It is astonishing what the human mind can pull as tricks, how it controls thoughts, manipulates feeling and manages ideas. Yet the effect of one's mind can not only go so far, us as individuals can also manipulate each other's mind! Amazing, I know!
So what is reverse psychology?
Reverse psychology is a technique involving the assertion of a belief or behavior that is opposite to the one desired, with the expectation that this approach will encourage the one under the experience of the persuasion to do what actually is desired, in other words, it’s a way of making the other believe that you’re okay with a certain behavior in order for the other person to rethink the so said behavior, still unclear ? Let's dive a little deeper.
Digging deeper into the meaning.
Reverse psychology is a plan of action for getting what you want by or suggesting what you don't want. Scientists call it strategic self-anti-conformity, because your communicated demand goes directly against what you want. When you use reverse psychology, you use words that indicate what someone must do, even though you want them to do the opposite.
Why/when do people use reverse psychology?
Reverse psychology can be used in work to send an indirect order, yes, it might make the employee feel a bit self conscious, but it is proved to be a good mechanism to reduce conflicts.
It can also be use in relationships: after going out with someone for the first time and getting to know them, oppressing them or pointing on some of their behaviors that you might like/ dislike might seem a bit challenging, there for using reverse psychology helps furthermore in solving the so said problem
Reverse psychology can be used in: Sales, Marketing, Parenting, Teaching,and so on.
* an example of reverse psychology in parenting:
Parent – Time for a bath. Child – No, I don’t want to have a bath. Parent – Okay. It’s time for bed then. Child – It’s not bedtime yet. Parent – No it isn’t, it’s bath time. But if you aren’t going to take a bath, bed time it is.
* An example of reverse psychology in relationships:
Suppose that you have been into a fight with your partner, instead of the silent treatment you act like if you’re fine, even if you want to talk the issue out, you don’t initiate the conversation, therefore you say you’re okay, as your partner knows that you’re not, which leads them to opening a conversation regarding whatsoever bothering you.
*though it’s not the best way to approach a problem to your partner, yet this technique proved to be useful.*
Is reverse psychology a way of manipulation?
Well, there has been some long discussions about this, some believe that it is a way of manipulating your child/partner into bowing to whatever you want: making the feel somehow ‘’guilty’’. as far as it goes, reverse psychology only works if you’re it being too obvious, If you are too obvious, you lose the opportunity to influence someone who responds best to direct requests, and that make it seem as a for of manipulation.
But what do you think? Is it really a trick or just a way of getting what you want without hurting anyone’s feelings ?
