What is psychological pressure, and how to resist it? How to effectively resist psychological pressure.

Psychological pressure - everyone has experienced this. It is worth giving up a little slack, as someone who has even the most insignificant powers begins to abuse them with might and main. We almost always act as if on an automatic machine, over and over again playing out ineffective scenarios - flight or.

William Shakespeare wrote: "You can upset me, but you can't play me." Apparently, the master of English poetry and dramaturgy had reason to say so. If even the greatest geniuses are met with attempts to manipulate them, this cannot be avoided by us mere mortals.

What is psychological manipulation

Manipulation is a hidden influence on another person, with the help of which there is a change in his initial attitudes, behavior, perception. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the main goal of psychological influence is the benefits that the aggressor needs. Since with the help of this influence the manipulator satisfies his interests, this type of behavior is considered unethical. Manipulations that are aimed at satisfying the interests of the victim are extremely rare.

Psychological pressure is a common problem, especially in the post-Soviet space. Many do not disdain them - from rude saleswomen in the store, and ending with traffic police inspectors. The first thing to do if you find yourself in such a situation is to track your emotional reaction, and try to stop it (no matter how difficult it may be).

You can often hear from psychologists a recommendation to count to ten, try to regulate your breathing, and relax your muscles. However, this does not always help, as well as other similar tips. Another, more effective, way is to switch consciousness to other objects - for example, looking at the appearance of your opponent. Analyzing the behavior of the aggressor or the work environment, looking at the details of clothing, calculating logarithms in your head (if you are a mathematical genius), translating the stapler label from English into Russian - all this helps to distract, stop the storm.

The reason for our reactions

Why is it so difficult to stop in a conflict situation, to go beyond the usual behavioral pattern? The reason lies in our physiology, and is explained by the theory of the conditional division of the brain into three main sections:

1. The “reptilian brain” is the most ancient part, activated at the moment of a threat to life.
2. The “mammalian brain”, which is responsible for receiving pleasure.
3. As well as the "human brain" - a department that regulates the processes of thinking, rational analysis, reasoning.

Usually these departments work in peace and harmony. But when a person is "upset", experiencing anger or fear - excitation prevails in the "reptilian brain". It is this department that dictates the reactions of flight, expressions of aggression, fading. But in all these cases, a person cannot evaluate his actions from a logical position, understand the opponent's motivation. This scheme was saving for the ancient man. Now it causes a lot of inconvenience, although it continues to function in the same mode as millions of years ago.

Turning off the "reptilian brain" is possible only with the help of logical analysis, awareness of the current situation - that is, connecting the frontal lobes. The situation looks much simpler when we got out of the conflict, cooled down, got distracted. Physiologically, in the process of analyzing the situation, the following happens - the focus of nervous excitation in the brain moves from more ancient layers to cortical structures.

Types of manipulation in communication

There are different types of psychological pressure:

• Compulsion. The most common type of manipulation. In this case, the aggressor affects the victim in the most direct way, using power, money, information, or brute physical force;
• Humiliation. The manipulator seeks to humiliate the victim as much as possible in order to realize his future plans. For example, at first you may hear a stream of all kinds of information about yourself about how stupid, incompetent, ugly, etc. you are. Insults can refer to mental abilities: “idiot”, “fool”. This type of manipulation always causes resentment and a desire to defend oneself. As a result, a person quickly loses the ability to critically assess the situation, and it becomes much easier for the aggressor to control him. After all, by a certain moment the victim is already in a state of “combat readiness”, in which he will zealously defend his personal boundaries. At this point, the aggressor asks the question, "Can you at least do that?" - and the victim does everything to prove to himself and to the whole world his significance;
• Flattery. One of the most dangerous types of manipulation of the interlocutor's consciousness. This species poses a particular threat to those who depend on the opinions of others and have low self-esteem. Such a person can quickly succumb to the manipulator. It is quite easy to resist flattery - you just need to voice the real value of your achievements, reflecting the manipulation. For example: “You belong to such a long-suffering people, you have a rich history” - “What are you, every country has pages in history when its inhabitants had to fight for justice”;
• Avoiding a direct answer. One of the most common types of hidden manipulations. Its meaning is that the victim is taken by "starvation". When she tries to clarify the situation, she hears in response something like this: “Are you really? It's all right. What nonsense are you talking about?" Or the aggressor may constantly ask why you say unpleasant things about him.

Psychological pressure and methods of neutralization

Resisting manipulation is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

How can psychological pressure be neutralized?

