Whether you are watching your favorite television show or shopping at your local grocery store, you are surrounded by persuasion. On a daily basis we are exposed to product commercials, peer pressure, and billboards, each persuading us to change our opinions or take action. If it was not for persuasion, people would not buy the products they buy, wear the clothes they wear, or even hang out with the people they spend all of their time with.
People of all ages are targeted with persuasion, as well as all types of people. But when does it become manipulation and no longer persuasion? Above all else, the persuader’s motives are most important. Is the persuader trying to get you to change your mind and use their product, or is he or she trying to manipulate you into using or doing something by using unethical fear of appeals?
Manipulation comes into effect when the act of persuasion is justified or unjustified.
This ad is an example of justified persuasion because the persuader has an ethical motivation. The ad is trying to persuade people not to smoke around children because they are easily affected by second-hand smoke.
This ad is an example of unjustified persuasion, which can also be referred to as manipulation. The persuader has an unethical motivation. He or she is trying to manipulate people into smoking by using a celebrity to appeal to them, when they know that smoking is unhealthy.
Persuasion is used on a daily basis to manipulate us into using certain products or making certain decisions that are sometimes unethical. We need to be careful about what we let persuade us and not fall into the trap of manipulation.
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