Broken Record Technique Examples

Mastering the Broken Record Technique: A Guide to Effective Communication

The broken record technique, a powerful tool in assertive communication, is often overlooked despite its simplicity and effectiveness. It's particularly crucial in situations where you're facing persistent pressure, manipulation, or unreasonable demands. Mastering this technique allows you to stand your ground calmly and confidently, without escalating conflicts or feeling overwhelmed. This article will explore the intricacies of the broken record technique, address common challenges, and provide practical examples to help you confidently implement it in your daily life.

Understanding the Broken Record Technique

The broken record technique involves calmly and repeatedly stating your point, much like a stuck record. You avoid getting sidetracked by arguments, justifications, or emotional appeals. The key is to remain consistent and unemotional, sticking to your pre-determined message. This is not about being stubborn; it's about clearly and persistently communicating your boundaries and needs.

Why it Works

The effectiveness of this technique stems from its ability to disrupt manipulative tactics. People attempting to persuade you through guilt-tripping, distraction, or aggressive questioning will find it increasingly difficult to continue their strategy when met with a consistent, calm response. This repeated message often forces them to acknowledge your position, even if they don't agree with it. It allows you to maintain control of the conversation and prevents you from being drawn into unproductive arguments.

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Identify your message: Clearly define what you want to communicate. This should be concise and to the point. Avoid ambiguity.
2. Choose your words carefully: Select phrases that are polite yet firm. Avoid accusatory or emotional language.
3. Repetition is key: Repeat your chosen phrase or sentence calmly and consistently, even if the other person tries to interrupt or change the subject.
4. Stay calm and unemotional: Maintain a neutral tone of voice and body language. Avoid defensiveness or anger.
5. Be patient: It may take time for the other person to understand and accept your message. Persevere with your repeated statement.
6. Know when to disengage: If the conversation becomes abusive or unproductive, it's acceptable to politely excuse yourself and disengage.

Examples of the Broken Record Technique

Scenario 1: Negotiating a price.

Salesperson: "But this is our best offer. You're getting an amazing deal!"
You (using the broken record technique): "I understand, but my budget is $X. I'm only able to pay $X."
Salesperson: "But think of all the features! You won't find this anywhere else for this price!"
You: "I appreciate that, but my budget is $X. I'm only able to pay $X."

Scenario 2: Setting a boundary with a demanding friend.

Friend: "Can you help me move this weekend? I really need your help!"
You: "I'm sorry, but I've already made prior commitments this weekend."
Friend: "Oh come on, it'll only take a few hours. Please?"
You: "I'm sorry, but I've already made prior commitments this weekend."

Scenario 3: Dealing with persistent unwanted phone calls.

Telemarketer: "Hi, this is [company name] offering you..."
You: "I'm not interested. Please remove me from your calling list."
Telemarketer: "But this is a special offer..."
You: "I'm not interested. Please remove me from your calling list."

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Feeling guilty or uncomfortable: This is natural, especially if you're not used to assertive communication. Remind yourself that setting boundaries is healthy and necessary. The discomfort is temporary, and the long-term benefits of asserting your needs far outweigh the short-term unease.

Challenge 2: The other person getting angry: If the other person reacts angrily, remain calm and continue to repeat your statement. Their anger is their responsibility, not yours. Avoid engaging in their anger; simply reiterate your position.

Challenge 3: Feeling like you're being inflexible: The broken record technique is about clearly communicating your boundaries, not about being rigid. If a compromise is possible within your established limits, you can consider it. However, don't let the other person manipulate you into abandoning your core message.

Summary

The broken record technique, while simple, is a powerful tool for assertive communication. By consistently and calmly repeating your message, you can effectively navigate challenging conversations, set boundaries, and maintain control. Remember to focus on clarity, calmness, and persistence. Mastering this technique will significantly enhance your ability to communicate your needs and protect your well-being.

FAQs

1. Is the broken record technique manipulative? No, it's a tool for assertive communication, aiming to clearly communicate your needs and boundaries. It's not about manipulating the other person but about preventing manipulation from others.

2. What if the other person ignores me completely? In that case, you may need to consider other strategies, like seeking mediation or disengaging from the conversation altogether.

3. Can I use this technique with everyone? While it's effective in many situations, it's crucial to assess the context. In some relationships, a more nuanced approach might be necessary.

4. What if I start to feel frustrated while using the technique? Take a break if you need to. It's okay to step away from the conversation to regain your composure before continuing.

5. How can I improve my delivery of the broken record technique? Practice beforehand. Role-play the scenario with a friend to get comfortable with the technique and refine your delivery. Focus on maintaining a calm, neutral tone and avoiding defensive body language.

Search Results:

The Broken Record Method: For People-Pleasers Especially 19 Jan 2025 · Struggling to set boundaries with manipulative or pushy people? The Broken Record Method helps you stand your ground, say no with confidence, and stop over-explaining.

