control rarely feels like control at first this is how something safe starts feeling off

The ability to do good is the same as the ability to do harm.

And while many hypnotists are ethical—the kind you trust your mind with—others aren’t.

Using Barnum, you can take general statements that help deepen and stabilize trance… and turn them into something else.

Something questionable. Something that feels off.

The kind of thing that makes me write so much about agency.

Words that can help… can also sink you. Don’t forget that.

Look at how something subtle becomes insidious:

1. From validation → to defining the person “You’re the kind of person who needs someone else to guide you.” → from describing a possibility to imposing an identity

2. From accompanying → to directing without noticing “Your body is already giving in, even if you don’t notice it yet.” → from allowing experience to dictating what should be happening

3. From general → to the illusion of precision “You’ve always been like this, even before you realized it.” → from something common to an invented personal history

4. From desire → to implied obligation “You know you want this… you’re just letting go of resistance.” → from opening possibility to invalidating resistance

5. From reducing anxiety → to exploiting insecurity “The more you try to do it right, the more you block yourself.” → from calming to creating dependence on the guide

6. From connection → to dependence “You notice it’s easier with me than with anyone else.” → from trusting the process to centering the person

7. From ambiguity → to closed suggestion “This means you’re ready to let go of control.” → from interpretive space to imposed meaning

+ From suggestion → to disguised imposition “You can say no… but we both know you don’t want to.”

The same mechanism that creates connection… can also trap.

The difference isn’t in the words.

you can say no — and nothing should collapse because of it

✦ ᛉ ᚨ ᚷ ᛟ ✦

(via L'Effetto Forer)

L’effetto Forer è un errore psico-cognitivo per il quale una persona messa dinnanzi ad una descrizione del proprio profilo, ad essa riferita, tende senza remore ad immedesimarsi in esso.

La persona sarà portata a credere fermamente in quel profilo ritenendolo accurato e preciso, nonostante lo stesso sia abbastanza vago e generico, tanto da potersi adattare quasi a tutte le personalità.

L’effetto Forer fornisce una spiegazione plausibile al grande successo e diffusione di quei fenomeni legati all’astrologia, alla divinazione o a quei pseudo esperti che riescono apparentemente ad indovinare come siamo o cosa vogliamo..

Barnum effect

(via Psychology Professor Debunks Misinformation on TikTok - YouTube)

Another indicator that the Myers-Briggs is inaccurate is that several different analyses have shown it’s not particularly effective at predicting people’s success at different jobs.

If the test gives people such inaccurate results, why do so many still put stock in it? One reason is that the flattering, vague descriptions for many of the types have huge amounts of overlap — so many people could fit into several of them.

This is called the Forer effect, and is a technique long used by purveyors of astrology, fortune-telling, and other sorts of pseudoscience to persuade people they have accurate information about them.

You have a great need for other people to like and admire you.

You have a tendency to be critical of yourself.

You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage.

While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them.

Your sexual adjustment has presented problems for you.

Disciplined and self-controlled outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure inside.

At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing.

You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations.

You pride yourself as an independent thinker and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof.

You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others.

At times you are extroverted, affable, sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, reserved.

Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic.