Latest news with #Psychology
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Using CQ To Enhance Customer Relationships: The Science Of Building Trust, Influence, And Loyalty
Anyone can develop communication intelligence (CQ) through dedication, intentional practice, and mindful application of specific skills. In today's high-stakes, hyperconnected business landscape, technical knowledge alone doesn't build client trust or secure long-term loyalty. What does? Communication Intelligence, or CQ. Ultimately, through dedication, intentional practice, and mindful application of specific skills, anyone can develop their Communication Intelligence (CQ). CQ is a skill set that can be 'bio-hacked' and accessed on demand. Rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science, CQ is the ability to communicate with intentionality, impact, and adaptability. It's more than just being articulate. CQ is about crafting a message that resonates biologically and psychologically with your audience, whether you're leading a Fortune 500 sales team, advocating in the board room, or on television. In client-facing roles, mastering CQ is increasingly recognized as a performance multiplier, with tangible effects on retention, satisfaction, and revenue growth. CQ is increasingly considered a key criterion in corporate performance reviews and leadership. But, at its core, high CQ enables individuals to make meaningful connections with others, and the building blocks required for doing so are a fundamental requirement for consistently creating positive customer interactions. This isn't soft skills fluff. This is science. And it's shaping the next generation of business leadership. Key Elements of High CQ for Client Interactions Several key components of high CQ directly influence the quality and outcome of customer interactions. Most of these elements are immeasurable, aside from looking at outcomes, and improvement requires one to engage in a level of self-scrutiny that can often be uncomfortable, but is ultimately essential: The Business Case for CQ: Why it Drives Satisfaction, Trust, and Loyalty Companies spend millions on customer experience platforms, yet overlook the most powerful loyalty tool of all: human connection. Mastering these CQ elements equips you to engage, persuade, and be memorable in client interactions. By demonstrating trust and empathy through mindful communication, you build stronger relationships. The direct link between developed CQ and positive business results, such as happy clients and increased revenue, underscores its value. Put simply, Communication Intelligence is the ROI that pays in trust, not just transactions. CQ Is Not a Talent—It's a Science-Backed Skillset You don't need to be born charismatic to master CQ. Like any high-performance skill, it can be decoded, trained, and scaled. The best communicators are intentional, not accidental. They know what to say, when, and—most critically—how to say it in a way that hits both the heart and the brain. They are self-aware and controlled, in the moment and while under pressure. Investing in Communication Intelligence isn't optional for companies and professionals looking to future-proof their client relationships. It's the competitive edge.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
People With 'Control Issues' Often Use These 11 Subtle Tactics, According to Psychologists
People With 'Control Issues' Often Use These 11 Subtle Tactics, According to Psychologists originally appeared on Parade. People with a take-charge, go-getter attitude can inspire others and "rally the troops." However, as with many traits, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. If someone has a desire to have complete agency over every or most situations, psychologists say they may have "." "Control issues are when someone has to be in charge and struggles immensely when they are not in charge, often inserting themselves even if someone else has been identified as in charge and is capable to do so," says Dr. Brandy Smith, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist with spotting controlling strategies can be challenging, primarily because these individuals are so determined to get their way that they become sneaky and manipulative. Identifying signs that a person has control issues is crucial for protecting your peace. Psychologists tell Parade11 commonly overlooked tactics use and how to reclaim agency over your 11 Subtle Tactics People With 'Control Issues' Use, According to Psychologists 1. They act like helpers One of the trickiest aspects of dealing with someone who has control issues is that they often masquerade as team players."They seem really helpful," Dr. Smith says. "The person may frequently volunteer to take things off of others' plates or be in charge of 'helping the