The Science Of Influence

Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along.

I just finished a book on influence that was fascinating! This is one of my favorite topics to read about in psychology. At first I became interested in the topic to be more persuasive, dreaming of Obi-Wan powers of influencing other people. Unfortunately just because I read books like these and understand these principles, does not mean that I can utilize them.

However...one key thing that I have gleaned from this book and others like it is how to not succumb to these weapons of influence as much when other's use them. I still have a long way to go, but my heightened awareness has been a good start.

Here is a summary of 50 scientifically proven ways to be persuasive.

Utah Weekend Trip

I had a blast last weekend in Utah! So much fun hanging out with family, friends, going to conference, seeing Betsy (on her mission!) and playing around in the Wasatch mountains.

Here are a few pics:

Cascade mountain on Squaw peak road...Perfect timing for this trip with the fall colors!!

Almost stepped on this guy hiking down from rock canyon. Andrew said that it must be a male b/c males go out to mate for two weeks and then die. Females stay hiding.

We drove the Alpine loop on Saturday...amazing back there! I really wished I had my mountain bike to ride the spectacularly speedy ridge 157 trail.

One of my all time favorite climbs is the big green monster. The 30 meter sustained 5.9 crack in the comparatively thin air in Utah got me breathing like I was sprinting by the time I got to the top.

On the trail among drab green and brown flora in Rock Canyon.

SCUBA!!!

SCUBA!!!, originally uploaded by ben.obrien.

I signed up for scuba lessons and will get trained in a couple weeks.
But I couldn't wait for training and went last Saturday in lake
murky...I mean lake murray.

It was a pretty rad sensation to be suspended in a dark fluid like
that where any direction in 3 dimensions is an option. A couple times
my mind wandered and I imagined a huge fish coming at me ready to eat
me alive! I also couldn't tell my depth very well until I felt
pressure in my ears. I think I want to get a harpoon to carry with me
in case those dark spots aren't really just my imagination.