Why is persuasion important in an open society?In an open society we are presented with certain opportunities that other cultures and countries are not. Ever since human beings have been able to want and desire, he has also possessed the urge to direct others to see what he sees.
Rhetoric, propaganda, persuasion, these are all just words describing the same thing. Methods of persuasion are all around us. The devices from which we are persuaded come from a number of different places such as advertisements on television, blogs, the internet, radio, colleges, family & friends, and more.One can hope they are well equipped and have a strong ethical tool box. Not everyone tells the truth, so persuasion in open society can be a dangerous thing.
Not everyone educates themselves; some people will simply believe what they are fed if they are well persuaded. Not everyone is of strong moral character. Many are capable of lying, therefore it is important to educate ourselves and hone in on the skills needed to smell out false information. The art of persuasion can be a very good thing. Persuasion can be positive when the intensions of the source are based in sound ethics.A pastor can persuade a congregation to perform volunteer work in a community.
The community work brings a community together and strengthens those involved. As we know not all men are full of good intentions. In fact some are misguided. A person skilled in persuasion is dangerous, because persuasion can also be used for evil. When the message is delivered by an amoral or misguided source, the outcome can be gruesome, as in the case of Jim Jones and his unfortunate followers.The content of the message is important but also whoever gives the message has an effect on people? acceptance of it.
The major determinant to the communicator’s success is his/her perceived credibility and attractiveness. Goode, Erica (2000) Credibility or believability is determined by the communicator? s appearance as an expert or as someone who can be trusted. Expertise is established when the communicator is introduced as someone who has a great deal of knowledge concerning the topic of conversation. Goode, Erica (2000) When the communicator relays viewpoints that are identical to the audience she/he will be perceived as smart.
Also, to project an image of expertise it is necessary to speak confidently and without hesitating. Goode, Erica (2000) Trustworthiness of the communicator is assumed if direct eye contact issued and speech is rapid. If the speaker is seen as not trying to influence or is arguing a position that is against their personal interest they will be considered trustworthy. Goode, Erica (2000) An attractive communicator has certain qualities, like physical appeal and similarity that draw in the audience.If the arguments of the attractive speaker are more readily accepted, central route persuasion has occurred or if we are persuaded by the unconnected positive association between the communicator and the product there has been peripheral route persuasion. Goode, Erica (2000) Persuasion is constant; the good news is that whether you are persuaded or not is completely up to you.
At some point in life, someone or something has attempted to influence your way of thinking. The way we perceive certain cultures, what we worship, and what brand of soda we drink at some point has all been influenced by someone or something.As the world progresses and becomes ever-more linked via information systems, we find that the world we live in is getting smaller. Places previously untouched by western society are much more within reach consequently the world is being exposed to more information from different sources. The factors that influence us in today’s society are known as the Seven Faces of Persuasion. The Seven Faces of Persuasion characterize the factors and processes involved in persuasion that are central to life in the twenty-first century, and each one can impact the numerous persuasive messages we encounter each day.
Larson P. 7)Important topics such as politics are most definitely influenced by persuasive media platforms, such as Fox News and CNN. It is important to arm yourself with knowledge. Although we Americans love to have seven different coffee shops and twelve different cell phone companies to choose from, it is up to us to dig deeper than the surface.
Persuasion is important in an open society because the freedom to choose is as important as freedom itself. 2. Compare and contrast these theories: SMCR, Inoculation Theory, The Boomerang effect, and Rank’s Model of Persuasion.Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each theory. Persuasion is the force exerted to influence behavior that includes a reflected change in attitude. Everyday we are bombarded with messages from people who wish to influence our behavior and attitudes.
Persuasion can be used to accomplish good as well as bad. When trying to persuade someone, there are two different methods from which to choose the central and peripheral routes. The central route persuades by using direct arguments and pertinent information. The peripheral route persuades people by association with incidental cues that are pleasing to the senses.The central route is used to reach people who are more motivated and analytical, while people who are less analytical and less involved are more likely to be influenced by the peripheral route. Dolan, R.