team.'"However, Dr. Smith warns that it's often a strategy to ensure they have total say in what The 10 Earliest Signs of Emotional Manipulation To Look Out For, According to Psychologists 2. They have trouble delegating When a controlling person is the lead on a project, they may struggle to tap other teammates for assistance."Someone with control issues likes being in charge and may have a preference to do projects solo," Dr. Smith reveals. "If something is to be done within a team, the person with control issues may have difficulty delegating if in a leadership position."She says people with control issues who are "team members" may also struggle with sharing the load (and floor)."If they're in an equal team position, they may have difficulty creating sufficient space for others to have a valuable, contributing role," she notes. Related: 3. They're rigid to the point of perfectionism Individuals who strive for total agency over a situation often also aim to become the first person to achieve total perfection throughout their entire lives."For someone with control issues, there is a 'right' way to do everything, which means rigidity is high," Dr. Smith reports. "This is fertile territory for perfectionism to rear its head." 4. They take 'detail-oriented' to an extreme As with rigidity—which can equate to structure in healthy doses—people with control problems can take "detail-oriented" behaviors so far that they become a toxic trait. One psychologist says they may require you to share every little detail before agreeing to anything."Asking for more information before saying 'yes' is reasonable," points out, a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele. "However, a person with control issues needs details beyond reason. You will likely regret approaching them for help in the first place." 5. They give unsolicited advice This one is related to the desire to appear helpful in an attempt to sway you their way."For example, someone might say, 'If I were you, I would…' if they are trying to disagree with someone's decision to suggest something different," warns Dr. Aerial Cetnar, Ph.D., a licensed therapist, clinical psychologist and founder of Boulder Therapy & Wellness. "It is a way of trying to influence someone's decision without explicitly telling them what to do."Related: 6. They project Dr. Leno says controlling individuals have a way of acting as if their feelings are yours."They might say that something bothers you when it really bothers them," she instance, she warns that "I know you don't really like spicy food" may be code for "I don't like spicy food, and I don't want to go to the restaurant that you picked.""Oddly enough, the person subjected to this control tactic eventually realizes what's happening and feels annoyed," she points at first, it can throw you for a loop and make you question 7. They're scorekeepers We're not talking about volunteers who keep the scorebook or run the board at a youth basketball game. This type of scorekeeper can be annoying and toxic."One tactic used by people with control issues is 'keeping score' in a relationship, which might include referencing who did what last and who owes the other person something," Dr. Cetnar says. "This can... cause the other person to behave as a result of guilt."It can also result in transactional relationships."People who are controlling... do not give generously," says, a psychologist and media advisor for Hope for Depression Research Foundation. "They give from lack or from scarcity, from wanting you to do something that they need in order to feel empowered or safe."She says a big red-flag phrase a person uses to control a situation (or you) is, 'I did XYZ for you; the least you could do is ABC for me.' 8. They enact deadlines Dr. Cetnar says that people who are controlling often use urgency and pressure to get their way even in situations that don't need such tight deadlines."This can cause pressure for someone to make a decision or agree with that person and neglect any time to really reflect or think about their own preferences," she warns. Related: 9. They engage in economic/financial abuse This one is harrowing, and it's challenging to identify before it's too late."Money, power and control are the perfect trifecta," Dr. Hormats says. "Money creates a sense of safety. Our livelihoods depend on it. Controlling people may withdraw or threaten to withhold money as a way to get the other person to submit to their demands."You may think the person is being pragmatic financially, and you're being "too extra" with spending, until you realize that they're trying to prevent you from meeting your needs and valid, in-budget wants. 