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Do You Know When Someone is Trying to Manipulate You?
Samples of Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power explained with the psychological processes described by Robert Cialdini
Republished from www.centerforappliedtheoryofmind.com
In one of my earlier articles, I wrote about a time when I accidentally hired a ‘con artist’ for the marketing manager position. This was a major learning experience, especially with regard to recognizing the importance of intentionally taking note of negative vibes about a person even when, at first blush, their behavior seems entirely normal.
I recently found myself in a similar position when I hired a gardener. The gardener came across as enthusiastic and charming. He shared his passion for gardening, he offered suggestions and he touted his connections with garden suppliers. This time, in contrast to my experience with the Indian con man, I was immediately aware of my feelings of irritation in response to his behavior, even though it seemed as though he was just trying to be a ‘nice guy.’
Because the gardener had been referred by a friend, I initially gave him the benefit of the doubt. Very soon, however, I noticed that appointments were often canceled, and occasionally he didn’t show up at all. Whenever he did accomplish even a…
