newswires 
forums
calendar
tools
Les Stewart's blog
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Cialdini
Submitted by Les Stewart on Wed, 2008/04/16 - 16:14.Do Diligence,
Some of the methods mentioned so far, advertising, propaganda, and thought reform can be used to influence people's behavior.
Brainwashing process
Submitted by Les Stewart on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:15.Robert Jay Lifton, MD has identified a specific set of steps that are used in thought reform.
Thought Reform: Six Necessary Conditions
Submitted by Les Stewart on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 05:52.Margaret Thaler Singer (1921-2003) wrote Cults in Our Midst: The
The Curse of Knowledge
Submitted by Les Stewart on Tue, 2008/02/19 - 16:37.We tend to forget that the technical knowledge we have acquired over years may not be very widely known.
Richard H. Thaler is the Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. Chicago U is not normally seen as a very "touchy feely" school.
"Once we know something, we can't imagine ever thinking otherwise. This makes it hard for us to realize that what we know may be less than obvious to others who are less informed. The curse of knowledge will lead me to think that others will have read the same articles I have, and have learned the same lessons from them (lessons I take for granted), when in fact others have been busy reading entirely different material, and have never even heard of the finding that have so influenced my thinking."
From Homo Economicus to Homo Sapiens, Winter 2000
A rush to judge others maybe partially caused by our own human cognitive biases.
Neuroeconomics: Explaining irrational financial decisions
Submitted by Les Stewart on Sun, 2007/04/29 - 16:24.People will go against their own self-interest…even if the reaction cannot change the behaviour…It really vexes economists.
The classical economic model that consumers are rational beings, equipped with a steely logic to further their best interests is increasingly being questioned.
I have found the hybrid fields of behavioral finance, law and economics, social psychology, and others to offer tremendous, though little understood, insight into why many franchise investors makes decisions that are predictably against their best interests.
Crunchy Frog: The Merit in Accurate Franchise Risk Disclosure
Submitted by Les Stewart on Sat, 2007/02/03 - 12:56.I must be a little twisted, but I really enjoy the work done by Monty Python and the Flying Circus.
Whenever disclosure regimes are mentioned I often think of one of their skits, called Crunchy Frog. I think if you have any franchising experience at all I think you'll enjoy a quick read over the script .
Cast
The two main characters are Inspector Praline (John Cleese) and a Mr. Milton (Terry Jones). Graham Chapman gets to hurl in his helmet.
Canadian System Expands into U.S. and Beyond
Submitted by Les Stewart on Fri, 2007/02/02 - 10:56.A Canadian-owned system is offering U.S. master franchise opportunities now. I understand that there has been some U.S. experience under this tradename
Tomorrow (Sat, Feb 3rd, 7 pm eastern), a well respected Canadian TV investigative journalism show, CTV's W-FIVE will be airing an episode. If you have an economic interest in this tradename or its history, please look here to see some newspaper articles reprints.
Trust: The Tie that Binds Franchising's Future
Submitted by Les Stewart on Fri, 2007/02/02 - 08:33.Ever wonder what Blue MauMau's "product" is?
It's trust.
Trust first, Cooperation second
Although this sounds like it goes against traditional economic theory, high levels of TRUST are needed for EFFICIENT markets.
In an abusive relationship, trust is the first casualty. We survive by distrusting others and, unfortunately, learn to not trust our own judgments.
Not Alone
By comparing experiences, this corrosive process is reversed. Once sufficient trust has been built, systemic, experience-based solutions can be established.
