Getting cheeky with the choices

Most of us are regrettably familiar with hearing “no.” If you’re like me,  you die by degrees each time you have one of your wishes gainsaid. Rejection sucks. Luckily though, there is a deliciously subtle method of improving the chances of getting your way. It has to do with the choices you give people when you’re requesting a favor.

To appreciate the soundness and reliability of the method, you’ll first have to know a little about how the brain works. The part of the brain called thefrontal lobe regulates decision making, problem solving, control of purposeful behaviors, consciousness, and emotions. In conjunction with other areas of the brain, it forms the critical factor. When the critical factor is not activated, decisions are made at the either the subconscious or unconscious level.

The method I describe is aimed at giving you greater control of the critical factor of another person’s brain. How? Well, the brain is the ultimate theater of  cause and effect. Thus, similar stimuli produces similar responses or similar input produces similar output. In addition, much of the brain’s processing of input takes place at the unconscious level (truly understand and appreciate this and you would have discovered something more precious than gold). Hence,  to improve the chances of getting what you want, you need to give people’s brains the proper input. Top sales people, and those whose business is persuasion are great at doing this.

Let’s delve deeper by looking at examples.

If your brain is given the input “what is your name?” the output will usually be “my name is John Doe” unless its critical factor finds a reason not to answer in this expected way, as in the case of with holding this information when talking to people you don’t like. Now, if your brain is given a similar input, but in Spanish, then assuming you know Spanish, the output will usually be “me llamo John Doe.” The brain logically tries to make input and output congruent, and you unconsciously answer Spanish questions in Spanish.

Now, if the input was “can you take me to the mall?” the output would logically be “yes” or “no.” But, suppose the input was “when can you take me to the mall, today or tomorrow?” Provided that you’re able to go, your brain’s critical factor would then be employed in deciding which day is best instead of whether or not you want to go. And eventually you’d just pick one of the two days, perhaps unwillingly.

I’d think up more examples, but I feel like I’m too cool to. So, there you have it, in a majority of situations, to improve the chances of getting what you want, you simply have to use words to greater effect. Now go and be disappointed no more.

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