I have always enjoyed learning about how the brain processes and reacts to information. More so, I enjoy humor. Put those two things together and you have this article! Below are psychological tricks that are not only interesting, but also entertaining. In some cases they might even help you in your life.

1. Don’t feel like carrying something?

The next time your hands are full, or you find yourself carrying something that you feel like handing over to a friend to carry; try this.  Continue speaking to the person nearby and during the conversation casually hand the item to the person. Most of the time the person will automatically take the object without even thinking about it.

2. Want people to like you more?

Many think that doing favors for others will make them like you more. What if I told you it was the other way around? If you want people to like you more, ask them to do a favor for you. When someone does a favor for you their subconscious thinks, “I’m doing something for this person, so I must like and care about them.”

3. Get Competitors Off Their Game

This one is for sports related or competitive related games that require skill. If you want to mess your competitor up try stating, “Wow, you are really good at (skill).” Then simply ask a question about hoiw they are doing the task. In most cases the individual will begin to overthink and suddenly begin to fail more often. A specific example of this is if someone is throwing darts, shooting a basketball or even throwing a ping pong ball during beer pong. Ask them what they are doing with their opposite hand when they shoot. In many cases they’ll start to concentrate on their opposite hand and will begin to become less accurate.

4. Want to try and get to know someone?

If you want to try and understand whether someone is empathetic, ask them to trace an uppercase E on their forehead with their finger. If they draw it so that you can read it, they’re doing what is best for you. This implies that they are empathetic. If they draw it facing themselves, it is a sign that they only think of themselves and are not empathetic.

5. Warm Hands, Cold Hands.

If your goal is to generate trust when meeting someone, make sure that your hands are not cold. When we shake someone’s hand that is cold we subconsciously have feelings of distrust. Avoid this by keeping your hand warm and ready when you’re about to meet someone for the first time.

6. Afraid you’re being watched or followed?

If you think you’re being followed try and yawn. By yawning and looking directly towards the person, if they are watching or following you they will typically yawn as well. This is because yawns are contagious.

7. Forget the Love Shack

For whatever reason, Love Shack is typically the song that is stuck in my head. When you get a song stuck in your head the best way to get rid of it is to think of the end of the song. This was dictated by the Zeigarnik Effect; your mind thinks of things that have been left unfinished. By thinking of the end of the song, you’ll be able to get it out of your system….. (“Love Shack BABY”)

8. The Door in Face Approach

This one is a little more widely known, but I always feel obligated to mention it because of just how effective it is. If you want something try asking for more than you want and then scale it back later. Your second request should be the thing you really want. By leading with requesting something ridiculous that you know will be objected the second request will be seen as a bargain and the person is more likely to agree to it. Just make sure your second request is reasonable.

9. Forget Everything You Know (about the statement above)

Okay… don’t forget the other option, but this approach is the opposite and is equally as effective. Maybe we can call it “the get the door open first” approach? Instead of starting with the big request you don’t think you’ll get; start with a very small request. This request should be something that you are positive the individual will agree with. By getting the individual to agree with the small request, you are more likely to get them to agree to the next larger request. (Psst, this is marketing at work.)

10. Don’t Correct People When They’re Wrong

Okay. This one is hard; however, telling someone that they are wrong typically does the opposite of endearing them to you. There is a better way to show disagreement and turn it into a polite discussion. Hearing that you’re wrong typically strikes the core of the ego and can be unpleasant. This following technique is known as the Ransberger Pivot, which was invented by Ray Ransberger and Marshall Fritz. The idea is simple: instead of arguing, listen to what they have to say, ASK them to explain how they feel and why they feel that way. Once you have ACTUALLY listened, explain your common ground (what you agree with) and use that as a starting point to explain your position. This makes it much more likely that they are going to listen to what you have to say. It also allows you to correct them without an argument. (I mean, unless you like to argue.)

11. Smile (last, but definitely not least)

I’d be surprised if you didn’t know this, but remember to smile regardless of how you feel. Studies have suggested that emotions are reinforced and maybe even driven by their corresponding facial expressions. This means that by smiling you are more likely to actually cheer yourself up.