To understand the psychology of people based on how they behave, a key skill to learn is the one that allows you to outline a profile. Pause the world and watch others. Many people jump to conclusions, but have you ever paid attention to details? Look beyond appearance, as they say.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get a basic idea
Step 1. Compare people to onions
Identify the four layers of an onion to better understand a person's personality. The deeper you go into this "onion", the more you will be able to play someone.
- The peel: often some traits of our personality are shown to others, without us noticing it. Maybe through a mundane conversation about the weather at the bus stop or through other topics about lifestyle and the world around us.
- Second layer: the people we appreciate and get to know better, like colleagues or classmates, are able to understand you better than a stranger thanks to the trust and intimacy generated by the relationship.
- Third layer: bonds, such as deep friendship and marriages, create a feeling of "intimate" security between people. In this layer we find how we relate to a person, for example by sharing secrets based on trust, talking about our fears and worries and so on.
- The core: each person has a "core", thoughts and secrets that he does not share with anyone. This layer is the most psychological of all, because it is our point of view on the reality of things and the ability or not to accept them.
Step 2. Eliminate the projection barriers that surround you
Prepare to accept reality as it is instead of forcing yourself to believe in something that does not exist.
Many situations could be characterized by discomfort, guilt and insecurity that prevent us from accepting life as it really is
Step 3. Eliminate any prejudice when you show yourself
Prejudice in psychology goes far beyond race and gender. Recognize that prejudice means basing opinions on ideas without knowing the facts. Try to maintain an impartial state of mind before throwing yourself into false beliefs.
Part 2 of 3: Finding a Subject to Test
Step 1. Analyze a person you know
Forget the strangers, because you will need time to observe them properly. You could try it with your partner, colleague, or friend.
Step 2. Outline his “basic” profile
A person's basic profile is outlined when they are in their comfort zone or at rest.
Step 3. Observe his behavior in random situations
Write down how he reacts to certain events, evaluate him on different days and observe how he interacts with others.
Each of us has different levels of stress at work and different ways of relaxing at home; or we have a grudge against a specific person and behave in a completely different way towards another
Step 4. Collect a list of patterns
Structure your list to outline the traits and actions the subject repeats most often. These patterns are the foundation for starting to understand how real they are and how built.
- Different tones of voice (normal, excited, fearful, defensive, etc.)
- Eye movements
- Facial expressions
- Body language (what it looks like)
Step 5. Focus on "non-patterns"
Make a list of unexpected moments, attitudes, or ticks that don't fit the subject's basic profile.
Part 3 of 3: Improve Your Knowledge
Step 1. Define the subject
Let his personality, looks and style become "him".
Step 2. Evaluate how you use your tone of voice in social interactions
A subdued tone could indicate shyness, but other environmental factors such as fatigue should also be considered. A shrill tone of voice may indicate the need to feel superior to others or to command or take charge of those around them.
- Does his voice change when he defends an opinion, or does he stay balanced on neutral tones?
- Does he communicate with you in a mature or immature way? This may give you a better idea of his education and command of the language.
- Make sure you can distinguish exaggerations, sarcasm, idioms, or other verbal expressions used in communication. Observe the contextual flow of the words used, as it may help you understand if the subject actually has a good cultural background or is just trying to appear smarter than they really are.
Step 3. Analyze your personal space
Link his home and / or work life to how he presents himself in public.
- What neighborhood do you live in? Those who live in modest homes tend to communicate to the world that they are able to live alone with help, as opposed to those who live in a house in a famous and affluent neighborhood.
- Organizational skills can tell a lot about a person, but don't judge too quickly. If they have a tight schedule, a neglected home could indicate that they don't have the material time to clean, while someone who has plenty of time on their hands may be lazy. Usually the more organized a person is and demonstrates this publicly, the more confident they are and do not let themselves be stressed by a number of different situations.
- How much of your private life do you share with others? Many of us do not feel comfortable sharing it publicly, however, if you enter a person's office you are entering their "comfort zone" at work. Many professionals (including doctors and psychologists) put photos of their family on their desks. This can tell you that the person cares about their family and remembers it every time they look at the photographs..
Step 4. Evaluate his style
Handle this information as you did for the house and the car. An individual's organizational skills can be inferred based on how he dresses and presents himself.
- Are your clothes neat or baggy and unkempt? Are you dressed for a business context or a vacation? Does it look professional or consistent with that of a person living in the suburbs?
- How do you style your hair? Does it look like she took some time into her hair or is it a more "quick mirror check" look? People "one look and go" may have a personality of "the important thing is that it is decent", instead of paying more attention to their appearance and checking that it is as suitable as possible for a public appearance.
- What shoes are you wearing? Are you proud of having well-polished shoes or do you wear worn sandals?
Step 5. Observe her reactions to unexpected events in public
If it burps, does it openly, or does it try to hide it? Burping, sneezing, or coughing in different ways can distinguish well-bred people from those who are not at all.
Step 6. Notice the eye movements
Does he look you straight in the eye or does he have a fleeting look? Does he look away when asked for an honest answer? Study what the eye movements are to find out if he is lying.
Step 7. Evaluate his posture when he is around people
There are those who tend to be nervous, especially in crowded places, and look for a way to get away.
