Subliminal Compliance (a.k.a. Psychological Manipulation)

[not daSkeptic]

After doing a bit of research with good 'ol Google (which I admit should have been done a long time ago) I have discovered that the illustrious Jim Callahan is little more than a professional psychological manipulator. The term he uses is subliminal compliance. Everything he says and does is designed to illicit a certain response from a certain demographic.

I bring this up not to discuss Callahan himself, but to discuss the subject of psychological manipulation in general. I use Callahan only as an example with which many of us here have direct experience.

I'll start the discussion with a simple question: Once a person has been discovered to be manipulating, can anything they have said or will say ever be trusted? In the case of Callahan, one must consider that his views on the MDC, his allegations of Randi counterfeiting, and even his altercation with Criss Angel on Phenomenon could all have been illusions designed to provoke the skeptical community.

What do others think?

 

[fls]

After doing a bit of research with good 'ol Google (which I admit should have been done a long time ago) I have discovered that the illustrious Jim Callahan is little more than a professional psychological manipulator.

I haven't been following this. Is there some reason to pay attention to this person?

The term he uses is subliminal compliance. Everything he says and does is designed to illicit a certain response from a certain demographic.

Was that meant to be a subliminal message?

Linda

 

[tesscaline]

Speaking personally -- no. If someone has shown themselves to be purposefully manipulating other people through the use of psychological trickery, I won't be trusting anything they say.

Of course, I rarely fall for that kind of thing. I'm always surprised when other people do.

 

[Uncayimmy]

I am not sure what _my you mean by _{penis is} subliminal _huge manipulation. Can you explain?

 

[arthwollipot]

Of course, I rarely fall for that kind of thing. I'm always surprised when other people do.

It's always surprising when one discovers one has fallen for manipulation, but I would be even more surprised if anyone were actually less likely to be taken in. The tools of critical thinking and a little bit of knowledge about the methods and techniques used by mentalists would certainly be helpful in that regard - I once spotted part of one Derryn Brown's tricks.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that someone who says "I don't fall for such tricks" is more likely to fall for such tricks, but I would be skeptical, and if I were a mentalist I'd probably mark that person for special attention. Like, as a challenge.

 

[tesscaline]

It's always surprising when one discovers one has fallen for manipulation, but I would be even more surprised if anyone were actually less likely to be taken in. The tools of critical thinking and a little bit of knowledge about the methods and techniques used by mentalists would certainly be helpful in that regard - I once spotted part of one Derryn Brown's tricks.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that someone who says "I don't fall for such tricks" is more likely to fall for such tricks, but I would be skeptical, and if I were a mentalist I'd probably mark that person for special attention. Like, as a challenge.

Indeed. You'll note that I didn't say I never fall for it, but instead said "rarely."

I've been labelled by many of the people I know as "a people watcher" or "a scholar of personality" and I think that gives me a bit of an edge -- though there definitely are people who have managed to trip me up. I view being tripped up that way as a learning experience though, so if anyone wants to "view me as a challenge" they're more than welcome to try, as I wouldn't mind the exercise

I will say that seeing psychological trickery for what it is has benefits -- such as not getting embroiled in the rampant threads by the person mentioned in the OP

 

[jimtron]

After doing a bit of research with good 'ol Google (which I admit should have been done a long time ago) I have discovered that the illustrious Jim Callahan is little more than a professional psychological manipulator. The term he uses is subliminal compliance. Everything he says and does is designed to illicit a certain response from a certain demographic.

Can you share your source/links?

I haven't been following this. Is there some reason to pay attention to this person?

No.

 

[not daSkeptic]

Can you share your source/links?

Sorry for the ugly links. Wanted to be sure I used no-follow.

[nfurl]www.jimclass.com/subliminal_compliance_technologi.html[/nfurl] - Subliminal Compliance Technologies
[nfurl]www.jimclass.com/lecture.html[/nfurl] - Lecture
[nfurl]www.jimclass.com/ATTbeginning.html[/nfurl] - The Beginning

[nfurl]virus.lucifer.com/virus.2Q99/author.html#2471[/nfurl] - Several posts made by Jim to a mailing list of the Church of Virus

[nfurl]www.youtube.com/user/goalie309[/nfurl] - A comment (bottom of the page) on a YouTube profile

 

[Senex]

I can't recommend the book "Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini enough. He breaks down how people are manipulated through five basic methods. Read this book and you will never (maybe not never but the shame is now on you) leave a car lot/store/sales call and wonder how you just bought something you didn't want. Honestly, that book will be a revelation if you wish to articulate how someone is trying to manipulate you.

Multiple methods of manipulation exist -- few qualify as "subliminal." There are a few mentalist tricks that take advantage of statistical abnormalities in people's thinking, but subliminal influence really doesn't exist. Darren Brown uses 'subliminal" techniques as misdirection. There is nothing subliminal about his real methods. Take UncaYimmy (please! ) for example. Did anyone fall for his subliminal trick? VisionFromFeeling will only have to meet him in a supermarket and then she can let the rest of us know the truth.



