On Manipulation
Robert Chowdini’s principles of Manipulation:
1. Reciprocity.
An example Chowdini gave was that a waiter can significantly increase the size of a tip by giving something to the customer immediately before they pay the bill. Eg. a dinner mint. A study found that if they gave one mint (per person on the table) the waiter received a 3.3% tip, if they give 2 mints per person the tips jumped to 14.4%.
2. Consensis.
The idea that if a lot of other people are doing something, it must be the right thing to do.
3. Authority
A study in the US found that if someone dressed as a security guard and walked up to people on the street, in general, they would do what he asked. You find people doing silly things, because someone in a uniform has directed them to do it.
4. Commitment
If you can get someone to take a small but public stand on a topic, you’re more likely to get them to take a greater stance on an issue.
A study in Israel shows that if you could get someone to sign a partition, if you came back 2 weeks later and asked for a donation, they would be twice as likely to donate.
5. Scarcity
If you create a real or fake sense of scarcity… Eg. iPads, iPhones and so on, that’s why you see lines of people outside Apple Stores.
6. Attraction
Eg. the attractive young woman standing next to an automobile make the car more attractive.
