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Published May 28, 2020

357: Robin Dreeke | Sizing People Up

Unlock the secrets of trust and behavior prediction with former FBI Behavioral Analysis Program head Robin Dreeke, as he delves into self-interest-driven predictability, intuitive trust, and effective communication techniques critical for assessing human behavior and building genuine connections.
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  • Assessing People

    Understanding how to accurately assess people involves evaluating their self-interest and the predictability of their actions. explains that liking someone can create a bias, leading us to mistakenly trust them based on shared interests rather than their actual behavior 1. He emphasizes the importance of intuition, which often picks up on incongruences between verbal and non-verbal cues, like feeling uneasy around a used car salesman whose words don't match their body language.

    Intuition, a lot of people think in terms of, I think is, you know, feeling creepy around some bad used car salesman.

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    By focusing on what individuals perceive as their best interest and their consistency in pursuing it, we can better predict their behavior 1.

       

    Competence & Reliability

    Competence and reliability are key factors in evaluating someone's trustworthiness. notes that competence in one area, like work, doesn't necessarily translate to competence in another, such as personal relationships 2. He highlights that reliability is about the ability and diligence to follow through on tasks, which can vary across different aspects of life.

    Reliability comes down, your ability to do a job, and your diligence on following through on it.

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    Understanding these nuances helps in determining which areas a person can be trusted in and where they might fall short 2.

       

    Trust Indicators

    Trust indicators are often found in both language and behavior. explains that trust is built over time through consistent actions and language that align with one's priorities 3. He advises looking for congruence between verbal and non-verbal cues, such as open gestures and a relaxed demeanor, which indicate comfort and sincerity.

    I'm looking for good eyebrow elevation, smiling, head tilt, leaning in, palms up -- anything that's up and open.

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    Conversely, signs of distrust include incongruence in these areas, which may suggest a lack of genuine intent 3.

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