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The Science of Persuasion | Vanessa Bohns

Jan 18, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Vanessa Bohns, a social psychologist and Cornell professor, reveals how we often underestimate our own power of persuasion. She explores the discomfort of saying no and highlights the surprising impact of asking for favors in person. Bohns emphasizes the importance of personal connections over digital communication for true happiness. She also discusses the illusion of being unnoticed and the ethical responsibilities tied to influence, encouraging listeners to embrace their presence and awareness of their social impact.

01:04:01

Creator website

Episode guests

Vanessa Bohns

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Importance of Self-Confidence

01:04

Getting Perspective vs. Taking Perspective

01:16

How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

00:55

The Risky Business of Saying No

00:52

Intro

4min

The Dynamics of Influence and Agreement

20min

The Importance of Personal Connection in Pursuing Happiness

2min

The Illusion of Invisibility

14min

The Power of In-Person Requests

6min

The Influence of Careless Communication

5min

The Dynamics of Influence and Power

17min

Closing Insights and Promotions

2min

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It can be difficult to grasp how much power of persuasion we actually have, or how to wield it wisely.

In today’s episode we look at science-based strategies for observing the effect we have on others, and how to better deal with our fear of rejection, and asking for favors.

Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist and a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. She is the author of You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why it Matters.

In this episode we talk about:

How much we often underestimate our own influence
Why it’s so hard to say no
Why people are paying attention to us more than we think
The impact of asking for things in-person
The responsibility that comes with being in a position of power
What it means to experience your own influence
And how we can be more aware of the influence we have

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/vanessa-bohns-550

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