Influencing Human Behavior

by Harry Allen Overstreet

1925. The object of these chapters is to discover how far the data of modern psychology can be put to use by each of us in furthering what is really the central concern of our lives. That central concern is the same whether we be teachers, writers, parents, merchants, statesmen, preachers, or any other of the thousand and one types into which civilization has divided us. In each case, the same essential problem confronts us. If we cannot solve it, we are failures; if we can, we are, successes. What is this central problem? Obviously, it is to be, in some worthwhile manner, effective within our human environment.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Communication, Personal Development

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ryan]

Recommended by Dale Carnegie in How to Win Friends and Influence People.

[Rohit Yadav · Rating 3 out of 5]

What we attend to controls our behaviour. What we can get others to attend to control their behaviour.
Tell me what you habitually attend to & I will tell what you what you are.
How does one capture attention? Movement towards something (Stories), Novelty, Ask questions, Throw up fair challenge
What kind of attention do we wish to attract? It is not what people are that get across, not what they try to inculcate
Respect the attention limits

No appeal to reason that is not also an appeal to a want is very effective
Never teach anything unless you tie up with a real want in child's life.
Can we tie up what we want with what our children want?
How could we tie up these uninteresting tasks with something that really gripped kids
Wants: Comfort, Sex, Security, Owning something, Social esteem, Pride in appearance

Most of us are naturally visually minded but few of us are visually worded.

Humour is far from making jokes. It is an attitude.

[Carl Harrison Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book after seeing it recommended in Dale Carnegie's 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'

there's good value in much of this - though he loses points for continuously exhibiting the arrogance of an academic.

Regardless - a relatively enjoyable read with ideas and criticisms that are just as relevant in 2025 as they were in 1925

[Brian W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic fundamental truths on how to influence human beings. Have a few great quotes from the book and Overstreet although just a writer and a mature psychologist knows how humans think and behave. Need to study the habit forming section of the book because it might have great application to teaching and leadership.

[FH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1925, when the first steps studying human behaviour were taken.

[Manish Jain]

NA