Rapport in psychology: concept, definition, main characteristics and methods of influencing people

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Some situations of interaction with people give joy, harmony, satisfaction, others - disappointment and resentment. Most of the time, these feelings are mutual. Then they say that people have established contact, found a common language, learned to work together. All these characteristics imply the emergence of a special feeling that binds people. The feeling of mutual trust, emotional connection and mutual understanding is called "rapport" in psychology.

Origin of the term

It is believed that the term was introduced by two scientists: Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev and Friedrich Anton Mesmer.

The term was originally used in physics in the 18th century, from where it was borrowed. The word itself is of French origin, in translation it means "to return." The first meaning of the term differed from the modern one, denoting the contact of several people, as a result of whicha surge of fluids, which, in turn, helped the body heal and restore strength.

Application areas

Currently, the term "rapport" is used in psychology, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, NLP. These areas of knowledge are associated with the restoration and harmonization of the mental state of a person. Rapport in psychology is the establishment of such contact between people in which they are able to influence each other's behavior.

Rapport leads to different formats of influence. So, in the process of hypnosis, this phenomenon has a one-way effect, when the specialist dominates the patient. Psychoanalysis involves two-way contact, during which the psychoanalyst helps the patient solve his problems. The use of rapport in NLP is one of the methods of manipulation, when one partner deliberately creates conditions for establishing trust from the other in order to achieve their own goals.

A vivid example of the phenomenon can be called the story of A. I. Kuprin "Olesya", in which a girl copies her partner's step, tuning in with him on the same wavelength. The moment contact is made, she stumbles. Her interlocutor stumbles after her. It is this phenomenon that is called rapport in psychology.

Setting methods

To establish rapport in psychology - trusting relationships and emotional intimacy, it is necessary to adjust to the interlocutor, which can be done in different ways. Below we will take a closer look at some of them.

Acceptance

When using this method, facial expression, tone of voice, manner of speaking, physical distance between people play a special role. Interest in the partner, his problems, interest in helping should be read on the face. The facial expression should be sincere and open, the tone of voice should be soft and sympathetic. The volume of the voice should correspond to a confidential calm conversation, without having loud notes with attempts at coercion. The distance between partners is considered optimal for achieving friendly interaction when it is slightly more than arm's length distance.

Each detail in the pose of the interlocutor, the position of his hands, gestures will be important here. All details should express a friendly attitude, a sincere desire to help. In a situation where, when the distance between the interlocutors is reduced, the partner moves away, one should not be persistent. With patient use of the remaining elements, the result will be achieved.

Adjustment through postures and gestures

The method is based on the experiments of scientists in which the subjects argued among themselves, being in the same or mirror poses. As a result, it was concluded that it is difficult for people to argue with someone who is in the same position. Based on this conclusion, a method of physiological adjustment to the interlocutor has been developed, in which the actions of the partner are fixed and their copying is direct or mirror.

The main rule here is the naturalness of behavior so that the interlocutor does not take such behavior as a mockery and does notmoved further away. Beginners to master the technique are advised to start using mirror copying, as it is less noticeable. Copy should be the main movements, such as head tilt, volume and tone of voice, gradually adding smaller ones. After mastering these moments, they move on to achieving breath rapport. The technique is considered quite complex, offering to adapt to the rhythm of the interlocutor's breathing, thereby entering into resonance with him.

Adjustment through speech and thought

The method of tuning through thinking is the most difficult, but the result of this technique is superior to the previous ones. Contact established at the level of thinking remains stable for a long time and does not depend on distance. First of all, the technique requires the analysis of the interlocutor and the definition of his style of thinking. There are three types of the latter: auditory, visual and tactile.

To determine the use of speech analysis for the presence of markers - words that characterize the type of thinking. Thus, the use of words associated with sound speaks of the first type. The use of visual words in speech (for example, bright / brilliant perspectives) indicates the same type of thinking. Accordingly, a person with tactile thinking uses words that characterize sensations (for example, firmly convinced). The further technique is to adapt your speech to the interlocutor's thinking, to make the same notes.

In addition to the above techniques, the following methods of rapport in psychology are distinguished:

1. Adjustment by neurological levels, includingtune in to the other person's wave of values, beliefs, identity, and goals.
2. Personal adjustment based on the acceptance of the social role of the interlocutor.
3. Metaphorical adjustment.

Metaphorical method

The metaphorical method is very interesting and unusual. He offers one of the options for metaphors: relative, bridge and lotus. The essence of the method with the metaphor "relative" is to present the interlocutor as a close relative and communicate with him in the same way. Entering the role of a relative will not allow insincerity and pretense to appear, forming trust and emotional contact in the interlocutor.

The bridge metaphor is expressed in the visualization of a beautiful bridge between the chests of the interlocutors. On this bridge, in the course of visualization, one should imagine how the partners move towards each other and have a friendly conversation.

Lotus is also associated with visualization. The flower is represented as blooming in the chest and enveloping all interlocutors with its fragrance.

In addition to all of the above, there are various mixed models that affect certain qualities of the interlocutor and copy them in the partner's behavior to achieve the goal.

Goals of using rapport

The value of rapport in psychology is quite large, since friendly emotional contact largely affects human behavior.

Not everyone wants to become a psychoanalyst who needs rapport from a professional point of view. But this phenomenon helps not only in psychology, but also in any other field that involvesinteracting with people.

If a person does not want to be a manipulator, then one should not refuse to know the details of establishing rapport either, because no one guarantees that others will not want to make him an object of manipulation. Knowledge of the mechanisms will allow you to understand the intentions of the interlocutor in time.

Rapport in psychology is also used for a person to work with himself, to accept himself, to realize his own goals. In a situation of low self-esteem and a conflicting attitude towards the world, it is advised to launch a metaphorical rapport in relation to oneself and the world, thus tuning in to a feeling of unity with everything around.