The infinite variety of persuasion topics covers almost the whole range of human activity. Politicians at international meetings, business people at all levels and small girls are all engaging constantly in persuasive activities. Probably, of all the operators it is the small girls who achieve the best results without any formal training.
At the age of five or six grown adult males are like putty in their fingers. A few tears or woeful looks can persuade a father to drive hundreds of kilometers or spend money that he does not have. As they grow older they become even better and will soon be persuading young men to risks their lives and careers for the sake of demonstrating love.
Sometimes people are made to do things through threats, force or bullying. This does not qualify as persuading. Gangsters who collect protection money have no persuasive powers whatsoever. Extortion lacks the elements of guile and inducement which are essential aspects of making people do things voluntarily of their own free will.
An element of choice is always part of the persuasive process. It was interesting to observe on TV how America set about convincing countries to declare war on Iraq. Some allies were reluctant to do so. They dragged their heals and cast about for reasons why they should not engage. That was when the threats associated with 'weapons of mass destruction' were brought forward.
It seems that moral suasion is not as powerful as naked threats of force. Other countries were persuaded to support America's wish to invade Iraq, but only when weapons of mass destruction were mentioned. The sufferings of ordinary people were not effective as persuasive tools, but threats of violence were.
In the business world marketing and sales techniques revolve around persuasive techniques. Target audiences are identified and painstakingly gambits are designed to play upon the needs of these audiences. For example men are encouraged to borrow extensively an buy cars that seem to exemplify their success, even though the car may in effect be owned by a bank.
Persuasion topics rise to perfection in domestic spheres. The female gender is, on the whole, a great deal more adept than their male counterparts. In fact their skills, used almost as soon as they are born, develop as they grow older and are probably at their height at that point in their lives when beauty and experience combine so powerfully that they can convince a man to do almost anything.
At the age of five or six grown adult males are like putty in their fingers. A few tears or woeful looks can persuade a father to drive hundreds of kilometers or spend money that he does not have. As they grow older they become even better and will soon be persuading young men to risks their lives and careers for the sake of demonstrating love.
Sometimes people are made to do things through threats, force or bullying. This does not qualify as persuading. Gangsters who collect protection money have no persuasive powers whatsoever. Extortion lacks the elements of guile and inducement which are essential aspects of making people do things voluntarily of their own free will.
An element of choice is always part of the persuasive process. It was interesting to observe on TV how America set about convincing countries to declare war on Iraq. Some allies were reluctant to do so. They dragged their heals and cast about for reasons why they should not engage. That was when the threats associated with 'weapons of mass destruction' were brought forward.
It seems that moral suasion is not as powerful as naked threats of force. Other countries were persuaded to support America's wish to invade Iraq, but only when weapons of mass destruction were mentioned. The sufferings of ordinary people were not effective as persuasive tools, but threats of violence were.
In the business world marketing and sales techniques revolve around persuasive techniques. Target audiences are identified and painstakingly gambits are designed to play upon the needs of these audiences. For example men are encouraged to borrow extensively an buy cars that seem to exemplify their success, even though the car may in effect be owned by a bank.
Persuasion topics rise to perfection in domestic spheres. The female gender is, on the whole, a great deal more adept than their male counterparts. In fact their skills, used almost as soon as they are born, develop as they grow older and are probably at their height at that point in their lives when beauty and experience combine so powerfully that they can convince a man to do almost anything.
About the Author:
Persuasion topics are items such as advertisements to change the thinking of a potential consumer. Convincing someone to purchase a product is a form of persuasive speaking.
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