• The first thing to do is to realize that the actions of the aggressor have a specific purpose. You should be alerted by his stubborn attempts to draw your attention to some aspects of the issue and completely ignore others. Fluctuating emotions, a feeling of sympathy, or, conversely, indignation towards the manipulator, should also not go unnoticed. There are other signals that you should pay attention to: for example, feelings of guilt, a feeling of lack of time. Analyze the situation ahead of time. The aggressor knows that once he gets his opponent off balance, he will be very easy to control. However, as soon as you manage to soberly assess the situation, the need for an “urgent” solution to the issue, or an inappropriate sense of guilt, disappear by itself;
• Ask questions. They should be open-ended—that is, they are not questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” For example: “What makes you think that I am afraid? Can you suggest that I have other grounds for refusal? This technique is especially effective in situations where the interlocutor makes accusations against you in an attempt to pressure you emotionally. Use clarifying questions as if you are asking for his opinion. Refrain from excuses, attempts to explain;
• If you do not like the style of negotiation, feel free to interrupt the communication. You are the same participant in the process as the interlocutor. This is the most reliable way to avoid making the wrong decisions, especially when you are being rushed;
• Another great technique for resisting manipulation is the opposite behavior. For example, the aggressor expects you to be afraid, but you demonstrate courage and determination; expects impudence from you - you show surprise; if you are forced to act in a hurry, you become even slower;
• Play for time - this will allow you to remember the tricks with which you can repel manipulation. For example, you can sharply “remember” that you need to take medicine, call your child, or go out of need. You can just drop a pencil on the floor and look for it for a long time. It is desirable that you always have the techniques of resisting manipulation at the ready, and you can use them “on the machine”. But if you don’t have such an opportunity yet, a pause will allow you to get together and adjust your behavior strategy.

All for now.
Sincerely, Vyacheslav.

Do you feel that psychological pressure is often put on you? If you are a calm and self-confident person, then you will probably want to answer that you practically do not encounter this. But in vain! Methods of influence can be completely different, and often the “victim” does not even understand that she has just been pressured. All this has a huge impact on your life! If you do not want to fall into this trap anymore, read our article and use the knowledge for psychological self-defense.

MAIN TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE

Psychological pressure is the influence on other people, carried out in order to change their psychological attitudes, opinions, judgments and decisions.. It may seem that only strong and result-oriented people resort to it, but this is not so. A confident person will act directly and openly, and not look for workarounds, causing inconvenience to others. There are many types of psychological pressure that you probably have to deal with in life.

COMPULSION

Coercion is direct overt effect on another person . It is resorted to only when there is some kind of force, otherwise no one will succumb. Examples of such power can be physical qualities, power, money, information. A person who is being forced to do something is aware of the process that is taking place - as opposed to being manipulated. You can try to protect yourself from him by hinting to the "presser" that he is acting aggressively - some people do not like to admit this. However, if this does not bother a person, then it is very difficult to resist this type of pressure.

HUMILIATION

Another type of psychological pressure, expressed in striving aggressor morally ”crush the victim ". In this situation, you can hear a lot of unpleasant things about yourself: you are stupid, scary, clumsy, user, disorganized, etc. … Being in a state of psychological prostration, you lose control over the situation, and at this moment it is very convenient to put pressure on you: “ Can you at least do that?". The idea is that if you were sober, you would never agree, but this is where psychological defense mechanisms and the desire to prove your own worth come into play. By the way, this technique works solely due to self-doubt.

LEAVING TO THE SIDE

This kind of psychological pressure stands apart from all others, since its essence lies in attempts starve you out . Simply put, when they try to put pressure on you, and you want to clarify this, the person begins to slip into extraneous topics or even goes into “deaf defense”: “N what do you have, huh?". Or asks why you keep talking nasty things about him. In this case, it is necessary to track the moment of departure each time and return to the starting point: “ No, we'll deal with me later, it's about you now". If you are persistent, then there is a chance that the aggressor will lag behind you with his pressure.

SUGGESTION

Suggestion is a type of psychological influence on a person, after which he starts uncritically"to swallow" information imposed on him from outside The person using this method must be an authority for his victim, otherwise the trick will not work. The extreme version of suggestion is various kinds of influence or hypnosis, but it can also be used in the waking state. For this, as a rule, games with voice, intonation and other semi-conscious moments are used. Paradoxically, there are people who are not suggestible at all, and then everyone thought to himself, but this is not so.

BELIEF

The most rational kind of psychological pressure. It appeals to reason and human logic . That is why only people with a normal level of intelligence and development of thinking are subject to him - the rest simply will not understand what they are being told here. Speech, which includes beliefs, is usually as logical, consistent and conclusive as possible - as soon as the consciousness of the victim catches the slightest inconsistencies, the whole structure immediately collapses.

