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Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials)
Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say "yes"—and how to apply these understandings. Dr. Robert Cialdini is the seminal expert in the rapidly expanding field of influence and persuasion. His thirty-five years of rigorous, evidence-based research along with a three-year program of study on what moves people to change behavior has
...moreKindle Edition, 281 pages
Published
May 28th 2009
by HarperCollins
(first published 1984)
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Summary: This book can’t be summarized. It can only be very, very strongly recommended.
Recommended? YES. Buy it now if you haven’t read it.
Table of contents:
1 Weapons of Influence
2 Reciprocation: The Old Give and Take…and Take
3 Commitment and Consistency: Hobgoblins of the Mind
4 Social Proof: Truths Are Us
5 Liking: The Friendly Thief
6 Authority: Directed Deference
7 Scarcity: The Rule of the Few
Notes:
Below are my key takeaways and some interesting points, but I’m telling you. Buy it. Read it. Tru ...more
Recommended? YES. Buy it now if you haven’t read it.
Table of contents:
1 Weapons of Influence
2 Reciprocation: The Old Give and Take…and Take
3 Commitment and Consistency: Hobgoblins of the Mind
4 Social Proof: Truths Are Us
5 Liking: The Friendly Thief
6 Authority: Directed Deference
7 Scarcity: The Rule of the Few
Notes:
Below are my key takeaways and some interesting points, but I’m telling you. Buy it. Read it. Tru ...more
Another one of those business books where it's a good read if you haven't read any others from the same genre but with the same basically formula where they keep repeating information that can be condensed down into a few pages and which every other business book will tell you but of course they'll rephrase it. If you haven't ever thought much about the influence of the way you talk to people and vice versa I'm sure this can be very eye opening. If you're pretty self aware or have contemplated h
...more
I don't understand why so many people rated this book so highly.
--It panders to the audience by using overly simple language and repeating the same idea 5 times to make sure that the reader really understood. Example (from memory): "People are heavily influenced by society. Society shapes our choices. Our choices are influenced by the people around us. There are countless examples of one's choices being swayed by his or her peers." Thanks, I got it the first time.
--The first and second "weapons ...more
--It panders to the audience by using overly simple language and repeating the same idea 5 times to make sure that the reader really understood. Example (from memory): "People are heavily influenced by society. Society shapes our choices. Our choices are influenced by the people around us. There are countless examples of one's choices being swayed by his or her peers." Thanks, I got it the first time.
--The first and second "weapons ...more
Six "weapons of influence"
1)Reciprocation - People tend to return a favor. Thus, the pervasiveness of free samples in marketing. In his conferences, he often uses the example of Ethiopia providing thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid to Mexico just after the 1985 earthquake, despite Ethiopia suffering from a crippling famine and civil war at the time. Ethopia had been reciprocating for the diplomatic support Mexico provided when Italy invaded Ethopia in 1937.
2)Commitment and Consistency - I ...more
1)Reciprocation - People tend to return a favor. Thus, the pervasiveness of free samples in marketing. In his conferences, he often uses the example of Ethiopia providing thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid to Mexico just after the 1985 earthquake, despite Ethiopia suffering from a crippling famine and civil war at the time. Ethopia had been reciprocating for the diplomatic support Mexico provided when Italy invaded Ethopia in 1937.
2)Commitment and Consistency - I ...more
I put this book under "dangerous knowledge." Cialdini, still a top consultant in this field, has a tiny disclaimer at the end of the book saying how he's aware that this knowledge could be misused, but doesn't go much further.
I see this stuff abused all the time, to spin democracies to go to war, to sell us products and services we don't really need and much, much more.
I've been wanting to start an ethics institute around this topic. Interested? Write me!
I see this stuff abused all the time, to spin democracies to go to war, to sell us products and services we don't really need and much, much more.
I've been wanting to start an ethics institute around this topic. Interested? Write me!
Required reading for all marketing professionals. The book details the most common approaches to influencing the decisions of others, backed up by the authors time spent infiltrating direct marketing companies and the like. Offers handy hints on how to spot when you're being manipulated and how to handle it.
A very enjoyable read, should leave you much more aware of how you're being played next time you're in the market for a used car.
A very enjoyable read, should leave you much more aware of how you're being played next time you're in the market for a used car.
