20 Psychological Life Hacks That Can Help You Make the Most of Social Interactions

Recently, I stumbled upon this thread on askreddit. A person was asking for some useful psychological life hacks that can give you an advantage in social situations. As a life-long learner, I love discovering new hacks, so I wanted to see what others suggest.

Some of them are quite obvious, especially for people who have been investing in improving their social life, but, I must admit, that for some of them I was unaware of.

I was inspired by the whole topic and put together a list of the ones I liked the most. I also added some of my own, inspired by my personal experience and social adventures. Check them out:

Psychological Life Hacks

1. Assume comfort in any interaction

In most of our social interactions, we find it difficult to feel comfortable amongst strangers because our brain requires time to adapt to novelty and exposure.

This, however, is a crucial hindrance when trying to be social and meet new people.

This is why assuming comfort is so powerful. Attempting to feel that you already know the person you are about to meet, puts you in a position of advantage. It increases the chances of people showing interest in you and, consequently, even liking you.

2. Pay attention to people’s feet when you approach them

Interrupting people when they are in the middle of an important conversation, is not a smart thing to do. It is not polite and it also communicates a lack of social intelligence.

When you approach a group of people whilst in a conversation, pay attention to their bodies. If they turn only their torsos and not their feet, it means they are in the middle of an important conversation and they don’t want you to interrupt them.

If they turn both torso and feet, it means you are welcome. This is extremely important, because the right timing in such situations may favor your attempt to meet them. Especially if the conversation was boring for both sides.

3. Whenever you have an argument with someone, stand next to them and not in front of them

We’ve all been in situations where, out of nowhere, the conversation escalated into an argument.

I personally feel that arguing is a waste of creative energy and should be avoided at all costs. You might have the best argument in the world, but, usually, people get irritated when they feel they are being told they are wrong.

So, whenever you feel that the argument you have with another person is creating tension, move next to them. You won’t appear as much of a threat and they will eventually calm down.

4. Whenever you need a favor, open with “I need your help”

The complexity of our social fabric demands that we need to cooperate in order to prosper.

However, social dynamics reveal that nobody really likes people who try to manipulate situations. Humans are sensitive creatures and respond to requests positively only when these requests are presented in the right way. So, whenever you need a favor, start your sentence with “I need your help.”

In most cases, people will accept and help you. This occurs because we don’t really enjoy the guilt we feel for not helping someone out.

5. If you want people to feel good, give them validation. Rephrase what they just told you

We love validation. Most of our actions are the outcome of our need for validation. So, the best way to get people to like you is to offer the right amount of validation throughout an interaction.

A simple example is when you are in a conversation with another person and they say something really important to them. After they finish, rephrase what they have just said, in your own words.

This will make them think that you are a good listener and that you are really interested in them. Such a behavior encapsulates the essence of a validation.

6. If you want to get a positive response from someone, nod while you talk

Getting a positive response from someone is usually something that we seek. Whether this is about making a sale or persuading someone to agree with us, we always want to close the deal.

Nodding while you try to deliver your message is a powerful way to get another person to agree with you. People usually respond well to mimicking, so they will most probably nod back while you talk. This will communicate to their brain that they agree with you.

7. Want to see if someone is paying attention to what you are saying? Fold your arms

Usually, in the midst of a conversation, and particularly if we are talking about something very important to us, we get lost in our thoughts and rarely pay attention to whether or not the other person is following.

Instead of losing time talking to a person who is distracted and might not even be interested in what you are saying, do this: fold your arms while you talk and see if the other person follows suit.

If the other person pays attention, they will most likely emulate your action.

8. Having trouble remembering names? Repeat the other person’s name during the conversation

I am really not good at remembering names. I usually don’t even listen to the other person when they say their name as we are introduced to each other. So, I usually ask a friend to introduce himself to the person so that I can hear the name again. But then I forget it again. Awkward.

Remembering names is very important, as we feel important when someone mentions us. So, the moment you first meet someone, repeat their name. Example:

“Hi, my name is Alex”

“Nice to meet you, Alex. So, Alex, how do you know John?”

Continue to repeat their name throughout the conversation.

