Page 246 - Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary

They adulate such celebrities.

5. accentuating the negative

What does the doctor say to you if you have low blood sugar? “No candy, no pastries, no
chocolate marshmallow cookies, no ice cream!”, your morale dropping lower and lower as
each favorite goody is placed on the forbidden list.

What, in one word, is the doctor doing?

The doctor is proscribing harmful items in your diet.

6. accentuating the affirmative

You are warm, friendly, enthusiastic, outgoing, easy to please; you are quick to show

appreciation, yet accept, without judgment or criticism, the human weaknesses of others.
You are a fascinating talker, an even better listener.
You believe in, and practice, honest self-disclosure; you feel comfortable with yourself
and therefore with everyone else; and you have a passionate interest in experiencing, in
living, in relating to people.

Need you have any fears about making friends? Obviously not.

Your characteristics and temperament obviate such fears.

7. playing it wrong

Theodor Reik, in his penetrating book on psychoanalysis Listening with the Third Ear, talks

about neurotic people who unconsciously wish to fail. In business interviews they say
exactly the wrong words, they do exactly the wrong things, they seem intent (as,
unconsciously, they actually are) on insuring failure in every possible way, though
consciously they are doing their best to court success.
What effect does such a neurotic tendency have?

It militates against success.

8. playing it dirty

“Harry?” He’s a closet alcoholic. Maud? She’s sleeping around—and her stupid husband
doesn’t suspect a thing. Bill? He’s embezzling from his own company. Paul? He’s a child
molester. Sally? You don’t know that she’s a notorious husband-beater?”

What is this character doing?

He’s maligning everyone.

9. giving the benefit of any doubt