The Broken Record - Aseem Gupta 13 Jan 2020 · The Broken Record technique can protect your privacy, maintain focus, and assert control in virtually any situation. It allows you to disengage politely and firmly, ensuring you’re never caught off guard by unwanted questions or pressure.

The Broken Record Assertiveness Technique: How to Say “No” What the broken record technique assertiveness is (and why repetition is your secret weapon). How to apply it in sticky situations (with relatable examples). Mistakes that sabotage your efforts (and how to dodge them).

Stuck/broken record technique Fogging Authenticity Creating … “Individuals considered authentic are those who generally strive to align their actions with their core values and beliefs with the hope of discovering, and then acting in sync with, their “true selves." IS AUTHENTICITY THE SAME AS HONESTY?

Setting Boundaries using the Broken Record Technique The broken record technique is a tool to use with the person who pulls you into endless arguments that go nowhere. The main principle is repetition. Like a broken record, which continually loops back to the same spot, using the same words repeatedly to convey your message is an effective response.

The broken record technique to assert yourself - Psychology Spot The broken record technique consists precisely in imitating this repetition in situations in which we need to make our position clear or we do not want our interlocutor to deviate from the matter that we are interested in addressing. The benefits of this assertive technique. 1. …

Definition and Examples of Broken-Record Responses - ThoughtCo 19 Feb 2019 · In communication studies, the broken-record response is the conversational strategy of forestalling further discussion by repeating the same phrase or sentence over and over. also called the broken-record technique.

The broken record technique — Confident Communicators, LLC 10 Mar 2025 · The Broken Record Technique. At home, a firm, calm “I said no” on repeat—without frustration or debate—shuts down the child’s game. At work too. When a coworker keeps pushing, don’t argue, don’t over-explain, and don’t let them pull you into an emotional back-and-forth. Instead: Stay calm. No eye rolls, no sighs, no frustration ...

How to use a Broken Record - The Negotiation Club The ‘Broken Record’ technique is a negotiation strategy rooted in the power of repetition. By consistently and calmly reiterating a specific point or demand, negotiators reinforce their position, minimise distractions, and maintain focus.

The Broken Record Technique - Assertiveness Skills Articles Much like the name suggests, the broken record technique suggests that we act like a broken record – where the record gets stuck and keeps repeating the same thing over and over. A broken record repeats itself, and that is exactly how this assertive approach works.

Practice The Broken Record Technique | The Ascellus Group 2 Nov 2020 · The Broken Record Technique is a form of assertive behavior. It is a verbal response that is firm and clear and conveys a message that you mean what you say. It tends to work well in situations where people want to argue, don’t want to listen, are non-compliant with treatment, forgetful or disorganized.

7 Rules and 8 Methods for Responding to Passive-aggressive … 14 Jan 2024 · Method 4. The broken record technique. The broken record technique is a method of assertion that can be used to confront behavior or a harangue (excessive critique).

Using the Broken Record Technique to Calm Customer Emotions 5 Nov 2021 · The Broken Record technique is a great way to get a message across to an emotional customer, especially one who appears not to be listening to you or accepting what you’re saying. The technique involves repeating yourself …

How to Behave More Assertively - Department of Health The following example of the broken record technique uses all levels of assertiveness beginning with basic assertion then moving through to empathic assertion and then consequence assertion.

The Broken Record – GP-Training.net The BROKEN RECORD is a good way to deal with red herrings, attempts to steer you away from the point, guilt tripping and manipulation. How do you do it? You speak as if you were a record that is broken or cracked and so repeats itself again and again.

The Broken Record Technique - learnmodelteach.com Boundary setting is one way to reduce the stress in your life. There are lots of boundaries and many ways to set them. The broken record technique is a tool to use with the person who pulls you into endless arguments that go nowhere. The main principle is repetition.

The Broken Record, a skill to stop manipulation attempts 26 Jan 2019 · One verbal skill that teaches people how to accomplish all of this simultaneously is a technique first used in assertive therapy by my close colleague Dr. Zev Wanderer, who gave it its descriptive title: BROKEN RECORD.

Assertiveness Skills - mindfulecotherapycenter.com Broken Record technique is a skill by which we simply re-assert our position over and over, like a broken record. This should be done calmly, without anger. The Broken Record teaches you persistence without having to rehearse arguments or angry feelings beforehand.

BROKEN RECORD TECHNIQUE For example, you could say ‘No, I am sorry but I can’t’ or ‘No, I can’t do it this time’ or just ‘No, I’m sorry’. This is called the ‘broken record’ technique and is especially good for those situations where you’re absolutely sure you don’t want to do what you’ve been asked.

Broken Record Technique - Sharman D. Colosetti, Ph.D. The Broken Record Technique comes in handy when someone is trying to convince you to do something that you don’t want to do. Here are two examples of how it can be used. The first one just repeats your answer over and over again.