MANIPULATION

It is with this type of psychological pressure that one has to deal with most often. Its essence is the desire to change the behavior, worldview or perception of another person through a covert, violent or deceptive strategy.

As a rule, the interests of the manipulator are realized at the expense of the victim, which is why manipulation is considered unethical. Psychologists' views on this vary greatly. Some believe that the end of an action sometimes justifies the means. For example, when a doctor convinces a patient to start taking medication. Or the mother, wanting the child to wear a hat, asks him: “ What hat are you going to wear - red or blue?” without giving you a choice. Others rightly believe that a person needs to be given all the information, but respect his freedom of choice and decision, even if it seems to us wrong.

In any case, manipulations aimed, albeit indirectly, at the realization of the interests of the “victim” are extremely rare. Usually it is still the desire to obtain personal gain at the expense of others. Manipulation is a hidden form of psychological pressure- a person does not understand either the true motives of the manipulator, or the fact of influence. In this case, the gain is exclusively one-sided.

Naturally, it is not easy to manipulate people - this requires a certain level of knowledge of psychology, the ability to feel other people's weak points, composure and prudence. A person who decides to do this is cruel enough and does not worry about harming the victim.

Manipulators rely on various bases, thanks to which they manage to control human consciousness. Needs and desires have been used since ancient times to have a psychological impact on a person. Take for example the well-known Russian passion for “freebies” - the desire to get the maximum win at the lowest cost, thanks to which many scammers have enriched themselves.

Each of us in life is guided by certain ideals and values, which include ideas about good and evil, about what is right and wrong. So, relying on them, it is quite easy for another person to manipulate us. For example, giving alms to a beggar seems to be an act of kindness and compassion, although it has long been known that most of these donations go into the pockets of the scammers behind it.

Intelligence and logic can also be manipulated. For example, using complex and long schemes, with the calculation of numerous numbers and cause-and-effect relationships. This is often used by network marketing professionals to encourage you to join their cause: “ Invest just three pennies and get a huge profit, which is obtained from the following sources…”. As a rule, several logical errors are laid in this scheme, thanks to which you see the result that is beneficial to the manipulator.

It is very convenient to manipulate the irrational ideas of a person. These include beliefs and convictions torn off from objective reality, which are formed during a person’s life and which are very difficult to change from the outside. They are full of them in the minds of each of us, for example:

• I have to take responsibility for everything.
• If you are asked for something, then you must help.
• I should always empathize and help other people.
• Thank you for any service.
• Everyone around should love me.

It is enough for the manipulator to “press” on one of these “sick corns”, and the person turns into an almost trouble-free creature. Moreover, the power of these installations is enormous, and thanks to them, almost any unpleasant and inconvenient actions can be achieved from us.

Well, the most fertile ground for manipulation is our feelings and emotions. When someone causes you emotional excitement, it turns out that it is very easy to use this for your own selfish purposes. Women manipulate men, men manipulate women, parents manipulate children, and vice versa. For example: " You love me and you won't let me ride public transport". And this can go on indefinitely, since feelings are an inexhaustible source of energy.

It is worth noting that we are manipulated almost everywhere. Full of psychological pressure at work, in politics, advertising, relationships, and just in everyday life. As a rule, if you see that a person is prone to manipulation in one area of ​​his life, he will do the same in others.

METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT

Psychological pressure can be embodied in a variety of ways - here, as they say, it all depends on the imagination of the aggressor. However, the basic methods of manipulating consciousness must be known to every person in order to resist them. As you know, forewarned means forearmed, and this is one hundred percent true of everything related to psychological pressure. So, what do lovers most often use to influence the minds of fellow citizens?

TRANCE

One of the oldest ways to influence the human psyche. It plunges our consciousness into a special state in which the ability to analyze information and make informed decisions is lost. Perception focuses on one thing, naturally beneficial to the manipulator. Trance can be entered in different ways - most often monotonous stimuli are used, for example, monotonous speech, rapidly changing pictures, swinging of a pendulum, etc. … In such a state, consciousness is especially vulnerable to pressure, so you can be verbally instilled with something or provoke you to undesirable actions.

WORDS TRIGGERS

These are words that carry an important emotional and semantic connotation for the “victim”. They are often resorted to by sellers seeking to sell their goods: “ Buy a more reliable TV, a more elegant fur coat, more fashionable shorts…”. They reflect some kind of assessment or quality that the “victim” wants to possess.