A couple of months ago, I read somewhere that when it comes to the psychology of persuasion and influence, Cialdini is the “daddy” of this subject. I chuckled and moved on. But then, a few days ago I found myself in a bookstore holding this book and heading to the counter. I came back home, and devoured it chapter by chapter, awestruck and flabbergasted by the sheer brilliance of the psychology of persuasion. Cialdini is no novice, apart from being an academic scholar and researcher who conducte ...more
Not a runaway train of rapturousness like 1776, Moneyball, or Outliers but like Anna Karenina it seems to encompass all of life and address all of life's important issues.
I would recommend this to anyone and will definitely listen to it again.
I tired one of his techniques on a colleague I had been chasing for week and it worked like a charm within an hour, so 1 for 1.
I would recommend this to anyone and will definitely listen to it again.
I tired one of his techniques on a colleague I had been chasing for week and it worked like a charm within an hour, so 1 for 1.
Social Proof - People will do things that they see other people are doing. For example, in one experiment, one or more accomplices would look up into the sky; the more accomplices the more likely people would look up into the sky to see what they were seeing. At one point this experiment aborted, as so many people were looking up, that they stopped traffic.
Scarcity - Perceived scarcity will generate demand. For example, saying offers are available for a "limited time only" encourages sales.
Likin ...more
Scarcity - Perceived scarcity will generate demand. For example, saying offers are available for a "limited time only" encourages sales.
Likin ...more
So, I've read a fair amount of the literature about group dynamics and social influence, and taught classes that discussed and used it. So I thought I'd know much of what was in this book already. While I was familiar with some of it, there were a number of tricks I hadn't noticed, and excellent descriptions of the ones I had, complete with explanations. Definitely worth reading!
Influence describes the six categories of techniques that have the potential to influence us without our conscious awa ...more
Influence describes the six categories of techniques that have the potential to influence us without our conscious awa ...more
Jul 11, 2011
Richard
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
for-school,
psych-sw-etc
It's sometimes insightful but it seems to be written for a "young adult" reader and it seems to pander to the audience. I keep finding myself wishing it were better researched and better reasoned. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that such a popular book is so loaded with conventional wisdom and random assumptions presented as quasi-scientific.
What made me about apoplectic is that his fifth edition continues his inaccurate presentation of the Catherine Genovese myth despite that it has been wid ...more
What made me about apoplectic is that his fifth edition continues his inaccurate presentation of the Catherine Genovese myth despite that it has been wid ...more
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'Know Thyself' is not just a catchy cliché, it was for centuries a central spiritual imperative. Reading books like this only remind one of why it is so important. Even with modern psychology the average person understands so very little about themselves, their drives, why they do what they do, why they like what they like, that they are easily manipulated and exploited. You could say that it is even better if the person fallaciously believes they do know themselves and are confident in that und
...more
Да си го кажем направо - някои хора не мислят много. Не защото ги боли глава, а просто защото са прости. Това което сложните (т.е. тия дето не са прости) хора рядко забелязват обаче е, че и те самите често не мислят много. Това е поради устройството на мозъка ни и начина, по който е организирана работата му - в много ситуации той предлага автоматични, бързи реакции и решения, вместо бавни, сложни и обмислени. Което е логично, като се замислиш - тия от пещерните ни предци, които много са се замис
...more
Бас л хүн бүр уншууштай ном. Та хүсээгүй эсвэл төлөвлөөгүй худалдан авалт хийх бүртээ, бусдын ятгалаганд орох болгондоо яаж яваад "за" эсвэл "тэгье" гэж хэлэхэд хүрснээ гайхдаг бол энэ номыг санал болгоё. Бусдаар хүссэнээ хийлгүүлэх, бусдыг өөрийн талд эргүүлэх маш олон арга байдгаас хамгийн ихээр хэрэглэгддэг хэдийг нь тайлбарлан өгүүлсэн. Маш сонирхолтой.
За тэгээд заримаас нь дурьдаад явчихъя өө.
1. Reciprocity буюу Аяганы хариу өдөртөө зарчим
Их бага нь хамаагүй ч та эхлээд өгчихвөл дараа нь ...more
За тэгээд заримаас нь дурьдаад явчихъя өө.
1. Reciprocity буюу Аяганы хариу өдөртөө зарчим
Их бага нь хамаагүй ч та эхлээд өгчихвөл дараа нь ...more
This book gives good insight to compliance strategies and main reasons we are persuaded - however I was unimpressed by a few of the examples Cialdini used and the main conclusion he made at the end of the book.