J. (2002) In advertising a combination of the two is common and effective. Computer ads rely primarily on the central route, because their target audiences are perceived as highly analytical. Promotional advertising for alcohol and tobacco products employ the peripheral route because they wish to draw attention away from the possible negative effects that they are, in reality, associated with.To truly understand the effects of persuasion it is necessary to break the act down to its smaller components. a) The SCMR theory is known as not only one of the oldest models of persuasion but one of the most simplistic, easy to understand, and most widely referenced.
SMCR stands for the four stages of persuasion according to Shannon and Weaver’s (1949), (S) source, (M) message, (C) channel, (R) and receiver. The SMCR theory is simple, this makes it appealing. The SMCR theory can translate well into many different situations and scenarios, which makes it a practical model to follow.This method will work as long as there is no room for grey area. If there are two parties trying to do the persuading or if there is more than one individual to persuade, where do you add these subjects to the model? Usually there are more factors involved because of the number of choices and sources. The source or persuader is where message originates from.
The persuader is the person who encodes the message and could be a person or company. The persuader may try to apply tactics meant to provoke emotions in the receiver. For example, an advertisement on television may use words to grab the attention of viewers.If they are looking for donations to help underprivileged kids, they may say help the “poor starving children of country X”. When used together, the words starving & children can stir emotions in a lot of people. In this case the television would be the channel.
The channel is the platform in which the message is delivered. Different channels include the television, radio, or through the words.The information is decoded by the receiver. Receiver refers to the one decoding the message and reacting to the information given by the source.
) The inoculation Theory “is probably the foremost strategy for helping others resist persuasion. ” (Larson P. 101). This method is important because people need to be able to choose not to fallow damaging information. Empowerment comes from within by becoming educated and then judging the information being delivered for yourself. c) The boomerang affect is basically the opposite of what a salesman wants.
When the message you sent has the exact opposite of what it was intended, you are not reaching your goal of persuasion.If you are trying to sell a car to a customer and a feature you tell the customer about actually repels them away from the car you were trying to sell them, you just witnessed the boomerang affect first hand. d) Hugh Rank’s Model of Persuasion states that persuaders use two major strategies to achieve their goals. These strategies are nicely set into two main schemas known as intensify, and downplay. Rank’s model of persuasion gives four major persuasive strategies and six associated tactics frequently used by persuaders which critical receivers can identity.
These tactics are used to downplay to sender’s own weak points or the good points of the opposing brands, candidates, causes, or ideologies. Dolan, R. J. (2002) 3) How are emotions used to persuade? Reason and evidence are not always the only ingredients people use to come to a conclusion. Emotions cater to people’s egos and actions can trigger emotions, if someone feels good about helping wild animals, for example, the chances that they will be more easily swayed than you or me by a commercial pleading for donations to help orphaned lion cubs in Africa, is possible.
People follow logic as they perceive it and at their own level.Aristotle identified three forms of “proof” available to the persuader: logical, emotional, and ethical. Although he did not specifically note that the presence of one does not cancel out the other. ” (Woodward, P.
94). When “hot button” topics are on the table, people who come to conclusions using emotions over logic are much more likely to believe what they are being fed. 4) After explaining the consistency theory, give a specific example of how you would use this theory to persuade someone to pay off his home. You may use the EBSCO for the research on this question only.The consistency theory means that “our expectations about future events, the behavior of other persons, and so on, ought to live up to or be consistent with what we expect.
” (Larson P. 198). To put his theory to practical use when trying to convince a neighbor to pay off his house, I would bring up the fact that history repeats itself. This in itself is using the consistency theory to persuade him to pay off his home. I would explain that paying off his house now will save him money monthly that he could put into other investments that have shown positive growth despite the plunging economy.I would talk also about the housing markets outlook for positive growth over the next several years and point out that the house will sell for far more than he paid for it, depending on how much he paid for the home.
Also, the interest rate on his home loan will certainly remain consistent until the home is paid off. If the interest rate on his home loan is 5%, once paid off, he can use the money he would have paid in interest to invest. A home you pay out of pocket for monthly is an expense, but a home paid for becomes an asset.
