We humans have a lot going for us. We can walk on two legs, do interesting things with our opposing thumbs, and even peel a banana. One thing that we have that is most special is the size of our brains, compared to our body size.
How did this happen? Why are we the Earth's chosen animals? Why didn't the anteater grow a big brain? Some say it is because we use tools, or had to move around a lot in our past, or live through different weather conditions, like ice ages. Some say the driving force behind our huge brains was the development of language.
So why then, did we develop language? Many animals migrate thousands of miles every year, and don't require any complicated speech.
When you think about language as a tool, it might be easier to understand. What do we use this tool for? Chopping down trees? Language may be the most versatile tool ever.
For many, the automatic answer is to simply convey information. Data. Facts, figures, directions, instructions. Are we really just walking computers driven to exchange data with each other, or is there something deeper?
A growing number of evolutionary psychologists are starting to agree that the real purpose behind language is persuasion. To influence. To manipulate each other into our way of thinking.
When you first cried when you were a kid, were you just shouting out for the purpose of information, that you had wet yourself? Or were you trying to influence the adults around you to come and fix the mess you suddenly found yourself in?
When you look at language from this perspective, it starts to make sense that persuasion is at the heart of all our communication. Our boss, our partners, our kids. Unless we are sports reporter giving the details of that days match, we are attempting, at some level, to persuade others.
So, if you are going to persuade somebody, you might as well get good at it. With all these people walking around with hidden agenda's (usually even to themselves), somebody is going to get left holding the bag.
One easy way to persuade others is to elicit and leverage the criteria of others. This means find out what is important to them, and show them covertly that they can achieve that by doing what you want.
This of course requires building a relationship, of some sort, with the person you are trying to persuade. This simple method is at the heart of every successful persuasion. It goes without saying that when you approach any persuasive interaction with a win-win outcome in mind, you can have the best results. - 31969
How did this happen? Why are we the Earth's chosen animals? Why didn't the anteater grow a big brain? Some say it is because we use tools, or had to move around a lot in our past, or live through different weather conditions, like ice ages. Some say the driving force behind our huge brains was the development of language.
So why then, did we develop language? Many animals migrate thousands of miles every year, and don't require any complicated speech.
When you think about language as a tool, it might be easier to understand. What do we use this tool for? Chopping down trees? Language may be the most versatile tool ever.
For many, the automatic answer is to simply convey information. Data. Facts, figures, directions, instructions. Are we really just walking computers driven to exchange data with each other, or is there something deeper?
A growing number of evolutionary psychologists are starting to agree that the real purpose behind language is persuasion. To influence. To manipulate each other into our way of thinking.
When you first cried when you were a kid, were you just shouting out for the purpose of information, that you had wet yourself? Or were you trying to influence the adults around you to come and fix the mess you suddenly found yourself in?
When you look at language from this perspective, it starts to make sense that persuasion is at the heart of all our communication. Our boss, our partners, our kids. Unless we are sports reporter giving the details of that days match, we are attempting, at some level, to persuade others.
So, if you are going to persuade somebody, you might as well get good at it. With all these people walking around with hidden agenda's (usually even to themselves), somebody is going to get left holding the bag.
One easy way to persuade others is to elicit and leverage the criteria of others. This means find out what is important to them, and show them covertly that they can achieve that by doing what you want.
This of course requires building a relationship, of some sort, with the person you are trying to persuade. This simple method is at the heart of every successful persuasion. It goes without saying that when you approach any persuasive interaction with a win-win outcome in mind, you can have the best results. - 31969
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