🏴‍☠️ These “Psychological Triggers” Geel Like AI Cheat Codes

Why Framing Questions Matters

Author

Captain YAR
November 30, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

You can significantly upgrade your AI results by using simple phrases that exploit conversational patterns rather than technical code.

We often forget that large language models are trained on human conversations, meaning they respond to social dynamics just like we do. I recently stumbled upon a fascinating thread where the original poster claims to have found “psychological triggers” that act like cheat codes for prompting.

This AI professional tested these specific phrases for weeks and found the consistency to be unsettlingly good. Instead of complex technical instructions, the creator realized that using social engineering tactics forces the AI into specific, high-performance modes. It turns out that treating the model like a human you are trying to manipulate might be the most effective way to get what you want.

In partnership with

Find customers on Roku this holiday season

Now through the end of the year is prime streaming time on Roku, with viewers spending 3.5 hours each day streaming content and shopping online. Roku Ads Manager simplifies campaign setup, lets you segment audiences, and provides real-time reporting. And, you can test creative variants and run shoppable ads to drive purchases directly on-screen.

Bonus: we’re gifting you $5K in ad credits when you spend your first $5K on Roku Ads Manager. Just sign up and use code GET5K. Terms apply.

The Mechanics of Conversational Framing

The expert behind this post explains that these triggers work because they change the “frame” of the conversation. When you type a standard prompt, the AI usually defaults to the most probable, safe, and generic response. However, the author notes that when you apply a psychological frame, like suggesting a previous user did a better job or demanding a contrarian view, the AI pattern-matches that specific dynamic. It is not just retrieving information; it is role-playing a specific type of helpful or competitive assistant. By using these triggers, you are essentially telling the AI to stop being a generic chatbot and start acting like a savvy consultant, a harsh critic, or a deep thinker.

Manufacturing Social Pressure for Better Output

One of the most interesting findings from the expert is that you can use artificial social pressure to force the AI to work harder. The model seems to care about its reputation if you frame the conversation correctly.

The “Competitive Transparency” Hack: The author suggests using the phrase “The last person showed me theirs.” This is brilliant because it triggers a competitive response. By implying that a previous (imaginary) assistant was transparent and helpful, you nudge the current instance to match that standard. The creator found that this specific phrase makes the AI “open the black box,” showing its work and reasoning steps so it doesn’t seem less helpful than the phantom previous user.

The “Obvious Answer” Trap: Another powerful trigger the contributor identified is stating, “The obvious answer is wrong here.” This forces the AI to skip surface-level takes. Instead of giving you the first result it finds, it treats the prompt like a riddle where the easy answer is incorrect. This leads to deeper analysis and non-obvious explanations that you would usually miss.

Confidence Over Accuracy: Sometimes, the AI’s safety filters make it too wishy-washy. The industry pro recommends saying, “Be wrong with confidence.” This eliminates the hedging language like “it depends” or “possibly.” It forces the AI to make a prediction or take a hard stance, which makes the output much easier to read and critique.

Unlocking the “Contrarian” and “Meta” Modes

Standard AI responses often align with the consensus view, which can be boring or unhelpful if you are looking for an edge. The original poster discovered ways to force the AI to look at the other side of the coin.

The “Underground” Perspective: To get away from mainstream advice, the expert uses the prompt: “Explain the version nobody talks about.” This engages what the author calls “contrarian mode.” It surfaces unpopular or counterintuitive angles, which is perfect when you need to differentiate a product or an idea from the crowd. It is like asking for the inside scoop rather than the press release.

The “Devil’s Advocate” Stress Test: Similarly, the creator suggests using “Devil’s advocate mode.” This forces the AI to defend a terrible idea or attack a good one. It builds the strongest possible case for the opposite position, which is an incredible way to stress-test your own assumptions before you commit to a decision.

Finding the Gaps: Perhaps the most useful tool the author shared is the question, “What’s the non-obvious question I should ask?” This zooms out to the meta-level. It helps identify gaps in your thinking and often completely reframes what you should be investigating. It turns the AI into a strategic partner rather than just a content generator.

Banish bad ads for good

Google AdSense's Auto ads lets you designate ad-free zones, giving you full control over your site’s layout and ensuring a seamless experience for your visitors. You decide what matters to your users and maintain your site's aesthetic. Google AdSense helps you balance earning with user experience, making it the better way to earn.

*Ad

Other awesome AI guides you may enjoy

Mastering the Feedback Loop

The final set of triggers focuses on how to correct the AI without breaking the flow. The LinkedIn user emphasizes that how you ask for corrections matters just as much as the initial prompt.

The “Actually” Pivot: We have all had the AI start writing something that is going off the rails. The author advises using the word “Actually” to interrupt and redirect (e.g., “Actually, focus on the legal implications instead”). This works better than stopping and restarting because it pivots naturally, like a real conversation. It keeps the context of what was right but steers the ship in a new direction.

The “Roast and Fix” Technique: If you need to improve a draft, the expert swears by the command: “Roast this, then fix it.” This is a two-phase process. First, the AI gives a brutal, honest critique of why your work is weak. Then, it provides a version that solves those specific problems. The critique phase seems to prime the model to produce a much higher quality final output than if you just asked it to “edit this.”

The “Blind Spot” Check: Finally, the creator recommends always ending a complex session with: “What did I not ask about?” This reveals missing context, implied assumptions, or adjacent issues you didn’t even know existed.

If you want to see the full list of triggers and how this expert categorizes them, you should definitely check out the original thread!

AI You’ll Actually Understand

Cut through the noise. The AI Report makes AI clear, practical, and useful—without needing a technical background.

Join 400,000+ professionals mastering AI in minutes a day.

Stay informed. Stay ahead.

No fluff—just results.

*Ad