Okay, so I stumbled upon this “faking bad psychology” thing, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” I mean, I’ve got some time, and it sounded kinda fun, in a twisted way.
First, I needed a target. Not a real target, obviously, just someone to practice on. I picked my buddy, Mark. He’s a super chill guy, always positive, so messing with his head (lightly!) seemed like a fun challenge. Sorry, Mark!
The Setup
I started small. I decided to use some reverse psychology on him. He was planning to go to the gym but was feeling lazy. Instead of telling him to go, I did the opposite.
- Me: “Dude, you look totally drained. Seriously, don’t even think about the gym. Just chill on the couch, you deserve it.”
See what I did there? I planted the idea that he was too tired, making him question if he actually was too tired. Classic reverse psychology – tell someone not to do something, and they’ll want to do it more.
The Execution
I kept it up for a bit, subtly suggesting he take it easy. I even offered him a beer, knowing he wouldn’t take it before gym.
- Me: “Want a beer? I got that new IPA you wanted to try.”
- Mark: “Nah, man, I’m good. Thinking of hitting the gym actually.”
Bingo! He took the bait. He started justifying why he should go to the gym, listing all the reasons he wanted to work out. It was like watching a little mental battle unfold right in front of me.
The Results (and the Reveal)
He ended up going to the gym, and feeling pretty good about it. Later, I ‘fessed up. I explained what I was doing, the whole “faking bad psychology” experiment.
- Me:“Remember how i was keep saying do not go to the gym? That actually a ‘faking bad psychology’ experiment, bro.”
He laughed, of course. He’s a good sport. But it was pretty interesting to see how easily you can influence someone’s decisions with just a few words and a bit of reverse psychology.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It’s kinda fun, but you gotta be careful. You don’t want to actually mess with someone’s head. It’s all about lighthearted manipulation, not serious mind games. This a game, you need pick a good friend and make sure they are okay with it.
