Our experiences, our parents, our education and more influence and develop our ideas, ideals and our belief system and guide the choices we make. Psychology and therapy help us understand why we perceive things in certain ways, why we react the way we do and how we learn.

Everyone has trouble learning at some point in their lives. Whether it’s an algebra equation or a dance move, some things just don’t come quickly enough. That’s why more and more people-high school students or life-long learners-are turning to methods that help them accelerate their learning.

I must make it very clear that just because you fall for some form of manipulation, it doesn’t make you a fool. Very far from it. We’re all subject to persuasion by the silver tongue at one time or another. I just hope that these two articles will give you some insight as to how these people and different ploys can affect you and give you some idea of how to combat them…

Doctor Robert Cialdini, Regents Professor of Psychology among his many accomplishments, wrote a brilliant book entitled “Influence. The Psychology of Persuasion.” It was listed on the New York Times Business Best Seller List, as well as being considered by Fortune Magazine as among the 75 smartest business books ever written.

Now that’s something I’d never do! How could they be such idiots? Well, there’s one born every minute! How often have we said, or thought, such things? Why? Oh, because we’re immune to the mind-benders. We’d never fall for any form of mental manipulation. Well? Would we? Yes, old friend, we most certainly would!