The PUSHED Framework

30 minutes

Welcome to Module 2

In Module 1, you learned that phishing attacks exploit psychology, not technology. Now you’ll learn exactly what psychological tactics attackers use — and how to recognize them.

Introducing: PUSHED

PUSHED is your early warning system. It’s an acronym that helps you identify the six main emotional manipulation tactics attackers use:

P

Pressure / Polite Predation

Authority demands or excessive politeness designed to make you comply

U

Urgency

Artificial time limits that prevent careful thinking

S

Surprise

Unexpected communications that catch you off guard

H

High-stakes

Threats of serious consequences if you don't act

E

Excitement

Positive emotions that bypass your skepticism

D

Desperation

Emergency situations and pleas for help that exploit empathy

Why PUSHED Works

The beauty of PUSHED is that it shifts your focus from “Does this look fake?” to “Is this making me feel something?”

You can’t always spot a well-crafted fake. But you CAN recognize when something is trying to manipulate your emotions.

The rule: If you feel PUSHED, stop and VERIFY before you act. Feeling PUSHED doesn't mean it's definitely a scam — but it means you should take an extra moment to confirm.

What You’ll Learn in This Module

  1. Why emotional manipulation is the core of every attack — and why it works
  2. The six PUSHED tactics in detail — with real-world examples of each
  3. How to identify PUSHED in action — practice with realistic scenarios

Time Investment

This module takes about 30 minutes to complete:

  • Lesson 2.1: Recognizing Emotional Manipulation (7 min)
  • Lesson 2.2: The Six PUSHED Tactics (12 min)
  • Lesson 2.3: PUSHED in Action — Examples (10 min)
  • Module 2 Quiz (5 min)