyes.
The fact is that people are actually untrained for long-term eye-to-eye contact. At the same time, it is difficult to logically construct answers. Consciousness is confused, the subconscious is looking for other “suitable” options, which, as you understand, are beneficial to the manipulator. This method is often used by folk healers to heal the soul and body of a person through working with the subconscious.
The effect of the 25th frame is a very unique way of controlling the subconscious. Until now, scientists cannot decide on its real usefulness. Nevertheless, this method has enough admirers. The mechanism of its action is hidden from the human consciousness in the 25th frame.
The human visual center is capable of receiving only 24 frames per second, therefore consciousness does not perceive the 25th frame. Thus, the perception zone of the embedded information in a given frame is programmed. This method of manipulation is very controversial.
Treat people like little children
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Most propaganda speeches aimed at the general public use arguments, characters, words, and intonation as if they were talking about school-age children with developmental delays or mentally handicapped individuals. The more someone tries to mislead the listener, the more he tries to use infantile speech patterns. Why? “If someone addresses a person as if he were 12 years old or younger, then due to suggestibility, that person’s response or reaction will, to a certain degree, also lack the critical judgment that is typical for children aged 12 or younger years.
Working with destination settings
In psychology, there is a concept of “irrational beliefs” that can harm a person. The manipulator can also play on them. American psychologist Albert Ellis studied such attitudes and developed the ABC mechanism, which explains their operation. It deciphers as follows:
- A – occurrence of events.
- B – beliefs belonging to a particular person that are used to explain events.
- C is the individual’s response under the influence of his attitudes, which is expressed both emotionally and behaviorally.
Personal beliefs can be divided into four groups: “I (you, the world) should”; attitudes that give rise to the illusion of a bad outcome; an opinion about what the world around should be like for an individual to feel safe; blaming themselves or other people.
Means of psychological influence on humans
Using the example of one of the means of psychological influence on the masses, we can consider advertising, which has become commonplace. Relatively recently, advertising existed as signs in shops, cafes or catering establishments. These were ordinary posters recommending film screenings or concerts of pop stars.
Today, advertising has turned into large-scale, high-quality videos that not only inform people about a product, presentation or announcement, they force them to make a choice in favor of a particular product, form the formation of values and direct a person’s thoughts and actions in the right direction. It is important to pay attention to what your children watch, as there are influences that have a destructive effect on the individual.
Many believe that the psychological impact of advertising is the engine of trade (a hackneyed phrase, but it is true), others believe that demand implies the release of new products, the struggle for primacy between which is resolved through advertising. This is one of the most effective means that influences a lot of people and forces them to act under dictation.
Under the influence of advertising, many girls walk in uncomfortable high heels
This applies not only to a particular product or singer; advertising can sway public opinion in favor of a particular candidate for government elections. This method is also called “manipulation of public opinion” or “the dark art of influencing people.” Moreover, the manipulation is not carried out by force, but by methods of correctly constructing the candidate’s advertising program. It turns out what the electorate needs at this stage of the formation and development of society and general phrases and promises are adjusted. Each person “sees” a benefit for himself in these promises and votes for this particular chosen one.
Goals of psychological influence on a person
Mental influence on a person has its goal - the desire to force a person to consciously or unconsciously obey certain guidelines, norms, laws or requirements.
The director in a team of subordinates, using psychological techniques to influence his interlocutor, has his goal - to unite people or give them food for thought and action for the benefit of the company in which they work.
The psychological influence of parents on their children implies the goal of raising them to be good, well-mannered and law-abiding citizens.
Parents know how to psychologically influence their child, for example, to make him laugh
The psychological impact of advertising is aimed at making people buy one or another advertised product, vote for the right candidate, or watch a movie on which a lot of money has been spent, and they need to be returned as soon as possible.
Techniques for influencing people do not always involve following a good idea. This can be seen in the example of suicide bombers. After all, these people were subjected to suggestion, processing and hypnosis in order to destroy their own kind. Together with the mass of people they kill, they themselves die. And this is contrary to human nature. Consequently, with the help of psychological influence, you can radically change a person’s worldview, make him a puppet in the wrong hands and force him to act contrary to common sense.
As already mentioned, any psychological impact fully affects people who are insecure. Literate, educated and self-confident individuals are difficult to suggest, infect and persuade.
Basic Reframing Techniques
“Redescription” methods explain how a person can be manipulated only by replacing words, part of the message. Let's take a closer look at them.
- A technique for replacing one piece of verbal information with a new sentence or word. For example, instead of saying “I'm afraid,” say “I'm afraid.” Fear will no longer be as pronounced, and the individual will accept it as an indication to be more attentive and careful.
- Rearranging intentions, or rather, truly revealing them. What does it mean to manipulate a person using this method? According to the basics of neurolinguistic programming, the purpose of all behavior is positive. And once you discover your true intention, you can choose more acceptable actions. For example, a wife is often dissatisfied with her husband and allows herself to raise her voice at him. When the husband tries to find out the reasons for this behavior, she cries or leaves. Working with his wife, a psychologist helps to discover the real purpose of hysterical actions - lack of attention, support, love. After pronouncing the intention, the spouse can dress up his behavior, for example, in a soft, gentle form and thereby try to achieve the desired again.
- How to manipulate a person using metaphor? It is a parable or a short story in which there is a comparison with the situation under consideration. You can use an example from a famous fairy tale or cartoon.
- Another effective technique in “redescription” is to use the criterion that the addressee formulated in the new statement. A case in point is the story of the sinfulness of women. When Jesus responded to the offer to throw stones at her, he replied: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at me.”
- Encouragement to look at yourself from the outside. Otherwise, change the recipient’s perception position. How to manipulate a person in this way? When the addressee condemns a certain situation, you can ask the question: “What if you found yourself in such circumstances?”
- A technique of influence due to the inability of the brain to distinguish between fiction and reality. Asking questions like “How do you know...?” or “Why did you decide that...?”, the manipulator achieves the goal of the technique - the “correctness” of perceiving the situation is considered.
As can be seen from the description of the techniques, reframing relies on linguistic techniques that make it possible to consider circumstances in a new way. What does it mean to manipulate a person using this method? This is the disclosure of different ways to achieve your true intentions, as well as the ability to look at actions from the outside.
