Definition
The indirect approach is the principle that a seducer never declares intent early. Instead of pursuing openly, they spend the first phases building ordinary trust and familiarity — appearing as a friend, a colleague, a sympathetic presence — so the target's guard never rises against a goal that is never named.
Greene treats directness as the seducer's chief error. A declared pursuit invites a yes-or-no decision, and decisions can go either way. Indirection removes the decision point entirely; by the time intent surfaces, the relationship has already done its work.
Why it matters
How it works
The indirect seducer becomes a fixture in the target's life first and a pursuer second. They share interests, offer help, and accumulate small positive associations. Each interaction is low-stakes and easy to accept, which is precisely the point — nothing triggers the scrutiny a direct overture would.
By the time the relationship's true direction becomes apparent, the target has months of pleasant history weighing against suspicion. Refusal now feels like a betrayal of an established bond rather than the rejection of a stranger.