Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

psychological-ploy

Noun
/ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl-plɔɪ/
Definition
A psychological ploy is a strategy or tactic designed to influence or manipulate someone’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Examples
  • During the debate, the candidate used a psychological ploy to sway the audience’s opinion.
  • The therapist taught her client various psychological ploys to help assert themselves in difficult situations.
  • He suspected that her kindness was just a psychological ploy to get what she wanted.
Meaning
Psychological ploys are used to gain an advantage in social interactions or negotiations by exploiting the mental and emotional states of others.
Synonyms
  • manipulation
  • strategy
  • trick
  • tactic