Tips and Tricks
A Skill I Learned In a Sales Training Program — Reverse Psychology
Yes, It Works For Real!
Reverse psychology has become a cliché. The problem is that most people approach reverse psychology in a very simplistic manner. Let’s say you don’t want a loved one to go skydiving. To encourage that individual not to jump off the plane, you would say, “You may go risk your life; I don’t care.” That, however, is not reverse psychology; instead, it is passive-aggressive behavior.
You must be clever if you want to use reverse psychology in your favor. Imagine you want your roommate to do the dishes since it’s their turn. A straightforward way would be:
“Would you mind cleaning the dishes? It’s your turn today.”
But suppose your roommate is lazy, and the “nice” method fails. So, what would you do? You might say:
“So, I’ve chosen to stop doing the dishes and instead use disposable plastic dishes. You must be fine with it, don’t you? If you want some, give me some money and I’ll buy some for you as well.”
Without criticizing the other person specifically, this offers a shameful alternative to not washing the dishes. Rather than focusing on the charge, your roommate is forced to pick between two possible options. This is…