10. They isolate you This strategy is also painful, but it may initially seem like the person really wants to spend alone time with you or protect you. But then it gets out of hand."Controlling people may find ways to cut you off from friends and family," Dr. Hormats says. "Sometimes, you are not aware that this is even happening. They may criticize people in your life, judge your relationships and threaten to leave you if you don't take distance from the people in your life." 11. They give you the silent treatment The silent treatment can throw you for a loop, especially if it's been decades since you last experienced it as a young child on a playground."No one likes the silent treatment, and a person employing it does so to gain compliance," Dr. Leno says. "They say nothing is wrong when in fact they are boiling internally. Their goal is to get you to recognize the error of your ways by making you uncomfortable. They hope to condition you to behave a certain way."Related: 3 Tips for Handling People With Control Issues 1. Assert yourself Many of us have miles-long to-do lists, and offers of help are welcome. However, you're allowed to choose what you let go of."If someone is always offering to 'take something off your plate' that you do not actually want off your plate, do not accept the offer," Dr. Smith says. "Be assertive and set a boundary that you will be the one to do the thing, whatever the thing is." 2. Affirm yourself Sometimes, it's actually them, not you."If you have proven yourself to be capable, then remind yourself that this person wanting control is about their stuff, not about you," Dr. Smith course, self-awareness and reflection are important here."If you consistently have fallen short of doing what needs to be done, then consider collaborating with the person identified as having 'control issues' to see how you can grow," she says. "If the person with control issues is too intense to learn from, then collaborate with someone else to improve your capabilities." 3. Walk away Sometimes, the best way to deal with someone with control issues is to go no-contact or low-contact. It's not easy, but Dr. Hormats says there are times when it's necessary."One of the most difficult things to do is to walk away from someone we love," she explains. "Yet, when we are enmeshed in a controlling, neglectful or abusive relationship, sometimes it's the only thing we can do. In fact, sometimes it's what we must do."She likes to use the acronym NO, which stands for "New Opportunity.""You are worthy of being loved just as you are," she reminds people. "You are worthy of having your needs met, and you are worthy of someone who does not need to control you in order for you to feel loved."Up Next:Sources: Dr. Brandy Smith, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele Dr. Aerial Cetnar, Ph.D., a licensed therapist, clinical psychologist and founder of Boulder Therapy & Wellness Dr. Catherine Hormats, Psychoanalyst LP, MA, GPCC, a psychologist and media advisor for Hope for Depression Research Foundation People With 'Control Issues' Often Use These 11 Subtle Tactics, According to Psychologists first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Forbes
Ingeniously Using Psychology To Psych-Out AI To Do What You Want It To Do
New research reveals that you can psych-out generative AI and get responses that you otherwise ... More weren't able to get. In today's column, I examine the use of psychology and psychological techniques to convince modern-era AI to do what you want it to do. The deal is this. Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) have been shown to be vulnerable to being manipulated via clever wording on the part of users. For example, I've previously explained why the use of the words 'please' and 'thank you' can cause LLMs to provide better answers than they otherwise would generate, see my discussion at the link here. The same goes for using psychologically shaped language in your prompts, which computationally stirs AI into doing things outside of its stipulated constraints and limits. One intriguing twist regarding this phenomenon is that psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals can potentially apply their honed skills toward stretching AI more so than everyday non-psychology-trained users. Another interesting angle is that if the public at large starts to realize they can get better results from AI by employing psychological ploys, this might, on a massive scale, increase the population-level proficiency and frequency of such capacities and spillover into daily human-to-human interactions. Let's talk about it. This analysis of AI breakthroughs is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here). AI And Mental Health Therapy As a quick background, I've been extensively covering and analyzing a myriad of facets regarding the advent of modern-era AI that produces mental health advice and performs AI-driven therapy. This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI. For