Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Persuasion
See also: Persuasion the last novel written by Jane Austen.
Persuasion is the process of convincing someone to believe or act on something. Dissuasion is the process of convincing someone to not believe or act on something.
The word "persuasion" is usually used in distinction to coercion, which involves the use of violence or other kinds of force, or the threat of such force in order to get someone to act against his will; however, the word "persuasion" has sometimes been used as a euphemism for coercion, as in, "The gangster was very persuasive."
Methods of persuasion
By appeal to reason:
- Argument (especially logical argument)
- Logic
- Scientific method
- Proof
By appeal to emotion:
Aids to persuasion:
Other techniques, which may or may not work:
Coercive techniques, some of which are highly controversial and/or not scientifically proven to be effective:
Ethics and persuasion
The philosopher of ethics, Michael Berumen, requires that one not persuade or coerce another against his will or by making him servile, which, in effect, is to disable his will. Moreover, Berumen says, "the information we provide must not be deceptive, either becasue of misstated facts or the way facts are presented or arranged. Two, the information must be sufficient in order for a person in a position of trust to make an informed decision. And, three, the information must be provided in accordance with any relevant obligations, including the terms of contracts, pertinent laws, or other duties implied by the circumstance."
References
- Berumen, Michael E. Do No Evil: Ethics with Applications to Economic Theory and Business (iUniverse, 2003)
- Social psychologist Robert Cialdini has written several books exploring the techniques of non-coercive persuasion.
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