Some situations of interaction with people give joy, harmony, satisfaction, others - disappointment and resentment. Most often, these emotions are mutual. Then they say that people made contact, found a common language, learned to work together. All these characteristics imply the appearance of a special feeling that binds people together. The feeling of mutual trust, emotional connection and mutual understanding has the name "rapport" in psychology.
Origin of the term
It is believed that the term was introduced by two scientists: Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev and Friedrich Anton Mesmer.
The term was originally used in physics in the 18th century, from where it was borrowed. The word itself is of French origin, translated means "return." The first meaning of the term was different from the modern one, meaning the contact of several people, as a result of which there was a surge of fluids, which, in turn, helped to heal the body and restore strength.
Fields of application
Currently, there is a use of the term "rapport" in psychology, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, NLP. These areas of knowledge are associated with the restoration and harmonization of the human mental state. In psychology, a rapport is the establishment of such contact between people in which they are able to influence each other's behavior.
Rapport leads to different formats of influence. So, in the process of hypnosis, this phenomenon has a unidirectional effect, when the specialist dominates the patient. Psychoanalysis involves two-way contact, during which the psychoanalyst helps the patient solve his problems. The use of rapport in NLP is one of the methods of manipulation, when one partner intentionally creates the conditions for establishing trust on the part of the other to achieve his own goals.
A striking example of the effect of the phenomenon can be called the story of A. I. Kuprin "Olesya", in which the girl copies the step of the partner, tuning in with him on the same wavelength. When the contact is established, it stumbles. Following her, her interlocutor stumbles. This phenomenon is called rapport in psychology.
Establishment methods
To establish rapport in psychology - trusting relationships and emotional closeness, adjustment is necessary for the interlocutor, which can be carried out in different ways. Further we will consider some of them in detail.
Adoption
When using this method, facial expressions, tone of voice, manner of conversation, physical distance between people play a special role. Interest should be read on the face of the partner, his problems, interest in helping. The expression should be sincere and open, the tone of the voice should be soft and sympathetic. The volume of the voice should correspond to a confidential calm conversation, without loud notes with attempts to force. The distance between partners is considered optimal for achieving friendly interaction when it is slightly larger than the distance of the outstretched arm.
Every detail will be important here in the position of the interlocutor, the position of his hands, gestures. All details must express a friendly attitude, a sincere desire to help. In a situation where, when the distance between the interlocutors is reduced, the partner moves away, one should not show persistence. With patient use of the remaining elements, the result will be achieved.
Adjustment through poses and gestures
The method is based on experiments by scientists in which subjects argued among themselves, being in identical or mirror poses. As a result, it was concluded that it is difficult for people to argue with those who are in the same position. Based on this conclusion, a method of physiological adjustment for the interlocutor is developed, in which the actions of the partner are fixed and their copying is direct or mirror.
The basic rule here is the naturalness of behavior so that the interlocutor does not accept such behavior as a mockery and does not move away even more. Beginners to master the technique are advised to start using mirroring, as less noticeable. You should copy the basic movements, such as: tilting the head, volume and tone of the voice, gradually adding smaller ones. After mastering these points, they go on to achieve rapport in breathing. The technique is considered quite complicated, offering to adapt to the breathing rhythm of the interlocutor, thereby entering into resonance with him.
Adjustment through Speech and Thinking
The method of adjustment through thinking is the most complex, but the result of this technique is superior to the previous ones. Contact established at the level of thinking remains stable for a long time and does not depend on distance. First of all, the technique requires an analysis of the interlocutor and determination of his thinking style. There are three types of the latter: auditory, visual and tactile.
To determine the use of speech analysis for the presence of markers - words that characterize the type of thinking. So, the use of words related to sound speaks of the first type. The use of visual words in speech (for example, bright / brilliant perspectives) speaks of the same type of thinking. Accordingly, a person with tactile thinking uses words that characterize sensations (for example, firmly convinced). Further technique comes down to adapting your speech to the interlocutor’s thinking, making the same notes.
In addition to the listed techniques, the following rapport methods in psychology are distinguished:
- Tuning according to neurological levels, including tuning to the wave of values of the interlocutor, his beliefs, identity and goals.
- Personal adjustment, based on the adoption of the social role of the interlocutor.
- Metaphorical adjustment.
Metaphorical method
The metaphorical method is very interesting and unusual. He offers one of the options for metaphors: relative, bridge and lotus. The essence of the method with the metaphor “relative” is to present the interlocutor as a close relative and communicate with him in the same way. Entering the role of a relative will not allow the manifestation of insincerity and pretense, forming the interlocutor's trust and emotional contact.
The metaphor “bridge” is expressed in the visualization of a beautiful bridge between the chest cells of the interlocutors. Through this bridge, during visualization, one should imagine how the partners move towards each other and talk in a friendly manner.
Lotus is also associated with visualization. The flower is blooming in the chest and enveloping in its fragrance all the interlocutors.
In addition to all of the above, there are a variety of mixed models that affect certain qualities of the interlocutor and copy them in the behavior of the partner to achieve the goal.
Rapport Application Goals
The value of rapport in psychology is quite large, since friendly emotional contact in many respects affects human behavior.
Not everyone wants to become psychoanalysts who need professional rapport. But this phenomenon helps not only in psychology, but also in any other industry involving interaction with people.
If a person does not want to be a manipulator, then one should not refuse to know the details of establishing rapport, because no one guarantees that others will not want to make him an object of manipulation. Knowledge of the mechanisms will allow us to understand in time the intentions of the interlocutor.
Rapport in psychology is also used to work a person with himself, to accept himself, to realize his own goals. In a situation of low self-esteem and a conflicting attitude to the world, it is advised to launch a metaphorical rapport in relation to oneself and the world, thus tuning in to a sense of unity with everything around.