What is Reverse Psychology?

Reverse psychology is the technique of getting or trying to get someone to do (or not do) something or to believe (or not believe) in something by telling them the opposite of what you actually want. This technique works more easily with children, although if used correctly, it can also be effective with adults, though many people may recognize this tactic and understand what you’re aiming for.

Here are two examples of Reverse Psychology:

Example 1: I want Maria to come inside the house.
"Hey Maria, please don’t come inside the house…"
In this case, I told Maria not to enter the house when I actually want her to come in. This way, she may feel curious about why I don’t want her inside and will end up entering.

Example 2: I’m cooking chicken and don’t want to share it with Pedro.
Pedro: "Hey, how’s it going?"
Me: "Hi Pedro, I’m good, thanks."
Pedro: "Smells like food in here."
Me: "Yeah, you’re right, it smells like chicken."
Here, I told Pedro it smells like chicken in a somewhat strange way, making him think I’m not actually cooking, since if I were, my response would be “Yeah, it smells like food because I’m cooking.”