12 Examples Of Reverse Psychology

1. Parenting

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A mom tells her child, "I bet you can't finish all the vegetables I will serve you for dinner." When the mom presents this question, finishing the vegetables she will serve her child for dinner is challenging. Here, the mom provokes the child's competitive nature. It also causes a great sense of determination and motivation in the child. The child will strive to show their abilities and prove the mom wrong. As a result, the child may be more encouraged to eat their vegetables. It may also lead to a healthier mealtime session and a positive lesson in good eating habits.

2. Sales Technique

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While marketing their product or service, a salesperson says, "Our kind of product is probably too advanced for you." Using reverse psychology, the salesperson cleverly insinuates that their product may be too advanced for the customer. This tactic is very subtle but may trigger curiosity and a desire to prove the customer's competence. The customer may now be intrigued by this challenge. It may lead them to view the product with high interest and seriousness. They may also feel compelled to examine the product's features and benefits more. Eventually, this may lead to a sale.

3. For procrastinators

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People with procrastination might say, "I'm going to do these dishes now because I don't want to do them." This statement may create a reverse need to do the task because they started not wanting to do it. The first reluctance becomes a powerful trigger. It ignites a determination in the person, and the person feels obliged to do the task. This is an example of reverse psychology that you can use on yourself.

4. Romantic Pursuit

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This is an example you can use in someone who has a crush on you. If they are concerned or not about your love life, you can lightly say, "I'm not looking for a relationship right now." Surprisingly, these words can spark their curiosity. It may lead them to ponder the potential for a meaningful connection with you. They might ask what you are doing that hinders them from having a relationship. The fact that you show your unavailability makes them more interested in you than when you make yourself available for them. It may also work for an already existing relationship.

5. Fitness Motivation

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To motivate someone, you might have heard a fitness coach say, "I don't think you can do 20 push-ups." These words can easily provoke the person's inner will to be fit. It might encourage them to try harder and prove their capabilities to their coach. The coach's doubt of the person doing 20 push-ups is a catalyst. It motivates the person to surpass the limits placed on them and achieve what they once thought impossible.

6. Exam Preparation

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To provoke her students to study more, especially when an exam is approaching, a teacher might say, "This upcoming test is incredibly difficult; I doubt any of you will pass." This seems like a demoralizer or a way to scare students. However, surprisingly, this will provoke some students to study more diligently to prove the teacher wrong. So here, the teacher gets what he wants by subtly asking for it.

7. Quitting Vices

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If you are struggling with a bad habit like smoking, you might say to yourself, "I can't stop smoking; it's impossible." This only can prompt you to prove your ability to quit the bad habit by challenging yourself to surpass your limitations. The thought of overcoming this difficulty becomes your driving force. It inspires you to demonstrate your willpower in successfully quitting smoking.

8. Household Chores

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If your spouse doesn't like house chores, you could say, "I don't think you can clean the entire house by yourself." This reverse psychology statement may lead them to take on the challenge and prove their ability to do what they think they cannot do.Your doubts motivate them, encouraging them to prove their ability to do house chores by taking on the task and accomplishing it. So here you get what you want by stating what is contrary to your needs.

9. Teamwork Boost

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To motivate the team members in a group project, a team leader might say, "I don't think we can finish this on time." This spurs the team members to work harder and more efficiently to meet the deadline. It pushes them to prove their leader wrong. The group leader's uncertainty serves as a trigger. It also inspires the team members to collaborate, stay focused, and demonstrate their ability to accomplish the project within the deadline.

10. Motivating Employees

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Managers could tell their employees, "I doubt you can achieve the monthly sales target." You can use this example on your employees to push them to work harder and achieve the set target to prove their abilities. As an employer, your doubts will serve as an encouragement, inspiring employees to rise to the challenge. If the strategy works, the employees may employ their skills and show competence in meeting the required sales goal.

11. Weight Loss Encouragement

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If you are struggling with a weight problem, your friend might say, "I bet you can't resist that slice of cake." This might not sound encouraging, but you may be encouraged to show self-control and prove your friend wrong. It is a friendly bet that becomes a motivation. It might even motivate you not to eat anything with many calories when your friend is around. If your friend is genuine, their reverse psychology statement might have worked effectively on you.

12. Time Management

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If a student says to themselves, "I probably won't finish this assignment on time," it is a subtle encouragement to finish it on time. It then triggers a sense of urgency to prove themselves capable of meeting the deadline. Acknowledging potential difficulties becomes a driving force, encouraging students to stay focused and manage their time wisely.

13. Pet Training

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If you have a pet who understands your language, you can try the reverse psychology strategy on them. When teaching the pet a new trick, you can say, "I don't think you can do it." If they understand your language, it could motivate the pet to try even harder and earn praise from you. Your uncertainty acts as a catalyst. It inspires the pet to persevere and show its ability to learn the new trick successfully. The pet works even harder to impress its owner with their newly acquired skill because they crave affirmation and appreciation.

14. Encouraging Creativity

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If you teach art, you might say, "I doubt any of you can come up with your own original idea." Your doubts as a teacher will motivate your students to prove their abilities by pushing the limits of their imagination abilities. Your students' desire to show their artistic potential drives them to think outside the box. So if this strategy works, your students can bring out their original artistry designs.

