Cold reading Basic procedure[edit] Before starting the actual reading, the reader will typically try to elicit cooperation from the subject, saying something such as, "I often see images that are a bit unclear and which may sometimes mean more to you than to me; if you help, we can together uncover new things about you." One of the most crucial elements of a convincing cold reading is a subject eager to make connections or reinterpret vague statements in any way that will help the reader appear to make specific predictions or intuitions. While the reader will do most of the talking, it is the subject who provides the meaning. After determining that the subject is cooperative, the reader will make a number of probing statements or questions, typically using variations of the methods noted below. Subtle cues such as changes in facial expression or body language can indicate whether a particular line of questioning is effective or not. Other techniques[edit] Shotgunning[edit] Warm reading[edit]
Adam Green: The Spectacular Thefts of Apollo Robbins, Pickpocket A few years ago, at a Las Vegas convention for magicians, Penn Jillette, of the act Penn and Teller, was introduced to a soft-spoken young man named Apollo Robbins, who has a reputation as a pickpocket of almost supernatural ability. Jillette, who ranks pickpockets, he says, “a few notches below hypnotists on the show-biz totem pole,” was holding court at a table of colleagues, and he asked Robbins for a demonstration, ready to be unimpressed. Robbins demurred, claiming that he felt uncomfortable working in front of other magicians. “Come on,” Jillette said. Again, Robbins begged off, but he offered to do a trick instead. “Fuck. Robbins held up a thin, cylindrical object: the cartridge from Jillette’s pen. Robbins, who is thirty-eight and lives in Las Vegas, is a peculiar variety-arts hybrid, known in the trade as a theatrical pickpocket. I first met Robbins in Las Vegas, and he took me to a walk-around corporate gig at the Rio Hotel and Casino. “What do you do?” “That’s right.” “Yes.”
LARPwriting.org - Three Rules... In a discussion on another blog: I made a post I was so enamored with I am reproducing it here. Context aside, these are three good rules to use when GMing in any situation. Three rules: 1) Do not cater to crippled roleplayers.That's cruel, but it's right. Look some people can't roleplay their way out of a wet paper bag, or are simply too shy to get along in a group. But I can't fix broken roleplayers. My advice - be brutal and clear about this. 2) Do not overreactThe fact that Bob Roleplayer has a problem does not mean a problem exists. Stop...look...listen... Don't let someone else tell you that there is a problem. I will say offhand that the two areas where this gets ugliest are sex, cheating and safety. Take a deep breath. That's the basic rule. 3) Do not take bullshitThe final line is that rules and standards don't matter if there is bullshit going on. "Look Joe, I hear all you're saying about Cathy cheating in the game.
Decision Points Explanations > Decisions > Decision Points Description | Discussion | So what Description Across any single activity or a set of related activities, there may be points at which decisions have to be made. Unless there are clear decision points, people often will continue with the momentum of the current activity. In the design or management of an activity, more or less decision points may be deliberately inserted or omitted. Example A person is given five small bags of popcorn. In retail situations there are clear decision points along the way, such as to stop and look in a window, to enter the shop, to try on clothes and to buy particular things. Business decision-making is more difficult as it often requires a number of people to agree before something is purchased, particularly if it is expensive. Discussion Decisions take time, effort, energy and expense, which together is sometimes called the transaction cost. Psychologically, decisions play to the need for a sense of control. See also
Foot-in-the-door technique The principle involved is that a small agreement creates a bond between the requester and the requestee. Even though the requestee may only have agreed to a trivial request out of politeness, this forms a bond which - when the requestee attempts to justify the decision to themselves - may be mistaken for a genuine affinity with the requester, or an interest in the subject of the request. When a future request is made, the requestee will feel obliged to act consistently with the earlier one.[5] The reversed approach - making a deliberately outlandish opening demand so that a subsequent, milder request will be accepted - is known as the door-in-the-face technique. Classic experiments[edit] In an early study, a team of psychologists telephoned housewives in California and asked if the women would answer a few questions about the household products they used. [edit] Environmental applications[edit] Examples[edit] "Can I go over to Suzy's house for an hour?" Charitable donation[edit] Notes
Nightclub Security, Managing Obnoxious Patrons, security consultant, Chris McGoey, nightclub security expert Managing Obnoxious Patrons Nightclubs and bars can be an exciting business, but with it comes special problems. Trendy nightclubs attract a younger crowd looking for a place to party. The notoriety of a hot club brings crowds of young men and women who will stand in line for hours just to be part of the nightclub scene. This sounds like nightclub owner’s dream, but with that success comes control problems associated with young adults, too much testosterone, alcohol, and drugs all crowded together in a small space. Because of this, nightclubs need to have a security plan in place when obnoxious or intoxicated patrons cause trouble. Customer Contacts Contact with an obnoxious customer should begin at the first sign of trouble. When it’s Time to Go Unfortunately, in any nightclub a time will come when a patron must be asked to leave. If you used the progressive warning system described above then the job is easier. Use of Force When to Call the Police? Nightclub & Bar Security Articles
A Fake is a Fake. Anyway Ben Franklin effect The Ben Franklin effect is a psychological finding: A person who has done someone a favor is more likely to do that person another favor than they would be if they had received a favor from that person. Similarly, one who harms another is more willing to harm them again than the victim is to retaliate.[1] Recognition of effect by Franklin[edit] In the words of Benjamin Franklin, who famously observed the effect and for whom it is named, "He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged."[2] In his autobiography, Franklin explains how he dealt with the animosity of a rival legislator when he served in the Pennsylvania legislature in the 18th century: Having heard that he had in his library a certain very scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him, expressing my desire of perusing that book, and requesting he would do me the favour of lending it to me for a few days. Effect as an example of cognitive dissonance[edit]
Northern Ireland | 'Elf' lingerie thief found guilty A man who dressed up as Buho, a female elf, has been convicted by a jury at Belfast Crown Court of taking underwear from a shop in a knifepoint raid. Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, held up staff at the Orchid shop in Belfast disguised in a wig, hat and glasses. He told the court he had been in a role-playing game at the time and may have blurred reality and fantasy. Boyd was released on bail. Sentencing was adjourned for probation reports. In court on Thursday, ten jurors dismissed Boyd's defence and two believed it. During the three-day trial, the jury heard that Boyd wore a disguise of a blonde curly wig, reading glasses and a beany hat. He armed himself with a knife before stealing two sets of bras, pants, suspender belts and stockings from the lingerie shop on the Lisburn Road. The Queen's University senior lab technician was arrested within moments of the robbery on 14 December 2005. Fantasy "I didn't mean it to happen," he later told detectives.