TUNING

It is expressed in the fact that a person copies certain components of your behavior: intonation, breathing rhythm, posture, manner of speaking, look, gait, etc. … It would seem that there is nothing wrong with this, but after the adjustment, the psychological impact begins directly. You are already on the same wavelength with a person, and it is much easier for him to “lead” you in the right direction.

When you need to convince someone of something, it is often enough to refer to some expert in this field, and that's it - victory is in your pocket. Incidentally, this is a classic version of psychological pressure. Oddly enough, authorities can also make mistakes, but this remains behind the scenes.

FOREIGN GAMES

No, no, these are not the same fun exercises - rather, schemes for manipulating another person. There are a great many of them. For example, an exemplary behaving child periodically does something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he is just mischievous, but more often than not, the matter is different: the child wants to be praised for good behavior, which is perceived by adults as the norm. After misbehavior, the likelihood of receiving praise increases as the parents see the contrast. Another example: at work, the boss calls a subordinate and asks him to do a bunch of things by tomorrow. The subordinate’s eyes pop into his forehead, after which the boss says: “ OK. Do at least this". And the subordinate gladly runs away to carry out the assignment, although initially he would never have subscribed to it.

GRATITUDE

The reception of pressure consists in the fact that a person first renders you some insignificant service, which you may not have even asked for, and then persistently hints that it would be nice to thank him for this.

WEAK

Each of us has known this technique since childhood, when you are offered a choice: either you do what is required of you, or you turn out to be bad. All and sundry resort to it: men, colleagues, bosses, friends and acquaintances, shop assistants. Paradoxically, it works!

IMAGE OF ILLUSION FUTURE

They paint a picture of what will happen if you do what they want from you. Our essence is so arranged that it strives for a state of joy and psychological comfort, and we are ready for anything to achieve them. At the same time, the possible inconvenience for us from such an action is simply not taken into account.

TERRIBLE IMAGES

If the above methods do not work, then the person can be shown how bad it will be if the action is not carried out. For example, the boss says: If you do not make a report, then the company faces fines". Fear overpowers, and you agree.

HOW TO RESPOND TO PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE

Oddly enough, but it is much easier to resist psychological pressure than to exert it. First of all, you need realize that you are being manipulated. You can see in the partner's behavior signs of the methods of influence described above. Persistently drawing your attention to some aspects of the problem and ignoring others should also alert you - as well as generous promises that cause reasonable doubt. In your state, during manipulation, inexplicable sympathy for a partner, sharp fluctuations in feelings, feelings of lack of time, guilt, obligation may appear - all these things should be a signal that you are being manipulated.

Followed by correctly inform the interlocutor that he was "brought to clean water." You may question the appropriateness of the actions and decisions that he requires of you. After that, offer your own version of interaction, which, first of all, will suit you, but know that now it is your responsibility to act, and not reciprocal manipulation.

Naturally, the manipulator will resist. In this case it is useful to ask questions aimed at clarifying the situation : what he means when he talks about the problem, what objective conditions and restrictions are in place, what should be done to improve the situation, etc. Specify why the manipulator chose you and right now - all this allows you to track what the aggressor prefers to “pressure”.

Well, the most useful is the banal “ turn on your feelings and brains ". As already mentioned above, the main task of the manipulator is to activate feelings, emotions, irrational attitudes, because they contribute to the belief in the words of the aggressor. However, as soon as you get out of the state of pliability and soberly analyze the situation, everything changes dramatically. The urgency in resolving the issue disappears, and you no longer feel any particular guilt for yourself. That's why, as soon as it seems to you that you are being manipulated, start analyzing and most importantly, take your time always take time to think– it helps you to go beyond the situation and look at it objectively.

In the modern world, it is very important to be able to deal with psychological pressure. We have practically abandoned weapons and the use of physical force, respectively, the enemies are left with only such methods of influence. And in order to live happily, you need to be able to recognize them and protect yourself and your loved ones from such gross psychological interference.

Nikolai Bulgakov

Publication Site" OMARTASATT"

In life, we often encounter the use of "forbidden tricks" regarding our personality. They do not allow us to fully assess the situation and confuse us. As a result of their actions, we allow other people to sit on our necks, enter into unprofitable contracts and make inadequate promises. All this is a consequence of the psychological pressure exerted on us.

Often, none of the participants in the communication process is aware of what is happening. People who use "forbidden tricks" do it unconsciously, and even more so, the "victim" does not track it. If this situation is painfully familiar to you, then you are probably already tired of it.

Guilt

How manipulators love to use it! The resulting guilt is a great excuse to get what is needed from you. We feel guilty for many things: for the manner of communication, lack of attention to other people, our lifestyle, our desires, etc. Usually, if you often experience such a state, this may indicate a special personal way.

