Disrupt Then Reframe Read online In his fantastic book 59 Seconds, Richard Wiseman¹ explains the “disrupt, then reframe” approach. The tactic briefly jolts someone out of autopilot with something unexpected, then follows with a straightforward request. In several experiments, researchers went door to door selling notepads for charity. The salesman would either say: 1️⃣ “They sell for $3. It’s a bargain.” 2️⃣ Or, they would introduce a small disruption: “They sell for 300 pennies — that’s $3....

Sharing Weaknesses Read online In the 1970s, researchers Jones and Gordon¹ from Duke University played people a recording of a man (really a stooge) talking about his life. During the tape the man explained he had not completed a school semester because he had been caught cheating and had been expelled. The researchers edited the tape so that: 1️⃣ Half of the participants heard this bombshell toward the beginning 2️⃣ Half of the participants heard it toward the end. Did the timing of the...

Mystery Effect Read online I submit a gas and electricity reading every month. Not because I'm diligent or disciplined. But because my supplier (Octopus Energy) nudges me to do so. Every time I leave a gas reading, they let me spin a wheel to win a potential reward. Most suppliers just ask for a reading (left). Octopus offer a chance to win (right). I've shared this before, but I haven't shared much evidence as to why it works. So, take a look at these images from a 2022 study¹.Which would...