Sean's Haven

Intent on cause/evidence

Comment on the intent (of yourself or the other party) to discover or redirect the motivation of the belief or argument.

Ask:

1. What’s the intention?
2. Why are they saying this?
3. What’s the second gain?
4. What are they trying to get?
5. What’s the real intention?

Counter-Example

Find an example or evidence that runs counter (against) their belief or argument.

Ask:

1. What is the inverted belief? If B is not equal to A, then A cannot be equal to B.
2. How can I make it a universal statement or question?
3. Was there ever a time when A did not cause B?

Chunk up (or exaggerate) on either side

Chunk up (go ‘big picture’) to invalidate their argument.

Ask:

1. For what purpose?
2. What’s important about this?
3. What can I exaggerate?

Chunk down on either side

Chunk down (find details) that will invalidate their belief or argument.

Ask:

1. What specifically?
2. What are examples of this?
3. What are parts of this?

Redefine on effect/belief

Redefine the concept in the second part of the sentence.

Ask:

1. What other meaning could this word/concept have?

Redefine the concept in the first part of the sentence.

Ask:

1. What other meaning could this word/concept have?

Metaphor/Analogy on effect/belief

Simply tell a metaphor or a story that changes their belief.

Ask:

1. What is a similar situation, story or analogy I can use?

Another outcome

Find another outcome to shift to, rather than the current one.

Ask:

1. What’s another outcome you could shift to?
2. What’s more relevant?
3. What’s the real issue?

Consequence on whole statement

Comment on the consequence of their belief.

Ask:

1. What’s the consequence of this belief?
2. What will happen if they continue to think this belief?