The same event can be perceived by partners in completely different ways. This is often used by manipulators.

To resist the psychological pressure of using guilt, one thing needs to be clear: you have the right to be yourself, to have your own desires and boundaries. That is, you practically owe nothing to anyone. Separate the wheat from the chaff: outline for yourself the circle of those obligations that you voluntarily assume (care for a child or parents, time for friends, a little help from colleagues) and their limits. Then it will be easier to focus on them when someone else is trying to get the behavior they want from you.

You can, of course, play along a little with the manipulator, but only so that he calms down and does not increase the pressure. Tell the other person "no". This is the most effective way to disown what is being imposed on you. Avoid explanations altogether - they give the manipulator a hook to hang on to. Do not forget to keep track of when your feelings of guilt turn on - most likely, they will be associated with your personal weaknesses.

moral suppression

A method that is often used by aggressive personality-disabled people. They cannot solve their problems in an adult way, they begin to actively humiliate those with whom they communicate. This is manifested in the belittling of social status, blows to self-esteem, switching attention from important details to subjective ones, and the use of rhetorical questions.

In practice, this strategy may look different. For example, a mother yelling at her child: “Do you even know what you are doing! How can you be such an idiot!” Or important negotiations, during which the opponent makes a remark about the stain on your clothes. A man who makes fun of the fullness of his partner. The mechanism of work is quite simple: our attention is focused on our own inferiority, we stop adequately monitoring the situation, we feel a desire to somehow “cajole” the interlocutor.

First you need to think about why a person says such things to you at all. You can ask him directly: “For what purpose did you voice this?” It is likely that he will not find what to answer you, or he will start talking all sorts of nonsense. When it becomes obvious to you that this is a type of psychological pressure, pull yourself together and say: “He is doing this on purpose in order to get something from me. Therefore, the point is not in my inferiority, but in the inability of a partner to discuss their needs honestly and in an adult way. I will not be upset because of his words, but I will concentrate my attention on the thing that is important for me at this moment.

Psychological pressure

We rarely encounter this method in everyday life. Collection agencies, unscrupulous lawyers, bandits resort to it. Mass psychological pressure is carried out when they begin to influence you using various “strings”: they call your friends, relatives and acquaintances, find out what you are doing, disrupt negotiations or some plans.

The people around you are worried, they constantly tell you about these threats. Reassure them by explaining the situation. You need to try to do everything in your power to stop these actions: contact creditors or make a fateful decision for someone. In any case, it is worth conveying to bad people the fact that their actions only make you angry, provoke you to actions that are the opposite of what they expected.

Reducing the distance can also be an element of psychological pressure. Each of us has our own personal space, which we try to protect from strangers. If the goal of a person is to confuse and make you think chaotically, then you can’t think of a better way. The solution is very simple - to mark your boundaries, move away from the person to a safe distance, letting him know that reducing the distance is fraught with ending the dialogue.

Distortion of information

It is much easier to make a wise decision with all the information available. If someone is more interested in one outcome than the other, they will distort the information. This may be expressed in hiding some facts, focusing your attention on others. Similarly, focusing on particular details rather than the overall main problem works. Then it is very likely that such a reorientation will lead you to a strictly defined solution, which is what the interlocutor intended.

Some tend to use all sorts of rumors, gossip and speculation as decisive arguments. For example, your friend says to you: “Why would you breastfeed your baby after six months? There is nothing useful left in milk anyway! Moreover, she herself, immediately after birth, transferred the child to artificial feeding, and if you do the same, she will not feel guilty. In an attempt to pressure you, she uses a well-known myth about breastfeeding, which can really influence your decision.

But there are situations in which there are no clear and obvious boundaries. Most often it concerns relationships between people. Human behavior is determined by many reasons, and in an attempt to understand them, we often turn to the advice of friends. For example, you had a fight with a guy, and he does not pick up the phone. These actions can be interpreted in different ways, but a friend says: “What are you doing! If he doesn't love you, leave him! It's pretty easy to succumb to this.

The way out in this situation is simple, but time-consuming - to be attentive and critical to the information provided to you. Try to double-check the facts that others present to you under the guise of common truths - among them are full of myths and misconceptions. In difficult situations, try to listen to the opinions of experts: doctors, lawyers, psychologists, etc. And most importantly, try to rely on yourself and your opinion, because this is the only way you can live on your own, and not on someone else's orders.

