An Interesting Finding About Scams

So, in 2009 Exeter University released findings from the first study into mass marketed email scams (and scams generally).

I find the psychology of scams and cons very interesting, because like cults (and to some extent, religions) they are jam-packed with human influence, suggestion, exploits, appeals to the emotional intuition above conscious rationality etc. You’ll probably learn more about human behaviour through studying scams than you will in a psychology degree.

Anyway, here’s an interesting finding from the study: “Our research suggests that there is a minority of people who are particularly vulnerable to scams. In particular, people who reported having previously responded to a scam were consistently more likely to show interest in responding again. Though a minority, it is not a small minority; depending on how it is assessed, it could be between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the population. Furthermore, the research suggests that the vulnerability is not specific to the persuasive techniques most characteristic of current common mass marketed scams, though it does include them.”

This percentage – 10-20% – is also the same figure reported by studies into what proportion of people are highly hypnotisable. I wonder, then, whether its related. Perhaps people who are most responsive to hypnosis (and suggestion) are the same people who are vulnerable to the emotional influence of a well-designed scam.

Any thoughts or ideas? Share them here!

Does Social Networking Change People?

Sometimes I think Facebook is ok – it lets people keep in touch, and its nice knowing what people are up to.

Other times I think its a load of bullshit.

One of the main things I’ve noticed is that it catalyses people’s search for attention. The little dopamine flourishes that one receives on getting a comment or some feedback becomes addictive, leading to more outlandish or attention seeking statuses (e.g. “OMG can’t believe what just happened!”). I know people who actually think in terms of Facebook now, so if they see something out and about, the first thought is to report to Facebook about it, or upload a photo there and then.

Another downside is that statuses and what people say they’re up to doesn’t really reflect who they are or whats really happening in their lives. Its the most superficial surface-skim of a persons life. Yet, we get fooled into thinking “oh, they’re ok” and then maybe not feel as encouraged to actually talk to them or find out how they really are, as we would have been pre-Facebook.

When I meet someone who is interesting but not on Facebook, they normally have a refreshing streak of independence and individuality.

More and more I hear of people threatening to delete their Facebook accounts, but the problem is bigger than that. The annoyance isn’t your own relationship to Facebook – its the fact that everyone else is becoming superficial and self-centred because of it too!

The Importance Of A Willingness To Perceive Reality

There is always one key factor that pops up again and again, throughout my experiences as a therapist, during conversations with people about psychology, and in my head when quietly observing a person’s “patterns”.

But first, just to introduce a few concepts.

Everyone looks at the world differently, and appreciating that is a massive step towards being a balanced, rational person. It allows you to accept peoples individual differences, rather than think “you don’t agree with me, therefore you’re wrong”, which describes a disturbingly high amount of peoples attitudes.

It leads to the attitude of having to control nature rather than flow with it, to bend the world to fit with an imagined set of expectations. People want to see the world as they want it to be, not as it is. Anything to the contrary is distorted, deleted or denied, anything that reinforces it is welcomed with open arms. Of course, nature doesn’t give a shit, and will gladly break down those walls when they became brittle enough, and this is usually the point of a “breakdown”.

This is the whole “the map is not the territory” thing, the failure to grasp of which lies at the heart of most mental illness.

But anyway, the main thing I was alluding to at the start is not the perception of reality, but just the willingness to perceive it. Are you going to irrationally defend what you want to believe, ignoring evidence to the contrary, or are you going to pay more attention to that evidence to learn something new? Are you going to stick to your negative belief systems that keep you hemmed inside of your life, or are you going to test them by wondering what it would be like if those beliefs weren’t true?

Basically, are you going to be willing to give up your bullshit to take further steps closer to reality, or choose to live with your bullshit forever more?

Because really, most of what people believe to be true (whether it be about their potential, how lovable they are, whether other people are threatening, whats scary etc) is bullshit. If it wasn’t, it would be a fact, and not a belief.

When talking to people about things, I can sometimes sense a “zone” where their irrational defensiveness kicks in. It wouldn’t be a problem for me to just avoid it. The problem arises where I’m invited to help them reinforce the belief. So if a typical conversation goes along the lines of people being horrible, or society being rubbish, or there being no options left anymore, I’m caught in a pressure point where if I don’t agree, they may become anxious and I know they’ll start putting me in that same bracket of hostility (“oh, you’re just like everyone else!” etc). Instead I’ll start challenging and eroding the edges, by asking incisive questions so that they are forced to corner themselves into facing their own irrationality head on (e.g. reminding them of a time that directly goes against what they are asking me to agree with). Whilst the effects of this can be powerful in the short term (“yeah, I suppose you’re right”), the overwhelming power of the mind to do what it can to protect what it wants to believe will ensure that its quickly forgotten about. A few days later, it will be the case of same bullshit, different day.

New Page about Relationships

I believe interpersonal relationships form our biggest reservoir of potential in terms of spiritual growth, mental health, and therefore physical wellbeing as a result… In a time of economic hardship, its relevant to remember that great relationships are free and far more useful and powerful than anything you could buy.

The rest of the new page is here

Do You Have a Con Story to Share?

I often think that the true masters of psychology (and certainly psychological persuasion) aren’t the psychologists, therapists or academics. They are the con artists (and not far behind, the magicians, salesmen, marketing gurus and advertisers).

Con routines are frightening in their vicious sense of shrewd exploitation, but equally fascinating in terms of the psychological dynamics. I was once conned out of $40 on a game on ‘Monty’ in New York, at the time it annoyed the hell out of me, but since has provided lots of food for thought.

Everyone else was a stooge. I was the mark. As I pass by, I am fascinated by the hands offering and taking wads of cash from the main guy, playing the cups and ball routine. People are winning every time, and he’s handing out cash, everyone’s enjoying themselves. As I watch, I am now unwittingly involved. Suddenly, no one is betting, yet to me its obvious that the ball is under a certain cup. The guy doesn’t seem to care about the money anymore – he asks for random guesses. With nothing to lose – I point out the cup I think its under. He nods yes! Well done! And suddenly – hes offering a handful of money! Wow, this guy really is a good guy, I haven’t even bet! I automatically reach out to take the money – but hold on – he remembers that I haven’t put anything up of my own. So he declines, and asks me to prove that I had the money to bet. I take out $40. He takes it, as if suggesting he is just about to offer me the money with his other hand – but then pulls both hands back, including my money. He lifts the cup – obviously I was wrong, I’m the mark, the sleight of hand escaped me. Everyone sighs “aw, bad luck!” someone slaps me on the back, all suggesting “there is nothing you can do now”. Confused, I walk away, going over in my head what just happened, and wondering how I lost $40 (which in hindsight I realise was minimal). I realised I was conned – but by the time I look back – they have all disappeared. I have met people who have a very similar story to tell of how the same thing happened to them. The routine was explained on “The Real Hustle” (pictured) with a detailed account of all the subtleties.

Do you have a story to share of how someone tried (successfully or not) to con you? If so – please provide all the details, it would be great to share the story.