9. If you ask someone a question and they only partially answer, just wait. They will keep talking

This is a very common situation when you don’t know the other person very well, or your question wasn’t clear enough.

If they finish their response without providing a full answer, just wait. Stay silent and retain eye contact.

This will put a bit of pressure on them, but it also communicates that you are interested and this enhances rapport.

10. People usually focus on the emotion and not on the subject

This is very useful in public speaking, but also in building rapport. Whenever you introduce yourself to new people, most probably, they have already heard what you are about to say.

That’s not a problem. Even if you want to talk about the dullest topic in the world, make sure to be enthusiastic and to try and evoke emotions.

From my experience, the 3 emotions that you want to evoke are:

Excitement

Laughter

Intrigue

If you want to be memorable, focus on these three emotions.

11. Confidence is way more important than knowledge

Two young candidates walk into a recruitment office to apply for the same job. The first one has a PhD, a Master’s degree, and a Bachelor’s degree. The second has just a Bachelor’s. The first candidate is kind of shy, doesn’t talk much, his body language is really uncomfortable. The second has an amazing posture, looks the interviewers directly in the eyes, shows a lot of interest in the job, and his answers communicate confidence.

Who do you think got the job?

12. Fake it till you make it

No one becomes an expert on anything overnight. However, the learning process is accelerated by urging your brain to think what you want it to think. In simple words: You are what you believe you are.

You are confident if you believe you are confident

You are attractive if you believe you are attractive

You are extroverted if you believe you are extroverted

13. If you want to be persuasive, try and reduce the use of the words “I think” and “I believe”

I don’t really see the need to elaborate on this one. Clearly, these words do not convey confidence and the listener will, most probably, not feel sure about your position on a topic.

14. A clean and organized environment affects your mood and productivity

How many times have you woken up without any motivation at all? How many times have you started working on something without being able to get focused and inspired?

Next time this happens, take a look around you. Is your environment clutter-free and well-organized? If not, take some minutes to clean it up and put everything into place. You will feel revitalized and this will improve your mood in no time.

A great mood is paramount when it comes to social interactions.

15. Want to find out which people are close to each other within a group?

Pay attention to the people who look at each other when everyone in the group laughs at a joke. People will instinctively look at the person they feel closest to within the group.

16. When you call a person you want to meet, show excitement

Always have this in mind. Excitement is contagious.

People love excitement. It is like an escape from a reality that is usually dull and predictable. Never forget that.

17. Want to build rapport? Match body language

This is quite a common topic among body language experts and works well if you want to establish rapport fast.

If you want to get someone’s attention, the best thing to do, when you approach them, is to match their body language. If they have open body language and they talk with excitement and joy don’t be shy and self-conscious.

Approach them with the same amount of excitement, and show openness and interest.

18. When someone insults you, either ignore them or mock them. Never lose temper. Always control the frame

People can feel resentful for many reasons and they may project their resentfulness on you in different ways. Stay calm and either ignore them or mock them.

19. Stand up straight, have warm hands and keep eye contact

Keep a straight posture and walk with confidence. This sub-communicates that you feel comfortable in your own skin.

Keep your hands warm. If your hand is warm when you engage in a handshake, you immediately become a more approachable person and appear easier to get along with. Secret Tip – wash your hands with warm water often to keep them warm.

– wash your hands with warm water often to keep them warm. Try not to lose eye contact. Losing eye contact communicates insecurity.

20. The Benjamin Franklin effect

The Ben Franklin effect is a psychological finding:

A person who has done someone a favor is more likely to do that person another favor than they would be if they had received a favor from that person. Similarly, one who harms another is more willing to harm them again than the victim is to retaliate.

An extraordinary finding.

This is also very helpful in business. When you convince a person to buy your product, they are more likely to invest in future purchases too.

21. (bonus) If you work in a bar or in customer service of any kind…

This is great, especially if you work in a bar and you need to face grumpy customers. Do this:

Put a mirror behind you at the counter. When an angry customer approaches you, they will have their reflection in the mirror and will most probably calm down.

If you enjoyed these hacks and you want to become more socially intelligent, you will love “30 Challenges-30 Days-Zero Excuses.” In this book, I suggest 30 challenges to pursue every day that will introduce a whole new scope in the way you experience your social interactions.

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