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36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
CuriositiesJAN 21, 2025

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People

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It's no secret that psychology influences nearly every single thing a person does in their life. From creating what kind of a person they are to how they feel and how they form relationships with others, psychology affects nearly all aspects of life.
At the same time, a person can learn to utilize psychology for their gain, by learning tricks that can make a difference, whether within themselves or their connections. This list is full of ways you can mess with someone, which were suggested by various netizens. So, dive in to check them out -- just make sure not to use them for any overly malicious purposes.
More info: Reddit

#1

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Ask them "How do you feel when you say that?" when they say something hateful or s****y.
40points

#2

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
I've found that simply smiling at someone can really change the vibe of a conversation. It's amazing how a little positivity can make all the difference.
36points


#3

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
If you are talking with someone and you just hand them some random object, they will automatically take it.
35points

For a lot of people, when they hear the word “psychology,” they instantly think of therapy or mental health. Such thinking isn’t inherently wrong, after all, therapy and psychology itself are important players in addressing mental health. As long as this connection isn’t tainted by stigma, there is nothing wrong with it. 

Yet, in reality, the term itself is way broader. Technically, psychology refers to a person's mind and behavior, but when you look a tad deeper than this shallow explanation, you find that it's about the biological, social, and environmental factors and influences that affect how people feel, think, and act. It's deeply rooted in every aspect of life – from our inner selves to our behavior and connections with other people. 

#4

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
The "gray rock" method: remain completely neutral and unemotional, driving them crazy with indifference.
28points

#5

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Ask them "if you could change anything about yourself, what would it be
...apart from the obvious".
26points

#6

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
My friend will randomly say things that sound racist but really aren’t.

Something like “Man I’m hungry. I feel like a Cuban who just changed his toilet paper roll.”

“Man I’m thirsty. I feel like a Canadian who just bought some new cologne”.

I know him well enough to know he is just saying random c**p… but when people first meet him it’s hilarious to watch their expressions. Some people get offended for whatever random country he chose and they really can’t express why.
26points

So, this makes psychology one of the most powerful tools each person has in their arsenal. Well, if they know how to use it. 

As we already mentioned when we talked about therapy, psychology can help a person deal with their mental health, but it is also helpful beyond that, with various things, like motivation. It is deeply rooted in relying on how a person manages to find a drive and control within themselves, but also how they utilize external factors like punishment or rewards to stay motivated. 

Besides all the ways psychology can help a person to “deal” with themselves, it also contributes to the way their relationships with others look. Factors like mental health and a person’s characteristics influence the way relationships look, and as we acknowledged a couple of times, these are driven by psychology. 

#7

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Looking/peeking over someone’s shoulder even though there’s nothing there.
24points

#8

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
When someone insults you, reply with a very curious face “are you ok” lmao I heard about this one recently.
24points

#9

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
I sometimes say mid conversation "its like i always say" then dont say anything.
22points

It can also be utilized to manipulate relationships, so to speak. Just as a person tricks themselves to get motivated with a reward/punishment system, various tricks can be used on other people too, for better or worse. 

So, when a Redditor asked online for “a psychological trick to really mess with somebody,” plenty of people had something to say. To be more specific, almost 2K of them. We decided to compile the best responses into this list and make a small handbook of psychological tricks.

The list contains both innocent and quite mean tricks, from messing someone up by not taking gum yourself when you offer it to them to stressing them about missed meetings or something similar.

#10

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
"F**k what they say about you, I think you're alright.".
21points

#11

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
When someone says something dumb and I don't want to debate them, I just say "yeah, I can see how someone like you would think that" and change the subject. Their insecurities fill in the blanks.
20points

#12

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Offer someone gum but don't take a piece for yourself.
18points

At the same time, we feel the responsibility to say that you should be wary when using any of these tricks – make sure it’s the proper time and place to utilize them and that someone won’t end up hurt.

For example, it’s better to use them to tease your friends than to torment someone. Ultimately, teasing your friends is a form of affection, knowing they won’t be too upset about it, but someone not so close to you might interpret it as bullying. And we don’t have to tell you that bullying is bad, do we? 

So, don’t hesitate to have fun with what you learn here, but remain mindful of its potential harm. 

Do you know any useful psychological tricks? Please share with us in the comments!

#13

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Say “no pun intended” after statements with no pun in them.
17points

#14

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Sending a text: “hey, are you joining this meeting?”.
17points

#15

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
When you're talking to someone who's being a prick tell them they have something stuck in their teeth... "nope, it's still there" "no, still there" shuts them down fast af.
16points

#16

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
I like to start a sentence with “l’m not racist, but “ and then say something completely bland and not racist at all. As an old white guy, most people are expecting me to say something racist.
14points

#17

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
If a tennis opponent is annoying me, I'll ask if they inhale or exhale as they go to serve. No one knows what they do and it gets them thinking about it.
14points

#18

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Ok here’s a good one, so let’s say you’re talking to someone who’s guarded. They clam up and don’t say much or respond minimally.

Humans want to be understood. They also want to avoid being misunderstood. So, when someone gives a shallow answer, you repeat back that last word. They will elaborate to clear up confusion.
13points

#19

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
When you get in the elevator with other people don't turn around to face the doors.
12points

#20

36 Interesting And Effective Psychological Tricks To Mess With People
Ask if they want to hear a knock knock joke.

If they say yes, ask them to start you off.

They'll say "knock knock"

You say "who's there?"

They didn't plan this far ahead.
12points
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