What do Hitler and Obama Have in Common?
Subconscious persuasion is surprisingly very commonly used with some of the world’s biggest leaders. During Hitler’s reign of terror, millions of people were persuaded into believing something evil and wrong was good and right. Currently, Obama is persuading millions of people that he will “change” America forever and take us to the next level. Both Hitler and Obama used an array of different persuasive communication tactics to literally move or shift the mindset upon millions of people.
A common question I get is that persuasive communication is unethical because people like Hitler used it as attempts to take over the world. The thing is persuasive communication, like anything can be used in the wrong way. Let’s say there are two people that are very knowledgeable about bombs. One person uses their knowledge to help diffuse bombs for the police force while the other uses their knowledge on bombs to hurt massive amounts of people. Obviously, from this example, it’s clear that persuasive communication can be used ethically.
Anchoring
An anchor in computer-language is just a place a hyper-link connects to. This is the same idea applied to communication. An anchor is a stimulus that invokes a state of mind that already exists and links it to that preexisting state.
Hitler’s brilliant anchor
Hitler was able to use Anchoring in a way so brilliant yet deceitful. He created a subsonic noise undetectable to the untrained ear that was awfully unique. When turned on, a discrete buzzing noise would fill the stadium. The noise was subconsciously irritating and even caused people to become sick. This noise would be switched ON while the highly anticipated crowd was waiting for Hitler to come on stage and then turned OFF immediately after he stepped in front of the podium. As soon as he appeared on stage, most people subconsciously felt immediate relief. So the crowd was anchored to: feel good, feel relief, and feel comfortable when Hitler is in front of them. Reasons like this anchoring technique was why Hitler rose to power so quickly and so powerfully.
Obama’s brilliant anchor
Now I would NEVER compare Hitler to anyone in the sense that he was an evil and diabolical man. Using Obama is simply to show you that persuasive communication can be linked as good and evil. Arguable, Obama’s techniques may be linked as evil also, but for the sake of this post, let’s link him as good.
Obama also used an array of persuasive communication techniques. For most people, practically every time someone hears the word “change”, Obama was almost instantly the first picture that appeared in their head. He was literally able to embed this anchor in most of our heads, regardless of who you voted for. “Change” was anchored as Obama. “Change” was also anchored as our country changing and evolving into something different (better). As the economy was sliding lower and lower, ‘change’ was being sought after more and more.
Leaders
Anchoring is just one of the many techniques used in persuasive communication. If your an average schmuck or the leader of the free world, knowing persuasive communication will allow you to make powerful and amazing things happen.
Can you think of any other famous leaders that use anchoring? If so, give an example.
55 Comments
Thanks for posting the article, was certainly a great read!
Thanks Jamie,
I hope you were able to take something productive away
I’m not sure Obama has done anything brilliant yet. That remains to be seen. He doesn’t do that well in non-scripted environments (like debates). Like Hitler or any other madness of crowds movement, Obama sure has everyone stirred up. Maybe that’s good. Maybe it will make a difference.
Obama is definitely linked with the word “change”. In that regard you are absolutely right. I laughed at SNL last night because the opening skit had Obama telling everyone that the campaign was like the courtship and now comes the marriage.
Sorry I didn’t have much relevant to your post to offer. Must be Super Bowl Sunday brain dead syndrome.
P.S. Hitler, Stalin, Mao all “changed” things. I just hope it changes for the better this time.
Obama hasn’t done anything brilliant as far as that “change” he’s promised us, but then again, any change in the economy takes an average of 6 months to notice. Obama HAS done something brilliant as far as getting elected. If you take a look at his speeches, infomercials, etc. he uses a mountain of persuasive communication.
I’ll have to trust you on that one. Out of my area of expertise.
I’ll cover more articles like this within the upcoming weeks.
I agree. I was expecting a lot more concrete actions since he had 2 months to prepare for his actions. Anyone can get elected by persuasion but to make moves that will really bring about change in real world politics is completely different. An example was the voting on the bailout bill which had no support from republicans. The reaching across lines has just not happened. And again not everything may be to his blame but the ability and propensity to now persuade does not show with the same passion.
over promise, under deliver, something MANY people unfortunately do. However, like I stated above, it takes an average of 6 months to see change, so we can only wait and see what happens.
I’ve been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work.
Thanks Jamie! I look forward to your future comments!
Hi. I read a few of your other posts and wanted to know if you would be interested in exchanging blogroll links?
Send me an email about this
This is great AJ.
I have heard about comparisons between Obama and Hitler but never really took the time to read much into it.
Thanks for posting this article, this just goes to show you how people can be persuaded to believe whatever they want and follow like a herd of sheep.
As long as you become consciously aware, you’ll be able to live a much more fulfilled life, as my belief anyway
Leadership inherently involves persuasion and creating followers. Now with that power comes responsibility and ethics. If those do not then evil can emerge.
absolute power corrupts absolutely
Time is the decision-maker always.
Your right, it is the decision maker, I’m curious, elaborate your meaning when you get a chance.
HOBO do you mean time or situation?
Time is always present. Situation varies.
Recession is a situation existing within a frame of Time.
Time has decided you and me to interact though we were existing long back. Isnt it ?
I’m sorry Hobo, I’m not following…explain what your trying to say a bit more thoroughly
I believe :
God is the writer/director.
I/you an actor.
He selects whom he want to be leader and whom the follower.
That is a whole other debate Hobo
I know too many people, religious or not, that believe that the power is within. YOU choose wither or not you want to be a leader or a follower. There is no “natural” to this, you create it and make it happen.
