Mammalian brain · Relational Manipulation
Tactical Flattery
Praise deployed to lower scepticism before an ask, or to loosen disclosure of information; it works even when the target knows it is flattery.
An everyday example
'You're clearly the sharpest person on this side of the table' — followed by the request to skip the review step.
What it can cost you
Reduced scrutiny and over-disclosure in exchange for feeling seen.
Warning signs
- I feel flattered and relaxed.
- The praise arrived right before the request.
One thing to do
Treat a compliment before an ask as a warning: say thank you, then apply more scrutiny, not less.
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