Telling someone not to do something is often the best way to get them to do it—what’s colloquially referred to as “reverse psychology.” Research finds that when people are told they must do something, they are quickly and strongly motivated to do the opposite. Another strategy is to mention people’s freedom: Attempting to persuade someone involves “threatening their freedom” to some degree. Reminding people of their freedom in choosing how to act or what to believe can help overcome this reaction.