Suggestion Technique: Distracting Statements

Imagine this scenario:

• Man: Miss, look at that young man over there.
• Woman: What about him?
• Man: He doesn’t know… oh, he really doesn’t know… By the way, what’s your name?
• Woman: Sveta.
• Man: I’m Denis. So, that young man doesn’t know that you and I just met! 🙂

A meaningless statement forces the conscious mind to momentarily turn inward (enter a trance) to try to make sense of what was said, while the unconscious becomes more receptive to psychological influence. This is an excellent moment to insert a suggestion or emphasize a particular statement. People dislike confusion, and they are more likely to follow your prompt, which at least offers some kind of solution.

Some examples of phrases that disrupt conscious thought include:

• Do you really believe what you thought you knew?
• If you expected me to believe that, you wouldn’t have said it that way.
• Why are you asking me if you’re not sure yourself?
• You’re asking me about something you already knew would happen, aren’t you?
• How do you grasp a thought the moment it comes to mind?
• Could you give me… an example… that would be helpful?
• Your reaction shows that you don’t know yet.
• I understand what you’re saying, but that doesn’t make it true.
• You can imagine anything you want and get better at it.
• What happens when a thought comes to your mind?
• Do you know what you’ve forgotten?
• The less you try, the sooner you’ll agree.
• Why do you agree with what you already know?
• Why do you believe something that isn’t true?
• I’m not being honest with you right now, unless I’m lying to you.
• Any other question that makes a person think deeply can also work, as long as it occupies the conscious mind with words and ideas lacking context.

To use a distracting statement, place it next to other, logically connected sentences.

Example: “My brother has the same car. He loves it. Last year, he and his wife drove it across the country for a week and didn’t get tired at all. I wonder where people sleep better: in small motels or big ones? … (uh…) Go ahead and get behind the wheel!… My brother said the car has a great suspension, and they didn’t feel any bumps on the road at all.”

Suppose you’re negotiating a deal, and your counterpart disagrees with you on a specific point. You continue: “Do you really believe what you thought you knew? I mean, you want the best for your company, and you know that’s exactly what I’m offering. We both want the same thing, don’t we…”

Variation: “Filling the Gap”

As soon as someone starts to say something, you can finish their sentence and insert a hypnotic command into their mind.

For example, you’re talking to a woman, and she starts to say, “I was recently at the store,” and you interrupt and finish the sentence: “And you felt a strong desire to be with me.”

If the person laughs, you can take it as a clear sign that your suggestion has entered their subconscious. Laughter is a very accurate indicator that your command has been accepted. You need to insert the same command at least three times for the person to act under its influence.