Final answer:
Con artists use self-deception, confirmation bias, misinformation effect, compliance techniques, and projection to manipulate others, as exemplified by a falsely accused cashier.
Step-by-step explanation:
Con artists are known for their manipulative behaviors, which they use to deceive and exploit others. Here are five behavioral characteristics commonly associated with con artists, applied to a scenario where a young retail cashier has been wrongfully accused of theft:
- Self-deception: The con artist cashier might truly believe they are innocent, despite evidence to the contrary, due to self-deception. They ignore their own possible lapses, holding firm to their belief of innocence.
- Confirmation bias and belief perseverance: If confronted, they filter and interpret any information in a way that supports their innocence, dismissing contradictory evidence.
- Precondition for Misinformation effect: The cashier might be influenced by the narrative provided by the con artist, questioning their memory of the events due to misleading information provided by the con artist.
- Use of Compliance Techniques: The con artist may employ tactics such as commitment and consistency to get the cashier to admit wrongdoing, even if they are innocent.
- Projection: The con artist could accuse others of the theft to divert suspicion from themselves, projecting their own culpability onto others.
These techniques show the complexity of deceptive behaviors and how they can create false narratives that serve the con artist's interests. In the final analysis, con artists manipulate perceptions and memory, as well as exploit psychological tendencies and social norms, to escape detection and maintain their façade of innocence.
Con artists employ self-deception, confirmation bias, misinformation effect, compliance techniques, and projection to manipulate and deceive others. They create and maintain false narratives to protect their interests and escape detection.