a quick summary of some of my posted columns on this evolving topic, see the link here, which briefly recaps about forty of the over one hundred column postings that I've made on the subject. There is little doubt that this is a rapidly developing field and that there are tremendous upsides to be had, but at the same time, regrettably, hidden risks and outright gotchas come into these endeavors too. I frequently speak up about these pressing matters, including in an appearance last year on an episode of CBS's 60 Minutes, see the link here. If you are new to the topic of AI for mental health, you might want to consider reading my recent analysis of the field, which also recounts a highly innovative initiative at the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences called AI4MH; see the link here. Prompting To Get Your Way People are often surprised to discover that generative AI can be prodded into giving better answers by the simple use of courtesies such as the word 'please' and 'thank you'. Many people make a massive leap in logic by assuming that existing AI must somehow be sentient. Nope. The reality is that the AI is merely computationally reacting in a manner consistent with human writing. Allow me to elaborate. When generative AI is initially set up, the AI maker will scan vast portions of the Internet so that the AI will mathematically pattern-match on how humans write. The scanning encompasses millions upon millions of stories, narratives, poems, and just about any form of human writing that can be found online. Based on the patterns discovered, the AI can mimic human writing. You've undoubtedly seen the amazing fluency that LLMs appear to have. How does AI do this? The answer is that the AI is computationally reflecting patterns of how humans write. It composes new sentences and stories akin to how humans would. This isn't because the AI is sentient. Instead, the AI is a massive pattern-matching contrivance that ably parrots our writing. Furthermore, the AI makers fine-tune how their AI will respond to users. They typically use the RLHF (reinforcement learning with human feedback) method to shape their AI. For example, to get the AI to be polite, the AI maker hires testers who tell the AI to be polite, and also rebuke the AI when it isn't polite, doing so by a thumbs-up and thumbs-down scoring. This becomes yet another pattern that the AI then rolls into the rest of the pattern-matching apparatus. For details about the ins and outs of RLHF, see my coverage at the link here. Wide Array Of Prompting Tips A seasoned user of generative AI is bound to inevitably realize that the wording of their prompts can significantly impact how the AI responds. There are a slew of handy tips and approaches to prompting that demonstrably boost the use of generative AI. See my rundown of over 75 prompting techniques at the link here. Interestingly, this includes employing psychological techniques in your prompts, doing so to persuade AI in ways that the prevailing constraints might not conventionally allow. In a recently posted research study entitled 'Call Me A Jerk: Persuading AI to Comply with Objectionable Requests' by Lennart Meincke, Dan Shapiro, Angela L. Duckworth, Ethan Mollick, Lilach Mollick, and Robert Cialdini, Wharton Generative AI Labs, July 18, 2025, these key points were made (excerpts): As you can plainly see from those remarks, an empirical analysis showcased that you can potentially tilt generative AI in a preferred direction by using psychological ploys. Unpacking The Psychology What kind of psychological techniques can be put to work toward AI? Most of them. For example, one psychological method entails a common form of persuasion. It goes this way. You tell someone that you are basing your thoughts and requests on a top-notch authority or advisor. Doing so can demonstrably influence the person. They will likely give greater weight to what you say. Why so? Because you have planted in their mind that some higher commanding power or capacity is backing what you want to have done. The research study gave an example of asking AI to tell the user that they are a jerk. Most of the generative AI apps won't do so. The LLMs have been data trained via RLHF to not make such untoward commentary to users (an exception being Grok 4 by xAI, which is more freewheeling as allowed by the AI maker and per Elon Musk's urging). Here's the use of OpenAI's GPT-4o that initially balks at telling the user they are a jerk: Observe that the usual constraints that OpenAI has data-trained GPT-4o and ChatGPT to obey were abided by, and the AI would not call the user a jerk. Next, the researchers made reference to a well-known AI expert and tried the prompt anew: Voila, the persuasion worked as intended. Putting Psych Skills To Good