Effects of three

Many years ago, I read a chapter in a book stating that there seemed to be something magical about the number 3.  It talked of the numerology of the number from world religions, but went on to talk about how people like to list things in triplets.  The idea was that people trust the number 3.

About 25 years after that, in conducting research, I read an article in an edited book talking about the number 3.  This time it was talking about people who testify.  The author was pointing to a lawyer trying to get a witness to list 3 things that would incriminate him.  The witness resisted, saying only two things even though the lawyer was pushing for three.  Finally, the witness did mention a third thing and people felt that that point was the incriminating moment.  It seemed that the witness knew that the third thing on the list would be complete, credible, and trusted if he were to give the third thing.

Watching a show of Ancient Aliens, I saw the writer talk of the number 3 in works from antiquity.  Part of the discussion was that the number 3 was considered trustworthy because it numbered the deities that were important in a society or that gods seemed to be complete in three parts.  But, the show also mentioned language in general uses lists in increments of 3 in order to be considered a complete list or representative of the whole (that which is complete). 

In working with deception in the courtroom, I have seen the idea of getting witnesses and the accused to admit to things in trios.  For some reason, it does have that of effect of being trustworthy.  It's a type of litmus test.  It's not a widely known or used strategy, but it has worked on every occasion I have seen it tried.  Get the accused to admit to lists of three and people feel that (s)he is admitting to a mistake or to something (s)he has hidden.

It's, of course, true for more than working with deception.  Good speeches very often center around three points, and good writing much of the time contains three developmental paragraphs in order to make it sound complete or trustworthy.  (Even right now, you may be thinking I need to give one more example to make this a complete list of examples of proof).  Dissertations have 5 parts usually - an introduction and conclusion, yes, but 3 parts in the middle to establish the science behind the proof of thesis - review of literature, method of experimentation, and results of experimentation.

Three's a charm, no doubt about it.