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Distraction

 

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Excuses > Distraction

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

Find ways of getting the topic off the subject in question or you as a culprit.

Things you can do include:

  • Change the subject, particularly onto something the other person likes talking about (such as football).
  • Excuse yourself with a need to go to the bathroom.
  • Look outside and say 'did you see that?'
  • Stop them part-way through their argument and question minor details.
  • Challenge the argument, suggesting it was somebody else.

Example

Excuse me, what time is it? I've an important meeting now. Can we talk about this later?

Hang on a minute. Did you see that??

Hmm. This needs careful discussion. Let's go for coffee somewhere. I know a good place not too far away...

That's a nice watch. Where did you buy it? 

Discussion

Although we can think about many things at once in our unconscious mind, we have a simple linear, one-track consciousness which is guided and constrained by time. Anything that arrives into that conscious stream of thought and action can knock us off-topic, causing confusion and leading away from the original subject.

People always have many things about which they are interested and about which they may be happy to talk, which can give opportunity for distraction.

Accusing and questioning a suspect can be very difficult for many people. In such cases they might well welcome a distraction, accepting the tacit offer to talk about something less stressful.

See also

Confusion principle

 

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed