Communication 265g Persuasion Paper: Select A Situation

Communication 265g Persuasion Paperselect A Situation Where Persuasion

Communication 265G Persuasion Paper Select a situation where persuasion is desired; using a personal example with your family or with an organization that you belong to would be best. Drawing from the relevant sections of Chapter 15 and especially from the detailed discussion in the commentary to Chapter 15 (remember to click, identify, define and apply how you could use Cialdini’s six peripheral methods of persuasion and Burke’s notion of Consubstantiation (Identification). Your paper should: 1) Describe the situation where persuasion was necessary. The best thing to do is choose a persuasive situation that you are personally involved in. 2) Explain the general idea behind Cialdini’s theory and how it works on the peripheral level rather than the central path to bring about persuasion; then show how you would specifically apply Cialdini’s six strategies to the situation. 3) When applying those, remember to first identify and define each of the strategies (reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity ). 4) Explain for each strategy, what mechanism was at play that would be working to cause persuasion. 5) Identify, define and show how Burke’s concept of Identification could be applied to the situation. Paper should be 2-3 pages long, proof-read, standard font size and style, have a standard essay format: introduction (attention getter, thesis statement, preview), body (main points and supporting material), and conclusion (summary and memorable reinforcement of central idea). If you just use definitions from my commentary, no additional citation is necessary.

Paper For Above instruction

Persuasion is an essential aspect of human communication, especially when guiding others toward a particular behavior or belief. In this paper, I will explore a personal situation where persuasion was necessary within my family to encourage my parents to support my decision to pursue a graduate degree abroad. By applying Robert Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion and Kenneth Burke’s concept of Consubstantiation, I will demonstrate how these theories operate on both peripheral and identification levels to influence attitudes and behaviors effectively.

The situation I chose involved convincing my parents to approve my plan to study overseas, which they initially hesitated to support due to concerns about distance, safety, and financial costs. Persuading them required understanding their viewpoints, addressing their concerns, and subtly influencing their perceptions through strategic communication techniques rooted in social psychology. This scenario is typical of many persuasive encounters, where the goal is not just to provide logical arguments but to engage emotional and social cues that influence decision-making on a subconscious level.

Cialdini’s Principles of Persuasion and Their Application

Robert Cialdini’s six principles—reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity—offer a framework for understanding how peripheral cues can foster persuasion without deep cognitive processing. These strategies leverage automatic response mechanisms rooted in social and psychological conditioning rather than purely rational deliberation.

Reciprocation

This principle suggests that people feel obliged to return favors or kindnesses. To apply reciprocation, I acknowledged my parents’ past sacrifices and expressed gratitude for their support, subtly reminding them of the mutual trust and care that underpins our relationship. By doing so, I activated their sense of obligation, making them more receptive to my request as a return gesture of previously given support.

Commitment and Consistency

This principle refers to people's desire to act consistently with their prior commitments. I encouraged my parents to verbalize their support for my educational aspirations, which increased the likelihood that they would stay consistent with their expressed beliefs. Once they committed verbally, they were more inclined to follow through with their approval as it would align with their previous statements.

Social Proof

People tend to look to others' behaviors when uncertain. I highlighted success stories of students who studied abroad and received my parents’ acquaintances’ positive feedback about international education, thereby leveraging social proof to normalize and legitimize my decision.

Liking

This principle involves building rapport and likability. I focused on establishing a warm, respectful tone, sharing personal stories, and expressing genuine appreciation for their perspectives, increasing their overall liking for me and, thus, making them more susceptible to persuasion.

Authority

People are influenced by credible, authoritative figures. I presented supporting evidence from reputable educational consultants and academic advisors, thereby increasing my credibility and reassuring my parents of the viability and safety of my plan.

Scarcity

This strategy involves highlighting the limited nature of opportunities. I emphasized the unique benefits of the specific program I was interested in and the competitive nature of admissions, which created a sense of urgency and value, motivating them to support my application before the opportunity vanished.

Burke’s Concept of Consubstantiation (Identification)

Kenneth Burke’s notion of Consubstantiation emphasizes the importance of identification in persuasion—the process of aligning oneself with the audience’s values, beliefs, and perceptions. In my situation, I employed identification by sharing common goals, values around education and future success, and personal stories that resonated with my parents’ aspirations for me. By framing my motivation as aligned with their desire for my well-being and future stability, I fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose, making my persuasive appeal more compelling.

Conclusion

Through applying Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion on the peripheral level and Burke’s concept of Consubstantiation, I successfully urged my parents to support my decision to study abroad. These approaches demonstrate that persuasion extends beyond logical argumentation; it involves engaging social, emotional, and identity-based mechanisms. Recognizing and ethically utilizing these strategies can significantly enhance one’s ability to influence others in personal and organizational contexts, ultimately fostering understanding and cooperation toward shared goals.

References

• Cialdini, R. B. (2009). Influence: Science and practice. Harper Business.
• Burke, K. (1969). A rhetoric of motives. University of California Press.
• Perloff, R. M. (2010). The dynamics of persuasion: Communication and attitudes in the 21st century. Routledge.
• Finnegan, J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2004). Digital media and persuasion: A rhetorical perspective. MIT Press.
• Griskevicius, V., Cialdini, R. B., & Kenrick, D. T. (2006). Evolutionary social psychology. In The social psychology of influence (pp. 55–77). Springer.
• Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). The elaboration likelihood model of persuasion. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 19, 123–205.
• O’Keefe, D. J. (2002). Persuasion: Theory and research. Sage Publications.
• Reardon, K. K. (1984). Developing a persuasive message. Journal of Business Communication, 21(4), 43-50.
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• Maio, G. R., & Olson, J. M. (2000). Values, attitudes, and decisions. In The handbook of social psychology (pp. 934–956). McGraw-Hill.