The Art of Seduction: An Indispensible Primer on the Ultimate Form of Power

The third phase explains how to deepen the seduction’s impact on a person’s unconscious through a specific deed, which can be an unplanned action that involves offering help, solving a problem, or doing a person a favor, or a planned act, such as a crisis, danger, or something to save an interest from. This decreases the interest’s doubts about the seducer and shows the seducer’s benevolence, which generates positive feelings. Because the seducer will always experience resistance, they need to prove themselves and conceal hidden intent.

In the 1640s, Marion de l’Orme was to meet with Count Grammont, but cancelled due to a headache. Grammont saw another man going to meet her, so he pretended to be that man. Delighted by his ruse, she relented. Greene views this as a test for Grammont, who continued to demonstrate his desire for l’Orme.

Another example is the story of Pauline Bonaparte, who started an affair with Jules de Canouville in 1810. He convinced her to have a bad tooth pulled by having one of his own pulled. Later, he traveled through enemy territory to get to her. This increased her attachment to him, and their affair lasted longer. Greene claims that Pauline was insecure and doubted the feelings of her previous lovers but believed Canouville because of his selfless deeds.