People-Watching as an Art for Authors – Pt.4

Part Four: Rapport

Rapport is “a comfortable and unconstrained relationship of mutual confidence between two or more persons.”

At times, rapport occurs immediately and effortlessly. Each of us has had the experience of taking an instant liking to a stranger. Without knowing why, we feel at home with him; we are sure he shares our attitudes and our beliefs.

Conversely, we sometimes dislike another person on first encounter without awareness of the cues that evoke our dislike.

An immediate attraction to or dislike of the target individual tends to color all observations thereafter. The un-studied, first impression often forces the observer to work through a “hale effect” of personal feelings. If he likes the individual, every action is interpreted favorably, or at least the observer tends to minimize behavior that displeases him. The result is distortion, often of a subtle nature difficult to correct.

Rapport, or the lack of it, will also affect the target's behavior in relation to the observer. Rapport will make elicitation easier, but its absence need not deny the observer the kinds of information he seeks. The objective is not necessarily to create a warm and involving relationship, but rather to create an impression appropriate to the observer's purpose, that is, a relationship that will provide reliable and revealing information about the target.

As a footnote, one of the subjects we taught our agents was neurolinguistic programming. In essence it is an occult practice that involves “reading” a person through close observation of body English, facial mannerisms, vocal traits, etc… then, without their awareness or complicity “programming” them to act, think and feel as we desire. Although I became quite adept at the "art," as a follower of Jesus Christ I will no longer touch upon it.

The intelligence community has also dabbled (a serious understatement here) in telekinesis and out-of-body mind travel. The latter was used in an attempt to penetrate hostile governments, agencies and operations.

Coming in Part Five: Observing Behavior