Example 1: After claiming to have been a bigger socialite than he really is to impress a young attractive saleswoman, Cialdini became particularly pugnacious about her "strategy of tricking him into exaggerating his habits" where as this was his fault, not the saleswoman's. When she offer ...more
Example 1: After claiming to have been a bigger socialite than he really is to impress a young attractive saleswoman, Cialdini became particularly pugnacious about her "strategy of tricking him into exaggerating his habits" where as this was his fault, not the saleswoman's. When she offer ...more
Although this book is informative it is also repetitive. It states that a vast majority of people don't think for themselves and go along with the majority. I might have believed some of that, but I read.
Every day more and more web sites open up with alternating viewpoints. Just look at the varying opinions on this book, alone. We are not as easily led and controlled as this book and the current administration would like to think.
Every day more and more web sites open up with alternating viewpoints. Just look at the varying opinions on this book, alone. We are not as easily led and controlled as this book and the current administration would like to think.
I have read a fair amount of literature about psychology, group dynamics and social influence - mostly from various little articles and blogs in the net, so although I knew many of the topics covered in the book, I am pleasantly surprised that I didn't know most of it. Now I do. This book pretty much covers all the popular studies done on the human psyche and far from being an academic paper, brings the Psychology of Persuasion to the masses in a well articulated, well referenced, book.
I especia ...more
I especia ...more
Basically an interesting book. It was written in the 80's and is a little out dated in facts and writing style. I liked how he explained different techniques that are used to influence us, and then had a section on "how to resist." I found him a tad paranoid, though. He seemed to read a lot of mal-intent into people's desire to influence, when really I just think it is human nature to want to influence people over to your own way of thinking. I don't think I need to be hyper-vigilant at all time
...more
"Just what are the factors that cause one person to say YES to another person?
All the weapons of influence discussed in this book work better under some conditions than under others.
1. RECIPROCITY - The rule says that we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us.
The beauty of the free sample, is that it is also a gift and, as much, can engage the reciprocity rule: many people find it difficult to accept a sample from the always-smiling attendant, return only the toothpick ...more
All the weapons of influence discussed in this book work better under some conditions than under others.
1. RECIPROCITY - The rule says that we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us.
The beauty of the free sample, is that it is also a gift and, as much, can engage the reciprocity rule: many people find it difficult to accept a sample from the always-smiling attendant, return only the toothpick ...more
Aug 29, 2014
Ruhin Joyee
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-soft-copy
Never before did I recommend a book to so many. The book had me in the first chapter. I went on talking about how 'revealing' the book is during hangouts with friends, in between classes, sometimes during classes and when not. I tried to explain to mom how the rule of reciprocation influences our decisions while having dinner with her, tried to explain the reason behind certain behaviors of our newly appointed driver to my father. The book got to me.
I did certain things throughout my life withou ...more
I did certain things throughout my life withou ...more
Brilliant book! I first read Cialdini book several years ago and I try to make it my routine to read it at least every year since then. Professor Cialdini through many fascinating examples leads us on a journey to find how we are being persuaded to act and react in many ways that are not always to our benefits.
Professor Cialdini review in this book six main factors that influence our behaviors: reciprocation, liking, scarcity, authority, commitment/consistency and social proof, the books explai ...more
اليوم انتهيت من قراءة هذا الكتاب الرائع، الذي يساعدنا في تفسير أمور كثيره نستسلم لها بدون ان ندري ، فالكتاب يشرح بشكل مفصل كيف يستسلم المستهلك لخدع البائع ، ليس هذا فقط الكتاب يتناول هذه الأمور من ناحيه نفسيه كيف ننجر الى ألاعيب التجار الكتاب يعطي أمثله متعددة فهو يخدم الشخص العادي والتاجر والقائد والأب والام ( كل طبقات المجتمع) . العيب الذي لم يعجبني في الكتاب هو التطويل والسرد الامنتهي في بعض الامور.
الكتاب شيق ومثير كما أني انصح به للقراءة .
الكتاب شيق ومثير كما أني انصح به للقراءة .
Sep 04, 2014
André Bueno
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
psychology,
top-150-books
READ THIS BOOK. It is just too f***ing awesome to not be shared with the world. Cialdini used the best case studies to support his arguments, his anecdotes are absolutely hilarious, and he presented the content in an extremely approachable fashion. I highly recommend this book.
You'll be better off reading this book 12 times than 12 differemt books
tl;dr: read it, and then read it again and implement all the ideas in your business and life. Its one of those books that everyone talks about but not enough people actually implement the advice.
It is a Goldmine of valuable strategies and marketing and psychology experiments.
tl;dr: read it, and then read it again and implement all the ideas in your business and life. Its one of those books that everyone talks about but not enough people actually implement the advice.