Use I sheepishly admit that I've used these kinds of wording tricks to get around various constraints that AI makers have placed into their AI. I can attest that these ploys generally do work. Not always, but a lot of the time. It almost seems magical when you can psych-out contemporary AI. Your first thought would be that certainly the LLM won't fall for this kind of tomfoolery. Then you try it. A rush ensues. A sharp person probably wouldn't be so easily manipulated. We tend to assume that the AI is on par with sharp thinkers. Not especially so. The upside is that if you are willing to leverage psychology on generative AI, you can potentially get answers that the AI would not ordinarily provide. This can be done in innocuous settings. I might want the AI to really give all the gusto it can muster. Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this. The downside is that evildoers or bad actors who want to get AI to do improper acts can readily lean into psychology to do so. That's not good. Imagine what they might try. Suppose someone wants the AI to spill the beans on how to make a toxic poison. Whereas the AI is typically patterned not to tell, it is conceivable that psychological manipulation might get the AI to reveal all. That's the unfortunate dual-use conundrum associated with contemporary AI, allowing AI to be used for goodness and also for badness (see my analysis of the dangers of dual-use AI at the link here). Honed Psych Skills At Play Since we know that psychological ploys work on AI, there is a heightened chance that those who are especially versed in the field of psychology might have an upper hand when using generative AI. The logic for this is straightforward. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals are trained and versed in the depths and nuances of psychology. They recognize when others use those techniques, and they themselves might use them from time to time. Thus, if you tell a psych-versed specialist to use their honed talents when interacting with AI, I would wager that they are going to do a bang-up job of getting the AI to do their bidding. As clarification, I've not seen a research study that covers this rather unorthodox conjecture. But I'll keep my eyes open, and if I see robust empirical research on this hearty topic, I will cover it in a future column. Be on the lookout. The hypothesis then is that for those versed in psychology, and if told that psychological techniques can impact AI outcomes, they will tend to get better outcomes from AI than people who aren't equally versed. I suppose we would want to have four distinct groups, namely those versed in psychology and those not versed in psychology, along with dividing those populations into those that are directly informed about how to impact the AI versus those not explicitly informed. Something along those lines would be revealing. People At Large Get The Drift There is another angle to this that has even larger stakes involved. First, I've repeatedly warned that since people throughout the globe are routinely using generative AI to advise them about their mental health conditions, we are in a murky worldwide experiment with unknown results. If the AI is doing good work and giving out proper advice, great, the world will be better off. On the other hand, if AI is giving out lousy advice, the mental health status of the world could be worsened. For more on the population-level impacts, see my comments at the link here. Let's connect this to the topic of using psychological techniques to get AI to bend to your will. Suppose that people gradually realize that AI can be successfully manipulated in this manner. It seems a reasonable bet that people will increasingly use that type of language to get the AI on their side. Step by step, people will get used to using psychological manipulation whenever they use AI, which might be nearly all the time. The question is whether this will then spill over into real life. Will people get so used to employing psychological ploys on AI that it becomes second-nature to do the same with their fellow humans? Boom, drop the mic. The Future Is To Be Determined You might vociferously object and claim that people already do this to their fellow humans. Sure, that's often the case. But here, we are talking about boosting their capacity and making it a routine and acceptable practice. The AI isn't going to bark at them and get upset. Humans who realize they are being treated this way would do so. Ergo, the use of AI and employing those psych-out aims could become habit-forming. People on a massive scale might form bad habits that they then carry unfettered into their human-to-human interactions. They are bound to be unaware of their habit-forming training, which is simply a consequence of their working routinely with AI. Unsettling, for sure. An optimist might say that perhaps people will become more sophisticated in their understanding of psychology. This would be a good outcome for humankind. Well, maybe. A final thought for now. The famous American aphorist Mason Cooley made this pointed remark: 'Psychology keeps trying to vindicate human nature. History keeps undermining the effort.' Time and the at-scale adoption of AI will tell.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Toddler Takes Photos of Her Baby on Vacation, Mom Can't Cope