Influence on thinking, perception and memory

The psyche and its basis - the nervous system - ladies are very capricious. Their functioning is influenced by a lot of things - from the parameters of the external environment to your mood, which sometimes unscrupulous manipulators try to take advantage of. For example, gypsies. They overload all channels of perception with various signals - they make noise, shake colored skirts, touch - and you fall into a trance. As a result, there is a risk of being left without money, gold jewelry and other valuables - well, if they are not allowed into the apartment! It is not easy to resist this, but there is a way out: run as fast as you can if you feel the use of this method in relation to yourself.

The moment when you are in a hurry somewhere or feel tired is by no means ideal for making meaningful decisions. If at this time someone is trying to slip important papers for you to sign or require some promises from you, feel free to ask him for a delay and explain that you will consider this issue in more suitable conditions. The same applies to noise, bustle, stuffiness and other unpleasant environment.

Direct threats

As a rule, they are used when everything else does not help, but a person needs to achieve his goal. Usually situations of using this method are related to finances or power. Sometimes this can be evidence that the person is on his last legs and ready to do anything to negotiate with you. A kind of "cornered rat." To compromise with him or not is up to you.

In any case, it is worth trying to resolve the conflict as peacefully as possible, even if you have heard a direct threat addressed to you. Try to discuss what you hear with someone who is above the situation and able to think clearly. It is possible that, upon closer inspection, the threat is not worth a damn. And it is possible that you really can be put under pressure. In this case, it is up to you to decide whether to stand your ground completely, attracting all possible resources, or spit on it and make concessions. However, remember that those who at least once succumbed to threats are likely to continue to be threatened further.

Compulsion

It is resorted to only when there is some kind of force, otherwise no one will succumb. Examples of such power can be physical qualities, power, money, information. A person who is being coerced into something is aware of the process taking place - as opposed to being manipulated. You can try to protect yourself from him by hinting to the "pressure" that he is acting aggressively - some do not like to admit it. However, if this does not bother a person, then it is very difficult to resist this type of pressure.

Humiliation

Another type of psychological pressure, expressed in the desire of the aggressor to morally "crush the victim." In this situation, you can hear a lot of unpleasant things about yourself: you are stupid, scary, clumsy, untalented, disorganized, etc. Being in a state of psychological prostration, you lose control over the situation, and at this moment it is very convenient to put pressure on you: “At least you can do this?”. The idea is that if you were sober, you would never agree, but this is where personal defense mechanisms and the desire to prove your own worth come into play. By the way, this technique works solely due to self-doubt.

Leaving aside

This kind of psychological pressure stands apart from all others, since its essence lies in trying to starve you out. Simply put, when they try to put pressure on you, and you want to clarify this, the person begins to slip into extraneous topics or even goes into a “deaf defense”: “Well, what are you, huh?”. Or asks why you keep talking nasty things about him. In this case, it is necessary to track the moment of leaving each time and return to the starting point: “No, we will deal with me later, now we are talking about you.” If you are persistent, then there is a chance that the aggressor will lag behind you with his pressure.

Suggestion

This is a kind of psychological impact on a person, after which he begins to uncritically "swallow" information imposed on him from the outside.

The person using this method must be an authority for his victim, otherwise the trick will not work. An extreme version of suggestion is hypnosis, but it can also be used in the waking state. For this, as a rule, games with voice, intonation and other semi-conscious moments are used. Paradoxically, there are people who are not suggestible at all, and you are lucky if you are one of them.

Belief

The most rational kind of psychological pressure. It appeals to reason and human logic. Therefore, people with a normal level of intelligence and development of thinking are subject to him - the rest simply will not understand what they are being told about here. Speech, which includes beliefs, is usually as logical, consistent and conclusive as possible - as soon as the consciousness of the victim catches the slightest inconsistencies, the whole structure immediately collapses.

About manipulation

Its essence boils down to the desire to change the behavior, worldview or perception of another person with the help of a covert, violent or deceptive strategy.

The interests of the manipulator are realized at the expense of the victim, which is why manipulation is considered unethical. Psychologists' views on this vary greatly. Some believe that the end of an action sometimes justifies the means. For example, when a doctor convinces a patient to start taking medication. Or the mother, wanting the child to put on a hat, asks him: “Which hat are you going to wear - red or blue?” without giving him the opportunity to refuse. Others rightly believe that a person needs to be given all the information, but respect his freedom of choice and decision, even if it seems to us wrong.

Manipulations aimed (albeit indirectly) at realizing the interests of the “victim” are extremely rare. Usually it is still the desire to obtain personal gain at the expense of others. Manipulation is a hidden type of psychological pressure - a person does not understand either the true motives of the manipulator, or the fact of influence. The win is one-sided.

