Persuasion

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For the novel by Jane Austen, see Persuasion (novel).

Persuasion is a form of influence. It is the process of guiding people toward the adoption of an idea, attitude, or action by rational and symbolic (though not only logical) means. It is a problem-solving strategy, and relies on "appeals" rather than force.

Dissuasion is the process of convincing someone not to believe or act on something.

Persuasion is often confused with manipulation, which is the act of guiding another towards something that is not in their best interest by subverting their thought processes. Persuasion is meant to benefit one or more parties in the end.

Aristotle says that "Rhetoric is the art of discovering, in a particular case, the available means of persuasion."

[edit] Methods of persuasion

By appeal to reason:

• Logical argument
• Logic
• Rhetoric
• Scientific method
• Proof

By appeal to emotion:

• Advertising
• Faith
• Presentation and Imagination
• Propaganda
• Seduction
• Tradition

Aids to persuasion:

• Body language
• Communication skill or Rhetoric
• Sales techniques

Other techniques, which may or may not work:

• Deception
• Hypnosis
• Subliminal advertising
• Power (sociology)

Coercive techniques, some of which are highly controversial and/or not scientifically proven to be effective:

• Brainwashing
• Coercive persuasion
• Mind control
• Torture

Systems of persuasion for the purpose of seduction:

• Seduction
• Ross Jeffries
• Mystery Method
• Neil Strauss
• David DeAngelo

[edit] References

• Social psychologist Robert Cialdini has written several books exploring the techniques of non-coercive persuasion.
• See Elaboration Likelihood Model for a contemporary theory of persuasion.