Psychological pressure

Pressure is an action that overcomes another force by force. To press — to force something, to force.

Pressure can be physical (using or threatening to use physical force, see violence), or it can be psychological. Psychological pressure is one of the ways of psychological influence, along with arousing interest, capturing and creating an influencing situation.

Creating a situation is one of the methods of hidden influence on oneself and others, more characteristic of a tactician. Almost the same as Building a Situation, the only difference is that Creating a Situation is from scratch, and Building a Situation is from existing elements.

Such pressure can be produced in different types and forms. This can be emotional pressure (for example, repetition of demands, pressure on feelings of guilt or fear of losing), it can be intellectual (a flurry of arguments for or against), it can be direct (to force) and indirect pressure (I do not hide that I press, but I do not press directly, but through someone or something) — coercion. Sometimes the pressure happens through personal relationships, sometimes it happens in an impersonal way, through the creation of life frames: rules and circumstances. (My pressure is not visible, imperceptible, although I organized it). See Working Rules and Creating Circumstances for more on this. Men prefer pressure from a position of strength, women more often use pressure from a position of weakness (for example, begging).

Intimidated, scared, fucked, stopped or dispersed — men are more prone to this. Women more often — they will make an unhappy face, they begin to beg, they tease, they may start crying — they press from a position of weakness. When a man behaves like this, he can be accused of female behavior.

The use of different types of pressure is an important point in the art of effectively pushing your line. Pressure is a common but dangerous means of influence. Pressure is a variant of negative motivation that pushes the recipient of the influence to change his behavior or run away somewhere. With frequent use of pressure, there are other dangers. Pressure usually causes resistance and a desire to do the opposite. At the same time, when you say what should not be done, it is not always clear what you want: what should be done. If you go too far with pressure — there is a desire to interrupt all contact with the person who presses and forces. Relations deteriorate. In addition, pressure often creates stress and mental trauma.

On the other hand, the pressure method has its advantages. When interest doesn’t work, pressure can work. The use of power is simple, no need to think too much, the manifestation of power commands respect and raises status. Pressure on a trained person increases his fitness, over time a strong person grows. «What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!»

Pressure is not considered a civilized method of influence, but in some cases it is legitimate. Educated people in everyday communication communicate calmly, informatively, without raids and pressure. Children and poorly educated people turn the most ordinary communication into disputes, assaults and pressure, where almost any phrase immediately rolls over the interlocutor, forcing him to resist, defend or attack in response. If you want to become civilized people, learn to communicate in the “Adult-Adult” position, speaking in a calm way, clear theses and arguing your statements meaningfully, not emotionally.

On the other hand, well-mannered and self-respecting people can just as calmly, but firmly, and sometimes harshly protest if communication, and even more so, the behavior of the interlocutor, goes beyond the acceptable limits. Children and poorly educated people in such cases make noise, swear, but in fact unacceptable behavior is allowed. If there were agreements, you have the right to demand and put pressure if the demand is simply not met. If you want to become a respected person, learn to instantly notice going beyond the acceptable and firmly resist it. Or — get out of such uncivilized communication.

Directions of development

Disaccustom yourself to thoughtlessly follow the path of pressure. Specifically: for a while, prohibit yourself from using the words “force”, “must”, “necessarily”, “immediately” and similar in your internal and external vocabulary.

If you have already chosen a force line of influence, learn how to push your line effectively. In particular, it means «No» to impulsiveness: choose the right place and time. Use different types of pressure. Lead your line. Don’t fight: you only hit once. Do not rest: you do not need trifles. See →