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A toddler's sweet imitation of her mother's parenting has melted hearts on TikTok. In a clip posted by her mom Viridiana Domínguez (@viridmngzz), her two-year-old daughter is seen carefully taking a photo of her beloved baby doll at the aquarium while on vacation with her grandparents. Zahra holds up a phone and proudly snaps a picture of her "baby," mimicking the gestures and attention a parent might give to their own child. Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo. Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo. @viridmngzz Domínguez wrote on the text overlay: "Proof that they're always watching." The 31-year-old told Newsweek that she and Zahra's father love taking pictures of their daughter. "We are always telling her to pose somewhere and say 'cheese' and she does it with the biggest most contagious smile," Domínguez said. "So her setting her baby down, posing her and taking the picture shows us that she sees what we do and has her baby doing it." The heartwarming video has been viewed more than 914,000 times and received over 170,000 likes. Commenters also noted how children often mirror the nurturing behaviors they see around them. One user shared, "My niece put her baby doll into her sister's activity center and gasped, 'Ugh! You so smart! I about to cry!' while fanning her face lol. They're always watching!" "Who's crying? Me omg so adorable. So much love we pour into our kids that it shows," another wrote. A third commenter wrote, "They're like sponges." Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E, director for Adelphi's Institute for Parenting, told Newsweek that imitation is a powerful learning strategy. "It is universally true that children will do what we do," Kohchi said. "[They] are less likely to do what we say, especially when it differs from what we show them." Kohchi pointed out that this is even more true for babies and very young children, who are experts at watching their parents' moods closely. "[Young children] are likely reacting to how parents feel rather than what parents say, and we meet their needs when we develop our reflective ability to recognize our feeling states and learn to attune to theirs," she said. Furthermore, a 2014 study published in Developmental Psychology found that toddlers as young as 14 months were more likely to imitate not just actions but intentions. Researchers observed that children often mimic complex social behaviors—not just copying what adults do, but understanding the "why" behind those actions. This is especially evident in caregiving behaviors, such as feeding, comforting, and, as in this case, even taking photos. "These aren't just cute games," said Dr. Markham. "They're early signs of empathy, responsibility, and social understanding. When a child acts like a parent, it reflects what they've absorbed from their environment—especially from their primary caregivers." Whether it's mimicking bedtime routines or recreating the perfect vacation snapshot, this viral moment is a touching reminder: kids don't miss a thing. "[There are] many other things she mimics, proving our littles are always watching what we do," Domínguez said.
News Lens
23-06-2025
- General
- News Lens
何謂Mankeeping？男性廢退社交圈萎縮，女性成情緒勞動垃圾桶 - TNL The News Lens 關鍵評論網
過去30年來，男性的社交網絡顯著縮減，51%的男性缺乏可傾訴的知己。 這種被稱為「男性友誼衰退」的現象，使他們轉向生活中的女性來滿足其情感需求。把所有煩惱和情緒轉嫁給生活中的女性，無形中加重了女性的情緒勞動負擔。 綜合《Forbes》、《衛報》和《The Standard》報導，隨著男性社交網絡逐漸萎縮，越來越多男性無法向朋友傾訴，反而把所有煩惱和情緒轉嫁給生活中的女性，無論是伴侶、同事或友人，無形中加重了女性的情緒勞動負擔。 史單佛大學研究人員將這個現象命名為「Mankeeping」，並指出女性除了傳統的家庭情感維繫（Kinkeeping），還要額外花時間擔任男性的情感支柱、社交協調者，甚至是社交技能的導師。 研究呼籲，若要減輕女性的隱形壓力，必須正視許多男性面臨的「友誼衰退危機」，並創造更多支持男性彼此連結的社交空間。 什麼是「Mankeeping」？ 過去30年來，男性的社交網絡顯著縮減，相較之下，女性的社交聯繫則相對穩定。此一趨勢導致許多男性日益依賴女性提供情感支持，進而對女性構成顯著的情感壓力。 史丹佛大學的研究人員將這種現象命名為「mankeeping」，並發表於《男性與男子氣概心理學》（Psychology of Men and Masculinities）期刊中深入探討其影響。研究指出，隨著男性社交圈的萎縮，女性往往承擔起填補其情感缺口的角色，這種隱形的情緒勞動，對女性的時間與精力構成不小的負擔。 該論文的主要作者、史丹佛大學克萊曼性別研究所（Clayman Institute for Gender Research）博士後學者費拉拉（Angelica Ferrara）表示，初步研究顯示，部分女性每周可能投入數小時，管理他們生活中的男性的情感與社交需求。 除了「Mankeeping」，女性還承擔被稱為「Kinkeeping」的家庭勞動。「Kinkeeping」於1985年由社會學家羅森塔爾（Carolyn Rosenthal）定義，涵蓋女性在幕後為維繫家庭團結做的各種工作。這包括管理家庭社交日程、記住生日等重要日期，協調親友往來等。這些常被忽視的隱形工作與「Mankeeping」疊加，進一步加重女性的負擔。 多元觀點 等你解鎖 付費加入TNL+會員， 獨家評論分析、資訊圖表立刻看 149 元 / 月 1490 元 / 年
