Posted on 04/22/2018 5:02:56 PM PDT by JockoManning
One of the things I fuss about a lot (especially at Buffer) are words—very simple words, in fact. Should it say “Hi” or “Hey?” Should it be “cheers” or “thanks?” How about “but” or “and?”
There are many occasions when Joel and I sit over one line and change it multiple times, until we feel it really sits right. This is partly to improve our metrics for click rate and others. It is also to simply create the right emotion. The one key question we ask ourselves is:
“How does this make you feel?”
The question might sound very obvious. And yet, it’s a very different question to say for example “Which message do you want to send?” or “What is the content of this announcement?” By always focusing on how it will make someone feel whenever we write even a single line, we immediately improved the amount of responses we got from our users.
Recently we explored how much sleep do we really need to work productively. Let’s do the same with language. We’ll dig in to how our brain works and expose some of the most persuasive words in english:
Bonus tip: Add optimal scheduling to these lessons on language, and watch your social media updates improve immediately!
Our brain while listening to words Recently, a lot of the longstanding paradigms in how our brain processes language were overthrown. New and cutting edge studies that produced quite startling and different results. The one study I found most interesting is UCL’s findings on how we can separate words from intonation. Whenever we listen to words, this is what happens:
“Words are then shunted over to the left temporal lobe [of our brain] for processing, while the melody is channelled to the right side of the brain, a region more stimulated by music.”. . .
“The human brain can really only hold on to four things at a time, so if you go on and on for five or 10 minutes trying to argue a point, the person will only remember a very small part of that.”Instead, 30 seconds is the optimal amount for us to speak at any given time says Newberg:
“Speak briefly, meaning that you speak one or two sentences, maybe 30 seconds worth or so, because that’s really what the human brain can take in.”
. . .
Avoid adverbs in speech and writing
Something I struggle the most with is to stop using adverbs. They are, in fact one of the worst elements of speech and even make a listener or reader lose trust.. . .
The skill of asking questions: “What would you do?”
When I read this, I realized I totally suck at it. Journalist-turned-entrepreneur Evan Ratliff put it like this “all that’s really saved me (so far) from madness is being able to formulate questions that deliver useful answers.”
He points out that any questions that start with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “how,” or “why” are likely to get great responses. To be avoided are “would,” “should,” “is,” “are,” and “do you think,” as they can limit how people respond to you a lot.
. . .
From:
https://blog.bufferapp.com/which-words-matter-the-most-when-we-talk-the-psychology-of-language
Which conclusions were you thinking of particularly?
Dr Masaru Emoto's Water Experiment - Words are Alive! 3:42
Well worth the viewing.
Text exchanges can be labeled a type of verbal because they entail words.
How Words, Frequency Can Change Water & Human Behavior - Dr. Masaru Emoto 3:15
CBT is effective in mild to moderate depression along with psychotherapeutic techniques and coaching. It is also a useful adjunct to medication in significant to severe depression.
ECT is useful in severe depression that does not resolve with medication.
Agreed. The Bible indicates that the SPOKEN WORD is more powerful than other modes. Not too surprising given that God SPOKE matter, the galaxy etc. into existence.
I think Christians fail to take such facts into sufficient consideration--and therefore, fail to adjust their priorities accordingly.
Similarly, parents often fail to appreciate the life-long devastations harsh words to their children can exact. Or even 'merely' the absence of affirming words and affections with them.
Many children have acquired serious RAD/ PTSD 'merely' from such characteristics of their parents' communications/lack of communications with them.
95% of the prisoners in our prisons have such a history in their lives.
Interesting.
I believe the research shows that even in severe depression cases, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be powerfully and lastingly effective. It does depend on a very skilled therapist and a great bonding, connection with the client.
In most cases in Qx's therapy cases, those on medication (which he supported in his earlier years) tended to be much more difficult to help rewire their stinking thinking. They were much harder to connect with. It was as though the meds were a kind of buffer that prevented the client from facing life and relationships even in redemptive ways.
In severe depression people are often face down on the bed depressed and unable to perform any tasks. They have often stopped working and some have been unable to sleep and become agitated and psychotic because of days and weeks with little and no sleep.
they often cannot attend and provide the concentration necessary for CBT.
Not any particular conclusions, but all of them, in general.
Your topic is communication through speech.
The written word, IMO, is an animal of completely different stripes.
You yourself know that written words can be misconstrued if the thoughts aren't conveyed properly or thoroughly. Look at our initial meeting as an example. I misconstrued the conversation initially and yet here we are conversing with a better understanding of each other. Facial expressions and intonation might have precluded such a misunderstanding.
Aside...I have devolved over time in my replies, despite the length of this reply. Fewer words in an effort to be more concise...sometimes to my detriment as I don't manage to get my point across.
See 50.
Have you ever studied Milton Erickson of Phoenix? He sometimes solved impossible cases in record time.
Often with paradoxical intention and other cleverness.
He could often enough prescribe MORE of the worst symptom.
Those are certainly worthy points.
The 5 Ws. Once taught in Journalism 101. Today, they’re all but forgotten.
very familiar with paradoxical techniques.
One needs a patient who can respond.
Used to be the 5 Ws. Now it is “They say”.
I will continue to use “is” as in:
Hellary is a loser.
Weiner is a perv.
Islam is evil.
Agreed.
A decent English class used to teach them, too.
....Avoid adverbs in speech and writing
I guess that explains the difference in older jazz and present day rap.
Past analytic applied mathematics focused on the arguments to develop a handful of measurables to best define physical systems. Today, physicists are more focused upon probabilities and computer generated discrete mathematics.
In music, harmony, melody, rhythm, with analytic variation in individual and group efforts described musical talent. Today, all that seems to be missing, substituted by rhythm and profanity alone.
Past writing skills emphasized the use of transitive verbs, adjectives and adverbs to paint pictures of meanings. Today younger writers are reduced to profanity and oversimplified truisms to express simple ideas. provided they can write "cursive".
150 years ago an educated American, even if only educated in studying the Bible and a few books, could advance by building upon which 3-5 things at a time were pondered, to more advanced mature thinking. Today, we appear to have a society mesmerized by having their minds tickled by the same 3-5 things repetitively, without ever advancing to more mature thoughts.
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