Perfect Persuasive Messages Craft messages that change minds using these 20 principles of persuasion, all based on established psychological research. Perfection is hard to achieve in any walk of life and persuasion is no different. It relies on many things going just right at the crucial moment; the perfect synchronisation of source, message and audience. But even if perfection is unlikely, we all need to know what to aim for. To bring you the current series on the psychology of persuasion I’ve been reading lots of research, much more than is covered in recent posts. Here are the most important points for crafting the perfect persuasive message, all of which have scientific evidence to back them up. Multiple, strong arguments: the more arguments, the more persuasive, but overall persuasive messages should be balanced, as two-sided arguments fare better than their one-sided equivalents (as long as counter-arguments are shot down).Relevance: persuasive messages should be personally relevant to the audience.
Cialdini's Six Principles of Influence - Communication Skills Training from MindTools Convincing Others to Say "Yes" (Also known as the Six Weapons of Influence) How do you influence others? © iStockphoto/blackred You've come up with a fantastic idea for a new product. However, you haven't had much success with this in the past. Influencing others is challenging, which is why it's worth understanding the psychological principles behind the influencing process. This is where it's useful to know about Cialdini's Six Principles of Influence. In this article, we'll examine these principles, and we'll look at how you can apply them to influence others. About the Six Principles The Six Principles of Influence (also known as the Six Weapons of Influence) were created by Robert Cialdini, Regents' Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University. The six principles are as follows: 1. As humans, we generally aim to return favors, pay back debts, and treat others as they treat us. 2. Cialdini says that we have a deep desire to be consistent. 3. 4. 5. 6. Warning:
How to Start a Conversation With Someone on the Train, Bus or Subway - WikiHow Edit Article Edited by VideoJug.com, Will, Dave Crosby, Jack Herrick and 44 others Have you ever wanted to talk to an attractive person on the bus or train but ended up waiting too long and letting him or her get away? Follow these steps to quickly spark a conversation the next time you're smitten, and never lose the love of your life (or at least the love of the week) again. Ad Steps 1Understand the environment. 10Keep conversing. Tips If the person is sitting and you're standing, position yourself so that your crotch isn't in the person's face.When making eye contact, keep your facial expression light and friendly, rather than straight and serious.It can take some courage to actually talk to a stranger on the bus or train, but remember that this is really an ideal situation. Warnings While the eye-contact test is a good way to gauge a person's interest in you, it's easy to misconstrue an innocent glance or, sometimes, a look of disgust for interest.
HOW TO CHEAT AT EVERYTHING Over lunch with Simon Lovell, a fascinating former card shark, Allison Schrager learns all sorts of things about how swindlers operate ... Special to MORE INTELLIGENT LIFE "I can spot someone's weakness a mile away. In any room I can pick out the best target," says Simon Lovell, reformed con artist and famed magician, when asked over lunch about the root of his talents. "Take that woman over there." He motions across the room towards a lady speaking to a man engrossed in his menu--"vulnerable, needy, looking for attention from the man she is with, but he won't give it to her. "Or that man over there, over-dressed, too neat, over-confident, thinks he is too smart to be taken." "But ultimately, anyone can be conned, if you have the balls to do it." Simon Lovell should know. Presently, instead of subjecting people to cons, Mr Lovell stars in a one-man off-Broadway show, "Strange and Unusual Hobbies". It requires avid study of psychology and body language. But I would make a poor con artist.
Guide to flirting Why do we flirt? Flirting is much more than just a bit of fun: it is a universal and essential aspect of human interaction. Anthropological research shows that flirting is to be found, in some form, in all cultures and societies around the world. Flirting is a basic instinct, part of human nature. This is not surprising: if we did not initiate contact and express interest in members of the opposite sex, we would not progress to reproduction, and the human species would become extinct. According to some evolutionary psychologists, flirting may even be the foundation of civilisation as we know it. If flirting is instinctive, why do we need this Guide? Like every other human activity, flirting is governed by a complex set of unwritten laws of etiquette. We only become aware of the rules when someone commits a breach of this etiquette – by flirting with the wrong person, perhaps, or at an inappropriate time or place. Where to flirt Parties Drinking-places Learning-places Workplace Spectator events