The broken-record technique

Calmly repeat your position without being derailed by arguments or guilt-trips.

Why it works

When you refuse, others often escalate with new arguments, hoping to find one that cracks you. Engaging each argument hands them the opening; the broken record refuses that game by calmly restating your position. It removes the reward for pushing — there’s no new ground to win — so the pressure tends to subside without a fight.

How to do it

1. Decide your position and a short phrase that states it ("I’m not able to do that").
2. Acknowledge their point briefly, then calmly repeat your phrase, unchanged.
3. Don’t take the bait of new arguments — keep the tone even and the message constant.

Evidence

The broken-record technique is a named, long-taught assertiveness skill within behavior-therapy and social-skills training programs for resisting manipulation and persistent pressure. (clinical)

An established clinical technique rather than one with a large isolated outcome literature; used rigidly it can come across as stonewalling, so it suits pressure situations, not genuine negotiations.

Common mistake

Getting drawn into debating each new objection "just this once," which signals that enough pushing will work and invites more of it.