15. Social Engagement

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A friend suggests, "You probably wouldn't enjoy that party." People who love going to parties but are not in the mood on that day use this reverse psychology example. This works well, mainly if you are used to challenging each other. Your friend's statement can become a motivator. It could prompt you to attend the party and join the dance floor to prove they can have a good time.

16. Overcoming Fear

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A coach can tell the athlete, "I don't think you can conquer your fear of heights." This might work to push the athlete to face their fear. It provokes them to fight their fear of heights and achieve a sense of accomplishment. To someone, it could be a degrading statement. So it gives them a sense of proving them wrong. It also acts as a provocative statement if served to the right audience.

17. Financial Saving

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A financial advisor says, " Do you believe you can save that much money? It feels like financial habits won't let you." This not only makes you try to prove that you can do it, but you will also try to eliminate your bad financial habits. The financial coach has already mentioned that your financial habits may hinder you from achieving the financial target you have. This only makes you want to eliminate the bad habit and achieve your goal.

18. Environmental Responsibility

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A community leader says to citizens in his jurisdiction, "I doubt that as a people, we can improve our environment and make it a place we can be proud of. " It feels like the community leader is disappointed in his citizens. So if the leader is influential, the people may try to prove him otherwise and make him proud. They will try all they can to keep their environment clean to prove they can do it.

19. Learning New Skills

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Have you ever heard someone tell you that learning a particular skill would be difficult? If that person is someone you respect, you might have been disappointed but pushed to prove the person wrong. That statement might have been like, "Mastering this skill is beyond your capabilities." Sure, it might have felt like an insult, but because of this, you will try to prove to them that you can learn it.

20. Encouraging Volunteerism

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An event organizer says, "I don't think anyone will volunteer for this event." This may sound desperate or a disappointing comment, but it may motivate some people to volunteer in the event. This challenge may inspire people to step up and volunteer to prove the organizer wrong. Some people may step up to support the organizer, thinking he is disappointed and doesn't think anyone can't volunteer to help around.

21. Curiosity in Reading

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If your child or friend doesn't like reading, you can use the reverse psychology strategy on them. You can say, " The characters in this book are so well described, but I don't think you'll find that book interesting." It may intrigue the reader to check out the book. It makes them wonder if the characters are well described and why they are not likely to love the book. So they get interested in reading it.

22. Personal Development

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A life coach may tell you, "I doubt you love yourself enough to put yourself first." This is especially effective if you have just had a self-esteem lesson. As their student, you will try as much as possible to show them that you understand their lesson and that you can put yourself first. As a result, you will find that the coach got the results they wanted by simply stating the reverse.

23. Breaking a Record

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Breaking a record may seem like an uphill battle, but you can do it with encouragement. A knowledgeable coach can challenge an athlete by saying, "I don't think you can beat that record." This is reverse psychology and can work miraculously. The athlete might feel offended, but in the end, they will try as much as possible to prove their coach wrong. The statement becomes a push that the athlete uses to break the record.

24. Household Projects

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If you have little motivation to make your home furniture, a reverse psychology statement can add to your inspiration. Your partner may say, "That furniture is too advanced for your skills." This may encourage you to prove them wrong by making that piece of furniture. It is especially true if you know you have the skills but need more motivation. This simple statement will eventually gear you up to complete the project.

25. Enhancing Focus

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A teacher tells students, "You won't concentrate for more than five minutes during this lesson." This subtle challenge might motivate students to concentrate for extended periods and ditch a bad habit that makes them stop focusing in class. It also tells the student that the teacher doesn't believe in their ability to concentrate. So they will tend to strive and focus to prove to the teacher that they can do it.

26. Entrepreneurial Ambition

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When starting a business, hearing someone tell you you can't do it is difficult. However, if your mentor says, "Starting a business is too difficult; you won't succeed," this reverse psychology statement might provoke you to start a business and be successful in it. If used on the right audience, this strategy can work miraculously. It might inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to prove their potential and succeed in what the mentor doesn't believe they can do.

27. Academic Achievement

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A peer suggests to their friend, "I doubt you'll get the highest score in the class."This could motivate the other student to study harder and bypass the limit put on them. It may be less evident that the peer wants their friend to get good grades, but it encourages their friend to go the extra mile and achieve what their friend thinks could be achievable.

28. Shopping Temptation

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A salesperson may say, "I don't think you can afford this premium item; it's quite expensive." This statement may make the customer more determined to buy the product, seeking to show their financial capability. It might feel like a degrading statement, but in reality, the statement might be a provocative one to push a sale. If you are a salesperson thinking of trying this out, pick only the right persons for the strategy because others might need to take it better.

29. Job Application Doubt

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During a job interview, the interviewer might say, "I'm not sure you have the skills we're looking for." This one might trigger you to explain your skills further. Some people might even show with valid papers that they have the right skills for the job. This one is special since a person may fear losing the job offer, so it may trigger them to talk more about their skill.

30. Adventure and Risk-Taking

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A friend casually remarks, "You wouldn't dare to try that extreme sport; it's too dangerous." Since the person airing this statement is your friend, the statement can trigger your adventurous side and encourage you to take the risk. The perceived challenge becomes a motivation, leading you to conquer your fear and embrace the thrill of the extreme sport. Therefore, this pushes you to clear the boundaries ahead and expand your comfort zone.