Persuasion: Reception and Responsibility / Edition 12

by Charles U. Larson

Overview

Larson helps students become consumers of persuasion. The text presents persuasion through the examination of various aspects of popular culture—politics, mass media, advertising, and the information superhighway—as they exemplify and teach critical theories of persuasion. Its focus on language and focus on critical thinking are combined with readability and current verbal and visual examples of persuasion in action. Woven throughout this framework, coverage of persuasion theory, research, and ethics is consistently and repeatedly tied back to the theme of the book—developing students to be critical consumers of all forms of persuasion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780495567509
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	02/24/2009
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dr. Charles Larson received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and began teaching at Northern Illinois University in 1968. He taught full time until May 2000 and then taught on a part-time emeritus status until 2002. In 2001, Dr. Larson and a former student launched a full-service advertising agency, where he now devotes his time when he is not fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, gardening, or singing bass for a barbershop group or choir.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: THEORETICAL PREMISES. 1. PERSUASION IN TODAY'S WORLD. Persuasion in an Information Age. Persuasion in a Technological World. Doublespeak in a Persuasion-Filled World. Defining Persuasion—From Aristotle to Burke. Criteria for Responsible Persuasion. The SMCR Model of Persuasion. Rank's Model of Persuasion. Self-Protection: A Method. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Thought. References. 2. PERSPECTIVES ON ETHICS IN PERSUASION. Ethical Responsibility. Responsibilities of Receivers. Some Ethical Perspectives. Ethics, Propaganda, and the Demagogue. Ethical Standards for Political Persuasion. Ethical Standards for Commercial Advertising. The Ethics of Subliminal Persuasion. The Ethics of International Ambiguity and Vagueness. The Ethics of Nonverbal Communication. The Ethics of Racist/Sexist Language. Some Feminist Views on Persuasion. Ethical Standards for Interpersonal Communication. Ethics and Personal Character. Improving Ethical Judgment. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 3. APPROACHES TO PERSUASION RESEARCH. The Persuasion Research Continuum. Qualitative Research Theory and Methods. Quantitative Research Methods and Theory. Mass-Media Effects Theory and Research. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 4. THE MAKING, USE, AND MISUSE OF SYMBOLS. Language and Its Roots. Langer's Approach to Language Use. The Semantic Approach to Language Use. Kenneth Burke's Approach to Language Use. The Semiotic Approach to Language Use. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 5. TOOLS FOR ANALYZING LANGUAGE AND OTHER SYMBOLS. Dimensions of Language. The Power of Symbolic Expression. Tools forAnalyzing Persuasive Symbols. Tools for the Thematic Dimension. Gender and Style. Tuning Your Ears for Language Cues. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. PART TWO: IDENTIFYING PERSUASIVE FIRST PREMISES. 6. PROCESS PREMISES: THE TOOLS OF MOTIVATION. Needs: The First Process Premise. Attitudes: The Second Process Premise. Consistency: The Third Process Premise. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 7. CONTENT PREMISES IN PERSUASION. What is Proof? Types of Evidence. Types of Reasoning. Tests of Reasoning and Evidence. Common Fallacies Used in persuasion. Logical Syllogisms. The Toulmin Format. Research on the Effects of Evidence. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 8. CULTURAL PREMISES IN PERSUASION. Cultural Patterns. Cultural and Societal Pressure. Cultural Images and Myths. Image (Charisma) or Ethos as a Cultural Premise. Presence of an American Value System. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 9. NONVERBAL MESSAGES IN PERSUASION. Nonverbal Channels. Chronemics: The Use of Time. Gender Differences in Nonverbal Communication. Dialect. Use of Nonverbal Tactics. Other Nonverbal Messages. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. PART THREE: APPLICATIONS OF PERSUASIVE PREMISES. 10. THE PERSUASIVE CAMPAIGN OR MOVEMENT. The Role of Communication in Campaigns. Campaign Versus "Single-Shot" Persuasive Messages. Types of Campaigns. Goals, Strategies, and Tactics in Product, Person, and Ideological Campaigns. Developmental Stages of Successful Campaigns. Other Communication Characteristics of Campaigns. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 11. BECOMING A PERSUADER. Knowing Your Audience. Forms of Organization. Forms of Proof. Building Your Credibility. Wording Your Message. Delivering Your Message. Some Common Tactics of Persuasion. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 12. MODERN MEDIA AND PERSUASION. Media Innovations. Schwartz's Perspectives on Media Use. McLuhan's Perspective on Media Use. Agenda Setting by the media. Role Modeling and the Media. News Manipulation and Persuasion. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 13. THE TECHNIQUES OF PROPAGANDA. What Propaganda Isn't. The Tactics of Propaganda. Contemporary Perspectives on Propaganda. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. 14. THE USE OF PERSUASIVE PREMISES IN ADVERTISING. Advertising and Culture. Advertising, Sales Promotion, and Positioning. Getting into the Consumer's Head: Advertising Research. From Research to Copy: The Languages of Advertising. Language Use in Advertising: Wrighter's Model. Deceptive Claims in Advertising. Changes in Our World: Implication for Advertising. Sexual Appeals and Subliminal Persuasion in Advertising. Review and Conclusion. Questions for Further Thought. References. Epilogue. Index.