Have you ever wished you could improve your relationships and make people like you more? Well, it's not as difficult as you might think. In fact, there are several psychological techniques you can use to build deeper connections and improve your interactions with others.
The first hack is mirroring, also known as the chameleon effect. When people connect with each other, they naturally start to copy things like tone, facial expressions, body language, and mannerisms. This subconsciously deepens the connection between both people. But you can also try to "dupe" someone's mind and your own into believing that this is happening for real. Try copying someone's words, mannerisms, hand gestures, or posture and see what happens.
The second hack is the well-aimed compliment. A well-timed compliment can be very effective in strengthening relationships, but be careful not to overdo it. The law of diminishing returns applies here, so pick your time and your place. Everyone has a specific way they'd like to be seen, so let them know that you see them exactly how they want to be seen. They'll find it very charming.
The third hack is revealing your flaws and owning your mistakes. This is known as the pratfall effect, where people tend to like you more after witnessing you make a mistake. Showing vulnerability makes you more relatable. It also shows that you can keep a secret when revealing your flaws or telling someone a secret.
The fourth hack is casual touching. This is an extremely circumstantial and contextual technique, so use it with caution. Done in the wrong situation, it could be seen as inappropriate. Remember that life is a series of negotiations, one after another. When it comes to negotiation, the most effective form of communication relies on 7% spoken word, 38% tone of voice, and 55% body language. Try touching someone on the shoulder when you say sorry or touch someone on the elbow when you say thank you.
The fifth and final hack is to not make it about you. You can get further by becoming interested in people than trying to make people become interested in you. Your time and energy is better spent convincing yourself that the stranger is interesting than trying to convince the stranger that you're interesting. People like to talk about themselves, so let them do it.
As a bonus hack, my personal favorite, is to establish eye contact with someone in the first few moments of interacting with them. By looking deeply into their eyes, you give the appearance that you're really paying attention and looking into their soul. This helps to form a deeper connection with that person.
Try out these psychological hacks and see how they can improve your relationships and make people like you more. Remember that these techniques are not a one-size-fits-all solution, so use them with caution and adjust them to your specific situation. Understanding body language will help you understand relationships more.