Embedded Commands

An Embedded Command is a direct suggestion placed within a longer sentence. A Resistance Breaker gives it an indirect opening; a brief pause or change in tone can mark out the words you want the listener to consider.

In the 7 Skills, I describe the Resistance Breaker as a mental Trojan Horse carrying the command past System 2’s scrutiny and guiding System 1’s Attention Direction. The Part 2 chapter Speechcraft teaches the patterns through Eddard’s conversation with Jacqui.