The Psychology of SalesmanshipAtkinson, William Walker
Science
The Psychology of Salesmanship
Atkinson, William Walker
Selling -- Psychological aspects
developed causes one to idolize his children and to be capable of
influence through them. Such men are prone to relate anecdotes regarding
their children and to bore listeners with recitals of infantile
brightness and precocity. They generally have photographs of their
children about their desks. An appeal to the interests of the children
always reaches the attention and interest of these people. _Friendship_,
or Love of Companionship, when highly developed causes one to seek
society, form attachments of friendship, enjoy social pleasures, do
favors for those whom they like, enjoy entertaining and being
entertained. Such a man will be more apt to base his business dealings
upon likes and acquaintance rather than upon reason or judgment, and are
comparatively easily persuaded by those whom they like. An appearance of
sociability generally attracts them to those manifesting it. The
quality of "good fellowship" appeals to this class. _Inhabitiveness_ or
Love of Home when highly developed causes one to become _attached to
places_, localities and associations. Such a man will be full of
patriotism, local pride and prejudice and provincialism. He will resent
any apparent "slur" upon his locality, and will appreciate any favorable
comment on his home place and locality. These people are like cats who
are attached to places rather than to people. Their township is usually
their idea of "my country."
_The Selfish Faculties._ This group of faculties includes
_Vitativeness_, or Love of Life; _Combativeness_, or Love of Opposing;
_Destructiveness_, or Love of Breaking Through; _Alimentiveness_, or
Love of Appetite; _Bibativeness_, or Love of Drink; _Acquisitiveness_,
or Love of Gain; _Secretiveness_, or Cunning; _Cautiousness_, or
Prudence; _Approbativeness_, or Love of Praise; _Self Esteem_, or Self
Reliance. Phrenology teaches that this group of organs occupy the sides
of the back part of the head. _Vitativeness_, or Love of Life, when
highly developed causes one to manifest a determination to live, and a
great fear of death. Anything promising increased health or long life
will greatly attract these people, and anything arousing a fear of ill
health or death will influence them greatly. These people are excellent
customers for health appliances, books on health, etc. _Combativeness_,
or Love of Opposing, when highly developed causes one to desire a
"scrap" or an argument or debate. These people can best be handled by
seemingly allowing them to win in argument, and then leading them to
suggest the thing that the Salesman has had in his mind all the time.
These people may be led, or coaxed, but never driven. With them it is
always a case of "sugar catches more flies than vinegar," or of the hot
sun causing the man to drop the cloak which the fierce north wind was
unable to blow away from him. A man of this kind will be so pleased at
beating another in an argument on a minor point, that he will forget the
main point and will be in a humor to be persuaded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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