Being manipulated and intimidated can happen to anyone. Uncritically going along with authority and experts is easy. All kinds of people do it, including smart people. Examples are everywhere: Experts dazzle you with jargon and mystifying technical language. Physicians won't answer your questions or they tell you to leave it to them because they are the experts. Officials cloak themselves in the trappings of authority. Bureaucrats give you the run-around. Clerks say it can't be done. Smooth-talking salespeople trick you with persuasive selling techniques.

     What can you do about it? How can you get what you want from experts and authorities? What techniques will allow you to stand up to them effectively? Ask Dr. Presley. Sharon Presley is a social psychologist whose field of expertise is social influence and obedience and resistance to authority. She is currently writing a practical book on how to stand up to experts and authorities. The suggestions she has to offer are based on solid social science research as well as practical experience.

     Dr. Presley will answer your questions about how to deal with authorities and experts-from bosses to bureaucrats, from teachers to lawyers. Think of her as the "Dear Abby" of standing up to authority.