I'm pretty sure I just bribed Elliot for the first time. He didn't want to go up the basement stairs, and I had my hands full of laundry. I've been giving him an M&M now and then, and calling them 'special treats'. Well, he was paused in the landing playing with a bag, and I couldn't leave him there by the stairs, and couldn't pick him up because of the laundry, so I said "If you don't go upstairs, you won't get a special treat." He was up in 2 seconds, running for the candy jar... I'd meant it as more of a threat, but I think he took it a little different.

conclusion: bribery is effective