Have you ever wished you could be more persuasive? Influencing others requires more than a charming smile or a pretty face; there is actually a science behind the psychology of persuasion.
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Dr. Robert Cialdini has spent his entire career researching the science of influence, earning him a worldwide reputation as an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation.
Not only does Cialdini have a Ph.D from the University of North Carolina and post doctoral training from Columbia University, he also held Visiting Scholar Appointments at Ohio State University, the University of California, the Annenberg School of Communications, and the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. On top of all of that, he is the author of several top selling books.
His books including, Influence: Science & Practice, are the collaborative result of over 60 years of peer-reviewed research on why people comply with requests.
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Cialdini says that due to our lives being overloaded (and over-scheduled), we often take shortcuts when it comes to making decisions, instead of utilizing all the available information in front of us.
The following animated video explains there are 6 universal shortcuts that guide human behaviour:
1. Reciprocity
2. Scarcity
3. Authority
4. Consistency
5. Liking
6. Consensus
Cialdini says, “Understanding these shortcuts, and employing them in an ethical manner, can significantly increase the chances that someone will be persuaded by your request.”
Not only is this video easy to understand, it gives us a glimpse at the often overlooked human behaviour of agreeing with others.
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What are your thoughts? Have you tried using this method to achieve your goals? Tell us in the comments!
Written by Raven Fon