Psychological Preparation: How to Get People Do What You Want?

Psychological preparation is an incentive, such as a word, image, or action to change someone's behavior. For example, research has found that we can prepare someone to walk more slowly, by making them read words like "careful" or "slow", and we can make someone less rude by making them read words like "patient", "polite", and "respectful".

Psychological preparation is when we expose someone to something that affects their behavior later, without that individual realizing that something guides their behavior.

How do you use psychological preparation?

Psychological preparation can be used with a variety of stimuli. The most common sources of preparation are:

1. Words:

Getting someone to read, arrange, or work with words can prepare them to work on the meaning of that word. For example, reading the word "go deeper" should make you read this article in more depth.

2. Photos:

Looking at, drawing, or working on a picture can prepare one for what that image represents.

3. Actions, Things, and Videos:

You can also prepare someone with real-life stuff, actions, or videos, and if someone offers you candy in their office, you'll be prepared differently than if they serve grilled meat.

Examples of preparation:

There are some great examples of preparation in psychology. Let's review some of them:

1. Preparing people to be less rude:

The researcher, John Bargh conducted an experiment to see if he could influence behavior through an easy activity. The researchers had three groups of participants:

• The first group had “a kind of rudeness” and its members had to arrange a list of rude words, such as “rude,” “aggressive,” and“annoying”.
• The second group had a "state of politeness", and they were given a series of polite words, such as "patient", "respect" and "respectful".
• The last group was presented with "neutral status" words that were neither polite nor rude.

When a participant finishes the word order, they are asked to walk down the lobby and tell the researcher that they have finished. Without their knowledge, the researcher was immersed in a long fake discussion with another researcher when the participant arrived. The experiment was to test how long it took each group to interrupt the researcher to tell him that it was over.

Within 10 minutes, 60% of the rude group interrupted the researcher, while only 40% of the neutral group and 20% of the polite group intervened and interrupted him. This is an easy experience, with a very powerful lesson; It teaches us that people can subconsciously prepare to behave differently.

2. Preparation for people through emails:

You can prepare people to give the reaction you want through introductory emails, and this is a great advantage and a potential problem for technology, which people often forget. Emails allow us to guide people before they take any action, and an example of using this with trainees, employees, and colleagues before meetings, phone calls, or interviews.

How do you want someone to feel, do, or act? Prepare him for it.

Here is an example of two emails sent each week before a call is made to set up a weekly meeting with a team. Often the call is short due to time constraints, as there are several points that the team has to discuss on the agenda at the same time.

Previously, the first message was sent before the weekly call about the meeting, and the second is now sent before the call, written in a language designed to prepare the team.

1. Poorly worded email:

- Hello, everyone

As usual, we have a weekly call tomorrow. Tuesday, again, we are a little nervous because of the time, and we may have some problems accomplishing the tasks on the agenda. I want you all to stress your points and avoid asking slow or lengthy questions during the call. You can send them electronically later if you need to, and I have attached the agenda.

2. Well-worded email:

- Hey, team

Tomorrow is our weekly call about goals, and I hope we will be effective because we have a lot of things to discuss. Please all take a look at your points, and prepare a well-organized overview. That would be great because then we would have plenty of time for brief questions, if you have some. Remember that you can also send it in an email after the call. I have attached our agenda.

Both messages say the same thing, but when the sender started to change messages towards more positive preparation, people were more competent and enthusiastic about the call, and they later sent out a series of great follow-up messages. We usually follow our responses to the first email with the same pattern of using negative and stressful words and phrases. Surprisingly, the second email prompts employees to use nice and effective language in their responses.

Preparation can be used harmfully or for manipulation, and it is very important that we use it to prepare people for success. Here's how to use the preparation well:

• Use positive initialization words, such as “effective,” “together,” “helpful,” “quiet,” “organized,” and “team”.
• Avoid negative initialization words, such as “tension”, “pressure”, “stress”, “rush”, and “tasks”.

This is not a deceptive technique, but it is just an expression of what you want to happen using the right words.

In fact, you can now examine the effects of preparation in training your employees, and be very transparent about its use. Most of them will appreciate this effort very much and will use it themselves, and you will also find that positively configured emails are easier to respond to, less burdensome, and more organized. Another benefit is that writing in this way helps you feel less stressed because you do not use negative words.

It is also recommended to try preparation not only in emails, but also in:

• Texts.
• Invitation.
• Updates on the social network.
• Presentations.
• Notifications.
• Work schedules.

You can also do this when writing your diary, or while you are brainstorming. If you are writing down your diary or thinking of yourself using words about the feelings and actions you want to make, you are more likely to succeed.

In conclusion:

Preparation is a fun way to deal with your situation and those of others, so we recommend that you practice with friends and family members, and be transparent about wanting to make a positive impact on the people you interact with.

You can also use preparation if you need someone to confess something to, and remember to always use psychological preparation for good, not evil.