Manipulating people is not easy - this requires a certain level of knowledge of psychology, the ability to feel other people's weak points, composure and prudence. A person who decides to do this is rather cruel and does not worry about harming the victim.

Manipulators rely on various bases with which they manage to control human consciousness. Needs and desires have been used since ancient times to have a psychological impact on a person. Take, for example, the well-known Russian passion for "freebies" - the desire to get the maximum benefit by spending less. So many swindlers enriched themselves.

Each of us in life is guided by certain ideals and values, which include ideas about good and evil, about what is right and wrong, etc. ... So, relying on them, it is quite easy for another person to manipulate us. For example, giving alms to a beggar seems to be an act of kindness and compassion, although it has long been known that most of these donations go into the pockets of the scammers behind them.

Intelligence and logic can also be manipulated. For example, using complex and long schemes, with the calculation of numerous numbers and cause-and-effect relationships. This is often used by network marketing professionals who encourage you to join their cause: "Invest only three pennies, and get huge profits that come from the following sources ...". As a rule, several logical errors are laid in this scheme, due to which you see the result that is beneficial to the manipulator.

It is very convenient to manipulate the irrational ideas of a person. These include beliefs and convictions torn off from objective reality, which are formed during a person’s life and which are very difficult to change from the outside. They are full of them in the minds of each of us, for example:

• I have to take responsibility for everything.
• If you are asked for something, then you must help.
• I should always empathize and help other people.
• Thank you for any service.
• Everyone around should love me.

It is enough for the manipulator to "press" on one of these "sick corns", and the person turns into a practically trouble-free creature. Moreover, the power of these installations is enormous, and thanks to them, almost any unpleasant and inconvenient actions can be achieved from us.

Well, the most fertile ground for manipulation is our feelings and emotions. When someone makes you emotionally disturbed, it is very easy to use it for your own selfish purposes. Women manipulate men, men manipulate women, parents manipulate children, and vice versa. For example: “You love me and you won’t let me ride public transport.” And this can go on indefinitely, since feelings are an inexhaustible source of energy.

Methods of psychological influence

Psychological pressure can be embodied in a variety of ways - it all depends on the imagination of the aggressor. However, the basic methods of manipulating consciousness need to be known in order to resist them. As you know, forewarned is forearmed, and this is one hundred percent true of everything related to psychological pressure.

Trance

One of the oldest ways to influence the human psyche. It plunges our consciousness into a special state in which the ability to analyze information and make informed decisions is lost. Perception focuses on one thing, naturally beneficial to the manipulator. You can enter into a trance in different ways - most often monotonous stimuli are used, for example, monotonous speech, rapidly changing pictures, swinging of a pendulum, etc. ... In such a state, consciousness is especially vulnerable to pressure, so you can be verbally inspired by something or provoke you to unwanted actions.

Using trigger words

These are words that carry an important emotional and semantic connotation for the “victim”. They are often resorted to by sellers seeking to sell their goods: "Buy a TV more reliable, a more elegant fur coat, more fashionable shorts ...". They reflect some kind of assessment or quality that the “victim” wants to possess.

Tuning

It is expressed in the fact that a person copies certain components of your behavior: intonation, breathing rhythm, posture, manner of speaking, look, gait, etc. ... It would seem that there is nothing wrong with this, but after adjustment, a direct psychological impact begins. You are already on the same wavelength with a person, and it is much easier for him to “lead” you in the right direction.

Link to authorities

When you need to convince someone of something, it is often enough to refer to some expert in this field, and that's all - victory is in your pocket. Incidentally, this is a classic version of psychological pressure. Oddly enough, authorities can also make mistakes, but this remains behind the scenes.

Psychological "games"

For example, an exemplary behaving child periodically does something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he is just mischievous, but more often than not, the matter is different: the child wants to be praised for good behavior, which is perceived by adults as the norm. After misbehavior, the likelihood of receiving praise increases as the parents see the contrast. Another example: at work, the boss calls a subordinate and asks him to do a bunch of things by tomorrow. The subordinate's eyes pop into his forehead, then the boss says: “Well, okay. Do at least that." And the subordinate gladly runs away to carry out the assignment, although initially he would never have subscribed to it.

Thanks exchange

The reception of pressure consists in the fact that a person first renders you some insignificant service, which you may not have even asked for, and then persistently hints that it would be nice to thank him for this.

"Weak"

Each of us has known this technique since childhood, when you are offered a choice: either you do what is required of you, or you will turn out to be bad. It is resorted to by all and sundry: men, colleagues, bosses, friends and acquaintances, shop assistants. Paradoxically, it works!

