Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Propaganda, Persuasion & Deception

The quotes I like are 531, 548, 602, and 622.
Quote 531 is:
The persuasiveness of a low-credibility communicator can be enhanced when he argues against his own best interest, or when he is identified after, rather than before, presentation of his appeal. 
-Marvin Karlins and Herbert I. Abelson
I agree with this statement because I have noticed such a phenomenon in my own experience. I sometimes find myself believing the one who argues against his own best interest because it adds a lot of credibility. When one does this, he is arguing for a side that would not benefit him, so the point he is making must be important. Such an appeal to credibility is a strong use of the ethos side of persuasion. For instance, if there were a very wealthy politician arguing against tax cuts for the rich, I would be more inclined to believe him because he is not benefiting from the outcome of the decision.

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