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Weapons of Influence #5: Authority (Ep. 197)

Last Updated February 5, 2018

I thought about wearing a suit for today’s episode, but decided against it. Why? Authority, or the illusion of authority, is a powerful thing,

If I wear a suit, you might take the words I say at face value. You’ll be more likely to believe me, even if experience should tell you I’m wrong.

Luckily for you, I don’t want you to believe me when I’m wrong. Not so easily, anyway.

We’re diving back into Robert Cialdini’s “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” to learn a bit about why it’s so easy to follow the leader, even when you know you shouldn’t.

Oh, and Tom bought a green screen.

Things mentioned in this episode:

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Timestamps:

  • 0:01:41 – How to subscribe to the podcast
  • 0:05:12 – Perceiving and being influenced by authority
  • 0:23:34 – Exposure to conflict and finding your moral stance
  • 0:30:53 – Being afraid of people whom you perceive as authoritative
  • 0:34:57 – Viewing things from a position of authority
  • 0:40:41 – Tricking people by resembling authoritative figures
  • 0:52:34 – Conclusion

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Weapons of Influence #5: Authority