What is reverse psychology and why does it work?

Reverse psychology is one of the most well-known and used persuasion tactics. Every day we are exposed to its influence, although most of the time we are not aware of its power.

What is usually kept in mind about this technique is the simple idea of ​​doing the opposite of what we are told to do. However, it is much more than that.

The method is related to such basic psychological needs as freedom and the ability to choose. Therefore, to know what it consists of, a deeper analysis is needed. Continue reading and you will discover what is behind this powerful social influence tool.

What is reverse psychology?

As a summary, this is a technique of persuasion or social influence, in which A behavior is induced in a person by explicitly requesting that he or she do just the opposite.

It seems a bit confusing, but the truth is that we receive messages like this every day. Perhaps just with the definition it is difficult to understand. For that reason, we will illustrate this concept with the following examples from everyday life:

• A “no entry” sign makes us want to venture down that road.
• Telling a young child “don’t talk to strangers” fuels his curiosity about strangers.
• If a teenager is restricted from certain friendships, they suddenly become best friends.
• “Don’t study too much for the exam” can generate the opposite reaction and you end up over-studying.
• When a doctor places a food restriction, the desire to consume that specific food increases.
• The phrase “do what you want” causes a state of blockage and paralysis in which one no longer does what one had in mind.
• In front of a sign with the message “do not touch the button” we would feel like pressing it, even if we had no intention of doing so.

Why reverse psychology works

Now that we are clear about what this tactic consists of, the next question we will answer is why does it work? There is nothing magical behind it. In fact, It is based on a principle with a long history of research: psychological reactance.

The psychologist Jack Brehm was the one who developed this concept. It is an emotional reaction to rules that threaten or suppress certain freedoms. When this happens, the person may adopt opposite behavior or harden his or her point of view in an attempt to regain endangered freedom. There are three keys to exert reactance:

• Direct restore: regain freedom by carrying out the prohibited conduct. It corresponds to the examples that we indicated in the previous point.
• Indirect restoration: perform conduct equivalent to that threatened. For example: if a child is told that he cannot play with the ball inside the house, then he will play with the skateboard.
• Subjective responses: If a behavior cannot be performed, the person will change his or her cognitions and emotional reactions. Thus, if a doctor establishes a low-fat diet, it is possible to think that we have never liked greasy food.

Variables that influence the psychological effectiveness of the inverse

This is a psychological tool that can be used with anyone, but it does not mean that it is equally effective with everyone. A series of aspects must be taken into account to know who to direct it towards.

First of all, the way of being of the target individual matters. The technique works best with challenging personalities, those who rebel against established norms. On the other hand, it is less effective with submissive and obedient people.

The importance given to the object or person in question also influences. It is not the same whether what we want to induce, or prohibit, is something with a lot of personal value, compared to whether it is something trivial. If it is an important issue, the person will react more strongly in the opposite direction to the norm.

How to apply the technique correctly and responsibly

All persuasion tactics are useful and ethical, as long as they are used responsibly. Thus, making good use of the reverse psychological method is incompatible with the purpose of manipulating or coerce a person to achieve our purposes. In everyday practice, it is possible to apply it correctly by applying these tips.

Say the opposite

It consists of saying the opposite of what we want someone else to do. It is executed in a way as simple as give the order followed by a denial. For example, in the case of reverse psychology in love, a lover could tell his partner: “You don’t need to give me a gift.”

Surrender

This strategy It is useful when we do not want to wear ourselves out and settle an argument. In a dispute over clothing between a father and son, the former says: “D“I agree, wear whatever clothes you want.” This approach will produce a certain reactance and guilt, which will make the second person reconsider.

Have a mysterious attitude

Adopt a mysterious attitude, as if something were being hidden, It will increase the person’s interest and curiosity. If we tell him: “I have a gift, but I can’t tell you what it is,” he will insist that we tell him about the surprise.

To provoke

This tactic must be used carefully, as it can have the opposite effect. It consists of challenging a person and appealing to their competence. By telling him, “You don’t need to do it, it’s too difficult for you,” we cause him to mobilize to question his ability.

Create options

It is used when we want to promote motivation for a behavior. The fact of Having several alternatives increases the feeling of freedom and the chosen one is carried out with more enthusiasm. We exemplify this through reverse psychology in children, when they are assigned household chores: “Do you prefer to wash the dishes or take out the trash?”

Reverse psychology in the framework of therapy

Therapists also use the reverse psychological technique for positive purposes. Within the framework of psychological treatment, Its usefulness is to reduce the intensity of a symptom by prescribing it.

The specific name is paradoxical intention and it is about doing exactly what one strives to avoid. For example, if the symptom is insomnia, the technique would tell the person to go all night without sleeping.

According to an article published in the magazine global nursingwith this what is achieved is to remove the focus of attention from worry, anxiety decreases and sleep is facilitated.

Learn to use this powerful tool

This psychological method is much more complex than doing the opposite of what we are told. It is a resource used in multiple contexts, including psychotherapy. Furthermore, we receive messages of this type every day without being aware of them (most of the time).

Now that you know what it is, you have a powerful instrument in your hands. This means that is at your disposal to apply it responsibly and not as a manipulation tactic.

The entry What is reverse psychology and why does it work? was first published in Psycom.Blog.

Source link