r/technology • u/Choobeen • 2d ago

Society Research shows the 'compliment sandwich' is no longer effective - University of Western Ontario

https://phys.org/news/2025-08-compliment-sandwich-longer-effective.html
2.8k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

265 comments sorted by

View all comments

521

u/toukakouken 2d ago

These aren't physical laws. The receiver also has understood the sandwich technique. Once that recognition is there, he proceeds to ignore the bread. So, he can take offense at the criticism.

50

u/diatonico_ 2d ago

It's just psychology and human behavior. A (social or communication) tactic that works in one context, doesn't work in another. That tactic being well-known and understood is part of the context.

By the time a "trick" is posted in college textbooks or taught in expensive seminars, it's already on the decline and the bleeding edge is using something else.

9

u/f-150Coyotev8 1d ago

I like to just start with something along the line of “I need to tell you something unpleasant, but with good intentions.” No reason to beat around the bush.

1

u/PMmeYourAIBooty 1d ago

I’m going to use this next time instead of my usual angry email letting people know that by slacking off they are making everyone else’s life Hell that works around them