Secret technique con-men, cults, salespeople, motivational speakers, fundraisers,

And maybe even you!

Use to change people's opinions and get them to do what they want.

A thread

Gaslighting!

That's the word.

Gaslighting is the art of subtly influencing a person's opinion or view by making them doubt the validity of their opinion.

Thereby making them more receptive to accepting yours.

Most of us use these techniques in our day to day activities without realising it.

With this thread you'll learn some ways you can use them consciously,

And also be better able to identify it when someone is trying to use them on you.

Repititive questioning

Repeatedly asking people to state their opinions helps them question it themselves

Sometimes just seeming to question it without actually questioning it works too

The more they state it or think about it, the more they tend to doubt what they're saying

This works a lot because most of what people believe are superficial, no concrete evidence to prove it.

They just need only a little to convince themselves.

Note: this questioning should not seem threatening or challenging in nature or they might go on the defense.

Pointing out the invincible

When people point out stuffs we're supposed to be aware of,

We come to wonder if there's something else we might be overlooking.

Our sense of certainty is gone and we are more open to other's thoughts.

Especially the person who enlightened us

Alluding to the mysterious

When we allude to the mysterious we point out things another person has yet to,

Or may not have the ability to discern for themselves.

It's like going to a doctor with a headache and he tells you it's as a result of an aneurysm.

You faith and dependence on that doctor would increase exponentially because he knows something you don't,

You'd be more inclined to listen to whatever he has to say because he knows more about your condition than you do, and he just proved it.

Place yourself in a position where you get to be the one to translate the mysterious,

And you place yourself in a position of power and influence.

Revealing the secret thoughts of others

This is trying to influence someone with our opinions by revealing that other people secretly share the same view but are reluctant to admit it.

Most conmen, cults and manipulators use this,

To induce insecurity within a person and destroy relationships with others.

But it could also be used in a positive way.

You could tell that person you think their work is great and not only you, but Mike and the rest of the office does too.

Honesty is key with this tho.

Gang up on them

People can have really strong opinions about many things and can be really stubborn when you try to change em.

Even if changing those views might be in their best interests.

One of the ways to shake their resistance is by using social pressure.

Most people look to others as a cue for how they should act even if what others are doing makes absolutely no sense.

Learn to use this to your advantage.

Note: about this last point, when people have made up their minds about something,

Even if they haven't expressed their opinions,

The likelihood of them changing their mind is low.

For more success with this strategy, use it before the issue at hand even becomes an issue.

Find the right situations and apply these strategies accordingly.

Sometimes gaslighting is the best way to change people's opinion.

After-all, we aren't likely to accept another person's belief or views,

If we haven't first doubted ours.