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Andrew Huberman: 5 techniques to sound authoritative
Analyzing a script for one of Andrew Huberman's "optimization videos".
You don't need the video though, just read the script below.
Analysis:
4. Overcomplicates things
Huberman: Not just that cortisol peak but it's going to trigger proper metabolism (<--- Bamboozling technique. what does "trigger proper metabolism" mean? It's too fuzzy to convey any real information. It's just a bamboozling device to sound authoritative)
it's going to set a timer for you to be able to fall asleep about 16 hours later and on and on and on (<--- Pull rank technique makes it sound like it's a long and complex list. He knows it well, but he's cutting it short "for us non-scientists". A covert power move to "pull rank" on the audience).
And I should mention within the on and on and on (<--- Breadcrumb technique Frames it like he's picking one thing among the many he could pick to give us a juicier detail. The game is "here's a crumb for you, but there's a whole bigger loaf where that comes from". Another power move, and to me it feels like he's about to add more smoke without any substance)
suppress any melatonin, a hormone that (...) It does a number of other things too (<--- again, frame that "he's not gonna bother us with all the detials", but covertly showing off he does know all the details),
including interact with the adenosine system and kind of wash out some of the adenosine that might still be residual (...) (<--- Big words techniques. covert authority displays with unneeded details and "big words" power moves such as "residual")
Fundamentally speaking, get that morning sunlight viewing (<--- Big smoke strategy. So, after bamboozling us with smokescreens and jargon, everything could have been boiled to a simple sentence. Thanks, Andrew)
*click to expand
Overall, I get a major covert brag vibe of:
- "look how smart I am"
- "look how much value I'm giving you"
Very effective if you can't spot it.
Not as effective if you can see it.
And potentially off-putting and even raising red flags.
Overall, Huberman seems to me one of those over-optimization porn gurus.
But overall, not a bad character.
Largely a good guy/"good guru".
Still, better to be aware of the power moves.
Enlightening, thanks for sharing!
Advanced concepts I think.
I think I might be guilty of the breadcrumb and the pull rank technique. I’ll keep my eyes open. (We know how important it is to remove our own manipulative tendencies).
My ex GF was using a lot the breadcrumb technique. What I called “cliffhangers”. She was using hooks. There might be a subtle difference. If I find the difference I’ll write about it.