The image of a happy future

They paint a picture of what will happen if you do what they want from you. Our soul is so arranged that it strives for a state of joy and psychological comfort, and we are ready for anything to achieve them. At the same time, the possible inconvenience for us from such an action is simply not taken into account.

frightening images

If the previous methods do not work, then the person can be shown how bad it will be if the action is not carried out. For example, the boss says: “If you don’t make a report, then the company will face fines.” Fear overpowers, and you agree.

Oddly enough, it is much easier to resist psychological pressure than to exert it. You need to realize that you are being manipulated. You can see in the partner's behavior signs of influence techniques. Persistently drawing your attention to some aspects of the problem and ignoring others should also alert you, as well as generous promises that cause reasonable doubt. In your state, during manipulation, inexplicable sympathy for a partner, sharp fluctuations in feelings, feelings of lack of time, guilt, obligation may appear - all these things should be a signal that you are being manipulated.

Next, you should inform the interlocutor that he is "brought to clean water." You may question the appropriateness of the actions and decisions that he requires of you. Then offer your own version of interaction, which in the first place will suit you.

The manipulator will resist. Then it is useful to ask questions aimed at clarifying the situation: what does he mean when he talks about the problem, what objective conditions and restrictions are there, what needs to be done to improve the situation, etc. Specify why the manipulator chose you and right now - all this will help to track what the aggressor prefers to "pressure".

The second type of aggressive pressure is humiliation. In such a situation, you will be influenced morally, humiliate your dignity, put pressure on your self-doubt.

Obsession - this kind of psychological pressure is based on trying to torture you. The person will influence you, but as soon as you try to clarify the situation, he will move on to extraneous topics. And when you relax, it will return to its original position.

The manipulator using the method of suggestion is most often an authority for the victim. The extreme degree of suggestion is hypnotic influence. In this case, a person practically cannot resist the aggressor.

The most rational way of psychological pressure is persuasion. The manipulator will urge you to listen to logic, appeal to reason. Especially subject to this method are people with developed thinking and a normal level of intelligence, because less intelligent individuals simply will not understand the logical chains of the manipulator.

How to resist psychological influence

Learn to defend your point of view - this is necessary to gain respect in society. Most often, smart, but non-conflict and gentle people suffer from psychological pressure. Work on your self-confidence, remember that you are entitled to your own opinion.

If you notice that they are trying to influence you, try to remain calm - this is the first rule of invulnerability. The manipulator, failing to break through your "armor", will most likely retreat.

In conversation, try to use your common sense. The manipulator may make arguments that seem quite logical, but this is his own "truth". Try to look at everything from your point of view.

Effective methods to avoid pressure are ignoring and refusing. To all the efforts of the manipulator, firmly refuse, and you will quickly cease to interest him.

Good afternoon dear friend!

I can guarantee that you have had situations when, in response to a psychological attack, you fell into a stupor. Or you were seized by a fit of rage. However, your humble servant is no exception. Let's think howresist psychological pressure in more adequate ways.

Reactions of stupor or rage are natural. These are primitive instincts - to "freeze" or "fight". But in modern life, relying only on instincts is an unaffordable luxury.

One way or another, it is important to arm yourself with knowledge first. Just to recognize such situations. The very awareness that you are under pressure will smooth out your reactions. and will not allow an uncontrolled avalanche-like growth of emotions.

Psychological wushu

I propose to name several self-defense techniques with such a “wrestling” term. They include speech patterns and intonations that allow you to resist pressure or take the conversation in a different direction.

So, psychological wushu includes:

1. Certain speech structures
2. Solidity: pauses, slowness of speech
3. Intonation appropriate for your reaction

Why resist the pressure?

Sometimes our interlocutor simply tests us for strength. Often such tricks are used by recruiters in interviews. And sometimes leaders. Usually in the form of tough, or even questions.

In a way, this is an emotional game. The main task: to evaluate your reaction to stress factors.

1. to recognize the growth of their emotions in time and “ ”
2. timely apply counteraction techniques - psychological wushu.

Maintaining dignity, calmness, you will make a much better impression than someone who starts up half a turn or falls into prostration. This will certainly affect the outcome of the negotiations.

Psychological wushu techniques:

Let's look at a few techniques that allow you to either successfully resist psychological pressure, or reduce the situation to nothing, as if transferring energy in a different direction.

Infinite Refinement

A question or several questions about the nature or object of criticism.

- Why do you think it is appropriate to go to a meeting with a shareholder in such a tie?

— Well, what kind of tie do you think is more appropriate? What colour? What form? And which of the employees walks in a suitable tie?