Category Archives: Covert Persuasion

Cialdini Social Proof or Hotchkiss Imitative Suggestion?

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Christopher Tomasulo

In 1924 a George Burton Hotchkiss copywriting book suggests that people use social proof in ad copy but calls it “imitative suggestion”. Are imitative suggestion and social proof the same and are they a form of hypnosis? Continue reading →

Posted in Cialdini, Classics, Covert Hypnosis, Covert Marketing, Covert Persuasion, Egg Head Research, George Burton Hotchkiss, Hypnosis, Hypnotic Phenomena, Imitative Suggestion, Mind Control, Persuasive Techniques, Robert Cialdini, Social Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Key to Mastering Covert Persuasion is in Your Big Left Toe

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Christopher Tomasulo

When was the last time you thought about your big left toe before I just asked you to? Honestly. Probably when you stubbed it on something and started cursing and hopping around on one foot. When you stub your big left toe your attention and awareness moves to it immediately. Or maybe you had an ingrown toenail. There really aren’t too many other reasons that you would be thinking about it would there? Except… Continue reading →

Posted in Covert Persuasion, Mind Control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Appealing to Hidden Wants, Taboo Needs and Secret Desires

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Christopher Tomasulo

Take a quick glance around your house or in your driveway (or your neighbor’s driveway) and it quickly becomes clear that we do not just buy things for utility.  If we just needed a vehicle to get to our job 10 miles a way, a $1,200 moped would do just as well as a $30,000 Lexus or a $120,000 Porsche.   Continue reading →

Posted in Covert Persuasion, Hidden Wants and Secret Desires, Hypnosis, Hypnotic Phenomena | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment