Reverse psychology is often used on us when we are children. It works with our seemingly inbuilt attitude to rebel.
Depending on who you're dealing with and how sneaky you want to get, you can twist your words round to get the desired effect. It's also often used by people when they're dating - the very act of playing hard to get works with our built in human psyche and makes us want the thing that appears unobtainable even more. This is a very sneaky technique that works on a lot of people a lot of the time.
Of course, not everyone reacts well to this technique so you have to know a bit about the person you're dealing with to get the best effect. But even that is do-able.
Let's start with some simple examples of reverse psychology (not that you'd want to do that of course).
The part of the last sentence that's in brackets is the technique in plain sight. It's a bit sarcastic because you've chosen to read this article but it's a good example nonetheless.
If you're arguing with the other person this technique actually gets easier. The other person is so wound up about whatever it is you're arguing about that they will have a heightened desire to do the opposite of what you're asking them just to raise the bar on the quarrel.
Just answer them back - ideally in the same kind of annoyed tone that they're using. "OK, don't do [whatever it is they're refusing to do] then!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9fnTpoYdk
This kind of influence can be quite powerful.
Have a play with it in non-confrontational situations first and ones where the outcome doesn't really matter either way. Take an interest in how other people react to your turned-round suggestions and begin to notice how often they'll do the opposite of what you appear to be asking them.
Approach this subject with a sense of fun and it can go a long way.
Another technique that I hinted at earlier isn't strictly reverse psychology but it's pretty close.
The thing is that our brains have a major problem dealing with negatives. Don't stop to think about that (which your mind will actually translate as "stop to think about that" wink too long. Just go with it.
The usual proof given for this is to tell you not to think of a pink elephant. Most people have to flash up a mental image of a pink elephant before they can then cross it out and stop thinking about it. This technique is at least as much fun as reverse psychology and works in a very similar way.
http://technique.ezinemark.com/how-can-you-use-reverse-psychology-to-get-what-you-want-18d4cfd395a.html
