The Mechanics of Influence: Understanding Fixed Action Patterns

Brian Brushwood (@shwood) has spent the last 20 years entertaining and teaching people how to harness the deceptive (and self-deceptive) skills of scientists, spies, criminals, and con artists. He is the author of Scam School: Your Guide to Scoring Free Drinks, Doing Magic, and Becoming the Life of the Party. [Note: This is a previously broadcast episode from the vault that we felt deserved a fresh pass through your earholes!]

• Why being interesting isn’t a gift — it’s a practice.
• How fixed action patterns help us get others to do what we want them to do. (Important note: for good — not evil!)
• How to control a conversation by asking the right questions.
• The best way to convince someone to help us? By making it their idea.
• Why we’re all susceptible to being duped in spite of our highly developed human brains — and how practicing magic can train us to be more resistant to the fraudulent.
• And so much more…

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/722

Miss our two-parter with former Westboro Baptist Church spokesperson Megan Phelps-Roper? Make sure to catch up starting with episode 302: Megan Phelps-Roper | Unfollowing Westboro Baptist Church Part One here!

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