The Hidden Psychology of Control, Manipulation & Getting What You Want

John Richardson is a negotiation expert who has worked with the Harvard Negotiation Project and taught negotiation at institutions including Harvard and MIT. His work focuses on helping people understand the psychology of influence, persuasion, manipulation, and conflict resolution. In this conversation, John breaks down why asking better questions is often more powerful than making better arguments, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, how to say no without damaging relationships, and why everyday life is full of negotiations—from work and money to marriage, parenting, and self-discipline. Today on the show we discuss why asking better questions is the key to getting what you want, the difference between influence, persuasion, and manipulation, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, why learning to say no builds confidence and self-respect, how to calm someone down when they’re angry or emotional, and why self-discipline is really negotiation with your future self and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov