We humans have a lot going for us. We can walk on two legs, do interesting things with our opposing thumbs, and even peel a banana. One thing that we have that is most special is the size of our brains, compared to our body size.
Why is this? Why did our brains get so big, and not say, the Koala? Some will argue that because we are basically a nomadic species, we had to learn to adapt to different environments. But many are starting to think that our need for language is what drove our brain size.
So why then, did we develop language? Many animals migrate thousands of miles every year, and don't require any complicated speech.
One way to think about this is to look at language as a tool. When we think of it this way, it helps us to understand what we use it for.
For many, the automatic answer is to simply convey information. Data. Facts, figures, directions, instructions. Are we really just walking computers driven to exchange data with each other, or is there something deeper?
A growing number of evolutionary psychologists are starting to agree that the real purpose behind language is persuasion. To influence. To manipulate each other into our way of thinking.
If you remember crying when you were younger, wasn't that the most basic tool of manipulation? To try and get a parent or adult to come over and pick you up and take care of you?
When you look at language from this perspective, it starts to make sense that persuasion is at the heart of all our communication. Our boss, our partners, our kids. Unless we are sports reporter giving the details of that days match, we are attempting, at some level, to persuade others.
So it makes sense, then, that if you are going to automatically use language to persuade others, you may as well get pretty good at it. When two people get together to talk, it may as well be you that has the upper hand.
The easiest, and most effective way to persuade is to find out what the other person is after, what they want, and show them that by doing what you want, they'll get what they want.
This means actually building up a kind of relationship with them, no matter how short lived. When you approach this from a win-win situation, you can't go wrong, and the world will be in the palm of your hand. - 30535
Why is this? Why did our brains get so big, and not say, the Koala? Some will argue that because we are basically a nomadic species, we had to learn to adapt to different environments. But many are starting to think that our need for language is what drove our brain size.
So why then, did we develop language? Many animals migrate thousands of miles every year, and don't require any complicated speech.
One way to think about this is to look at language as a tool. When we think of it this way, it helps us to understand what we use it for.
For many, the automatic answer is to simply convey information. Data. Facts, figures, directions, instructions. Are we really just walking computers driven to exchange data with each other, or is there something deeper?
A growing number of evolutionary psychologists are starting to agree that the real purpose behind language is persuasion. To influence. To manipulate each other into our way of thinking.
If you remember crying when you were younger, wasn't that the most basic tool of manipulation? To try and get a parent or adult to come over and pick you up and take care of you?
When you look at language from this perspective, it starts to make sense that persuasion is at the heart of all our communication. Our boss, our partners, our kids. Unless we are sports reporter giving the details of that days match, we are attempting, at some level, to persuade others.
So it makes sense, then, that if you are going to automatically use language to persuade others, you may as well get pretty good at it. When two people get together to talk, it may as well be you that has the upper hand.
The easiest, and most effective way to persuade is to find out what the other person is after, what they want, and show them that by doing what you want, they'll get what they want.
This means actually building up a kind of relationship with them, no matter how short lived. When you approach this from a win-win situation, you can't go wrong, and the world will be in the palm of your hand. - 30535
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