Social Engineering

Why do these statements work on us? If something is made scarce, or less available, its value increases. How valuable was the cupcake when there were 20 of them? Now, how valuable is the last cupcake?

Execution of the pretext means so much more than just applying the first five principles. By the time you're executing the pretext, nerves, unforeseen events, and—the wildcard—other humans are thrown into the mix, which means anything can happen.

His research helped us to see how closely it is linked with trust because he made one very important comment about how oxytocin is released into our blood when we feel that someone trusts us. Please understand this very vital point: your brain releases oxytocin not just when you trust someone, but also when you feel that someone else has given you

When we are lost, confused, or unsure, we generally look to others to see how they are acting for cues (social proof) for what we should be doing.

People like people who are like them. People like people who like them. As tongue- or brain-twisting as those two statements are, it's important to understand the deeper meaning of each.

To clearly grasp this rule, you need to understand how our minds work to visualize things as pictures. Great teachers and storytellers use their words to help you picture the points in the stories. Here's an example of how two different stories can be written about the same event:

First, practice observing some things about people—let's say your family. When you come home from work tomorrow, take notice of things: Did your daughter do the dishes? Did your son take out the trash? Is their homework done? Did your wife have a long stressful day, too? Try simply saying something like, “Wow, I noticed the dishes were done when I

Liking is a powerful principle that can, literally and figuratively, open many doors for you as a professional social engineer. If you are like me, the hardest part is learning to be interested enough that your “liking” comes off as genuine.

Another factor in the successful application of this principle is having some knowledge about the topic and the ability to ask good questions.