Who got the Henny Youngman joke? Too many young people frequent this site.

 

[Ladewig]

Did anyone fall for his subliminal trick?

What trick are you talking about?

 

[Jim Callahan]

Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini is a great book and I recomend it to all of my students.
Also Dance Macabra & On Writting by Steven King

Virus of the Mind by Brodie will give you the basis of memetics and was a large part of why I was member of Church of the Virus.
(Linked provided by Daskeptic above).

Have a good day.

Jim

H.O.A-X

 

[Senex]

Originally Posted by Jim Callahan
Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini is a great book and I recomend it to all of my students.
Also Dance Macabra & On Writting by Steven King

Virus of the Mind by Brodie will give you the basis of memetics and was a large part of why I was member of Church of the Virus.
(Linked provided by Daskeptic above).

Have a good day.

Jim

H.O.A-X

Jim, you have stated you tried to bring government agencies against Randi for his performing a trick that may (probably didn't) have disfigured a single American currency bill. What makes you think you can post anything on this site which is welcome? Honestly, no BS, on a certain level you are an undeniable idiot. Your website is poorly written. If you aren't married I recommend dating an English major who could put a subject and verb together (you seem to be unwilling to pay for the needed help) to rewrite your site.

I doubt you have anything to teach anyone. You got lucky and were on national TV. That doesn't make you special. I bet you are just hoping to teach things that are available on the Internet for free to anyone foolish enough to pay you.

Honestly, why would anyone pay anything to hear what you have to say?

 

[tesscaline]

Jim, you have stated you tried to bring government agencies against Randi for his performing a trick that may (probably didn't) have disfigured a single American currency bill. What makes you think you can post anything on this site which is welcome? Honestly, no BS, on a certain level you are an undeniable idiot. Your website is poorly written. If you aren't married I recommend dating an English major who could put a subject and verb together (you seem to be unwilling to pay for the needed help) to rewrite your site.

I doubt you have anything to teach anyone. You got lucky and were on national TV. That doesn't make you special. I bet you are just hoping to teach things that are available on the Internet for free to anyone foolish enough to pay you.

Honestly, why would anyone pay anything to hear what you have to say?

And you are being reeled in by his act, hook line and sinker.

His antics are remarkably transparent to me -- He's performing right here, using psychological manipulation techniques on the posters in this forum, sucking both attention and publicity out of all of you.

Responding to his posts is not the answer. Ignoring them is

 

[not daSkeptic]

Honestly, why would anyone pay anything to hear what you have to say?

That's the game, isn't it? Getting people to buy something they don't necessarily need or want is a very old trick.

 

[Senex]

And you are being reeled in by his act, hook line and sinker.

His antics are remarkably transparent to me -- He's performing right here, using psychological manipulation techniques on the posters in this forum, sucking both attention and publicity out of all of you.

Responding to his posts is not the answer. Ignoring them is

Maybe I have a history with him you are unaware of. Maybe I have my own agenda. Maybe you don't know crap. Maybe I'll let it go this time.

 

[Ivor the Engineer]

Derren Brown's best trick is manipulating people's minds so they cannot remember how to spell his first name correctly.

 

[Dunstan]

His antics are remarkably transparent to me -- He's performing right here, using psychological manipulation techniques on the posters in this forum, sucking both attention and publicity out of all of you.

Is "psychological manipulation techinques" a fancy way of saying "trolling"?

 

[not daSkeptic]

Is "psychological manipulation techinques" a fancy way of saying "trolling"?

I would say that trolling is but one form of psychological manipulation.

 

[tesscaline]

Is "psychological manipulation techinques" a fancy way of saying "trolling"?

Yes. Trolling is definitely a form of psychological manipulation.

 

[Senex]

Ladewig:What trick are you talking about?

Hmmm, no trick at all. Gee wiz, I can't put my finger on why, but that UncaYimmy sure is sexy

daSkeptic:That's the game, isn't it? Getting people to buy something they don't necessarily need or want is a very old trick.

Yes, it may be indeed the oldest trick.

SkeptiChick:Responding to his posts is not the answer. Ignoring them is

I'm sorry that my post was harsh. I did feel it was thought out well enough that a thoughtful person would not just post "just ignore him" and feel they did me justice. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we can talk about this over a beer somwhere

Ivor the Engineer:Derren Brown's best trick is manipulating people's minds so they cannot remember how to spell his first name correctly.

If he had the good sense to be named Tom, Dick or Harry we wouldn't be discussing this now. People named Derren should expect their name misspelled.

Dunstan:Is "psychological manipulation techinques" a fancy way of saying "trolling"?

It's a way of giving much to much credit to whom she is writing about. Jim Callahan can't make his subjects and verbs agree. He can not trick people using the English language. He can barely ask for a glass of water yet some think he can manipulate others using language. My language ability surpasses his and I can not make any of you do anything you don't wish.

When I find a way to make you my language slaves some of you will get to know me well