It is a Goldmine of valuable strategies and marketing and psychology experiments.
Author Cialdini began the research that would lead to this book when he got tired of being taken advantage of. He’s not unintelligent, yet he would find himself talked into buying things he didn’t want at all. What was happening?
It turns out that there are some basic ways that humans are influenced, and most people follow them without questioning. Some are just the easy way to deal with situations, while some actually create discomfort when one refuses to follow the social conventions. Cialdini ...more
It turns out that there are some basic ways that humans are influenced, and most people follow them without questioning. Some are just the easy way to deal with situations, while some actually create discomfort when one refuses to follow the social conventions. Cialdini ...more
قرأته بعنوان: التأثير وسائل الإقناع. ترجمة: سعد جلال. طبعة:دار الفكر العربي
ما سأكتبه هو توثيق شخصي لنفسي وليس مراجعة للكتاب
لا أحب تقييم الكتب أو وضع مراجعات لها، حتى أعطي لنفسسي أكبر مساحة ممكنة أثناء قراءة الكتاب وألا أنشغل بدور الناقد وألا تستحوذ علي فكرة التقييم
قرأت هذا الكتاب منذ فترة ولم أجد له صفحة على الموقع، فتكاسلت عن إضافته
وبعد قراءته أدركت مدى تأثيره في نفسي، ومدى أهميته في فهم أحداث كتيرة تحدث، لذلك كنت أعود إليه بين الحين والآخر، أو أستدعي الفكرة التي تنطبق على ما يحدث
الطريف في المو ...more
ما سأكتبه هو توثيق شخصي لنفسي وليس مراجعة للكتاب
لا أحب تقييم الكتب أو وضع مراجعات لها، حتى أعطي لنفسسي أكبر مساحة ممكنة أثناء قراءة الكتاب وألا أنشغل بدور الناقد وألا تستحوذ علي فكرة التقييم
قرأت هذا الكتاب منذ فترة ولم أجد له صفحة على الموقع، فتكاسلت عن إضافته
وبعد قراءته أدركت مدى تأثيره في نفسي، ومدى أهميته في فهم أحداث كتيرة تحدث، لذلك كنت أعود إليه بين الحين والآخر، أو أستدعي الفكرة التي تنطبق على ما يحدث
الطريف في المو ...more
This book was assigned in my Social Influence class and I loved it! Cialdini has done tons of interesting research and is clearly very accomplished in the Psych field, yet he can write a book that everyone (non-Psych majors included) can understand. Each social tactic is explained thoroughly and he uses a lot of stories as well as his own experiments to back it up. I love how he peppers his anecdotes with his sense of humor ("Looking somewhat embarrassed because his father seemed to be raving wh
...more
Oct 26, 2014
Martin
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
non-fiction
Všelijaké self-hack a self-help knihy se u mě většinou míjí účinkem, ale přesto jsem Zbraním vlivu díky výborným ohlasům šanci dal. A dobře jsem udělal. Dokonce by mi vůbec nevadilo, kdyby kniha byla obsáhlejší. V názorných příkladech prokládanými přiměřeně dlouhými úseky teorie jsem se naučil spoustu zajímavých mechanismů na obranu proti všudypřítomné persvazi. A jak už to tak bývá, každý meč má dvě ostří, takže se ze mě teď nejspíš stane machiavelistický manipulátor. Dejte si pozor.
Posloucháno ...more
Posloucháno ...more
Mar 24, 2009
Du4
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
communication,
ipad-books
This is a terrible book. Granted, I understand Cialdini is held in high regard for his analysis of "compliance professionals" but I found this book tedious, boring, and rife with self-reverance. It is by no means a 21st treatise on how influence works. I don't even recommend this as a historical example of how salespeople and other influence experts may have been taught; it's that bad.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Click Whirr | 4 | 93 | Jul 07, 2014 11:56AM |
Dr. Robert Cialdini has spent his entire career researching the science of influence earning him an international reputation as an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation.
His books including, Influence: Science & Practice, are the results of years of study into the reasons why people comply with requests in business settings. Worldwide, Influence has sold over 2 million ...more
More about Robert B. Cialdini...
His books including, Influence: Science & Practice, are the results of years of study into the reasons why people comply with requests in business settings. Worldwide, Influence has sold over 2 million ...more
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“A well-known principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor we will be more successful if we provide a reason. People simply like to have reasons for what they do.”
—
45 likes
“Embarrassment is a villain to be crushed.”
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19 likes
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