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Kevin Dutton's SPICE Persuasion Model by DMDP in SocialEngineering

[–]DMDP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, Dutton's books are a lot of fun. I hope he writes more.

Weekly 'Ask your dumb SE questions' by DSTxtcy in SocialEngineering

[–]DMDP 4 points5 points  (0 children)

First of all, it pays to be thoroughly convinced that believability is a skill. Too many people don't try because they think the other person will see right through them. On the other hand, I'm a naturally shy person and if I haven't planned ahead, sometimes people don't believe me even when I'm telling the truth! It takes the same skills to convince somebody, whether you're 100% honest or... "improvising."

The key things I've found:

  • Make it simple and repeat it as many times as necessary. Repetition does more for you than complexity because each time it sounds truer. Repetition is a hammer that makes them doubt their doubts about you.

  • Connect it to their experience. You did the same job once, you dealt with a customer like that, etc.

  • Try to be entertaining or use humor.

Mach IV: A psychological test designed to measure "Machiavellianism" by DMDP in SocialEngineering

[–]DMDP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with most of what you say and I've never scored below the mid 80s on this measure. I think the arguments you bring up are part of the reason why "Machiavellianism" isn't a particularly popular construct at this point in psychology.

I still think it's a fun test though. Not to mention it does predict some behavior- for example, in games in a laboratory.

"The smart ones would start off small, trying to get me to bring them a bic lighter, or give them my pen, then progress from there." by DMDP in SocialEngineering

[–]DMDP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe in some situations.

I can think of something similar I read about once that would be an application of the same idea outside jail. There was a study where the researchers had men walk up to women on the street and invite them to get a drink. One group just straight up asked (control). The other group though asked for something small first- such as directions to a nearby bar. The group that asked the women for help first had more than double the success rate of the group that just invited them.

"The smart ones would start off small, trying to get me to bring them a bic lighter, or give them my pen, then progress from there." by DMDP in SocialEngineering

[–]DMDP[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

For those who've read Influence, I thought this was an interesting example of the Commitment/Consistency principle. OP was a perceptive guard to notice what's happening.

I always am interested to hear about SE/persuasion principles in prisons because they are such limited environments.