If I am the creator I would have created when I was 5 years.
he hehee…
why didn’t you? It think I’ll write something about this and we can talk about it on a bigger level
Very good concept of anchored communication explained in detail. The comparison may be diabolical but the concept also needs examples that you validly mention.
Persuasive communication contains amazing techniques. Unfortunately, when placed in the wrong hands, it can lead to deceit and destruction.
My dad used “anchoring” as a way to communicate to me and my sister when we were younger. When his eye were wide open (deer caught in head lights), that usually meant trouble.
Eventually we anchored his anchoring by using high voltage spot lights. Without his eyes wide open, his power of anger was diminished…. but, for how long.
hahahah
must be honest….
comparing these two looks off to me…
persuasion examples are all over – how come you hit these two?
I understand where your coming from. I chose these two because they are from 2 end of the spectrum. One creating good and one who created evil. Again, I don’t compare them to have any similarities other than their power of persuasion.
Got it.
I partially agree with your thought .. the other great example would be Stalin … his persuasive communication was fear tactic… he become a father of russian nation during the poorest and tragic years of war and horror…. using his cruel array against millions of tormented souls…. but hey.. it was that time and era… not every bright mind ended up in Gulag… some of them found the way out of it….
Obama still a green apple that need to ripe but he will never arrive to the world market as a unique fruit …..
Interesting. I’m curious, what do you not agree on? Obama may or may not ever be the “unique fruit” you refer to, but he did present VERY powerful communication which did eventually bring him to lead the free world.
Sorry,let me join your discussion and express my opinion. I think Obama is the unique fruit from different points of view. He represents the other time,the other mentality,nation,level of democracy and etc.Besides the situation in which Obama rules the country is unique as well. So I’d call him the unique fruit being onthe unique market with its unique taste/his powerful communication.
He is quite a unique individual. And very persuasive I might add
FIRST, ALLOW ME TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, DID YOU VOTE FOR OBAMA? CHANCES ARE, YOUR GONNA SAY…HELL NO!! WHICH EXPLANS WHY YOU MENTION THIS BULL-SHIT STATEMENT THAT OBAMA AND HITLER HAS SOMETHING IN COMMON. AND THE REASON WHY YOU DIDNT VOTE FOR HIM, IS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS A BLACK MAN. SO…..NOW YOU ARE HATING. DONT HATE THE PLAYER BOSS, HATE THE GAME. HE DID IT, AND YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO SUCK IT UP, AND DEAL WITH IT. SO STOP CRYING LIL BABY.
I did vote for Obama
In fact, I was monitoring and supporting him since the beginning. What they have in common is what all leaders have in common, persuasive communication.
Thanks for the caps, I think we aren’t 80 going blind.
So what exactly is your question or concern? I am a bit confused, mind explaining, please?
Looks like there are a few other people that would agree with you, watch this:
Obama Is Antichrist, Hitler or Both ?
hahahha…that was hilarious! And for the record…I’m only talking about their persuasive speaking skills!!!
You are totally correct. You won’t belive this article on Obamas Hypnotic Induction put out by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons at http://www.aapsonline.org/newsoftheday/0089
Wow… AMAZING !! I read it once “skimmed” but will be reading again more thoroughly. Very thanks for sharing!
Change?
Thats your whole example of the anchor?
I guess, given this is a blog on persuasion, I kinda expected … well… more persuasive argument.
Basically, by that definition, Any politician in any expensive campaign is gonna have “anchors”
they're called campaign slogans
bumper stickers,
buttons.
Persuasion goes much deeper than that.
What about when subliminal and hypnotic imagery and mantra like chanting are used to push the unknowing publics fear buttons.
this could obviously become a much longer more in dept post.
I was particularly amazed by how much effort and messaging was found in this official campaign video. just freeze framing showed what the campaign was REALLY up to stirring.
check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlI0fHJrB0
thanks and take care
Hey Bryan,
I'm glad you caught that, but you have to understand, that most people who read this won't understand all the hypnotic/persuasion mumbo jumbo. My objective with this post was simply to show a list of the best persuasive communicators
It did so well that Tony Robbins actually read it and retweeted it to his 700,000 followers
However you are right, there is a lot more in depth about the NLP Obama uses. There was some 40+ report created all about it. I cover a pretty interesting anchor Hitler used: http://www.persuasive.net/what-do-hitler-and-ob…
hitler, obama. i see it. those are certainly the only two people in the history of the human race to have learned basic oratory.
i guess to a limbaugh twat, the ability to form complete sentences MUST seem like some sort of black magic.
loved this!! To the point yet not annoyingly political.
great post
If it’s ‘constructive’ and ‘criticism’, it’s an Oxymoron. However, ‘constructive’ is really tag picked up voluntarily and the procedure is purely subjective. If ever someone feels hurt, he ought to leave the field to the others. There is a concept called ‘Swakucha mardanam’ that implies self-gratification (because none else is coming forward to do it, without hurting). A discussion or even a forum for it permits no self-centered human emotions.
Interesting notes, but I think it is appropriate to refer to the President of the United States as “President Obama” not “Obama.” It makes you sound like some ignorant radical who’s calling in to the Glenn Beck show.
Hey AJ- couldn’t find your e-mail address.
I’m enjoying your posts so far- I really respect your ability to simplify the material…I tend to just go on and on when I write about this kind of thing.
Also I’m really impressed and appreciative of how gracefully you reply to people, even when they are giving you some flack. Way to go! I’m curious about how you’re reacting internally to those situations…what are you telling yourself? I guess I’d like to mini-model that, because your responses really resonated with how I’d like to express myself.
Anyway, my main question: do you have a reference for Hitler’s ‘white noise’ machine? I’d like to read more about that. Thanks, and feel free to e-mail me back.
Best,
Aaron