Persuasive Communication

1. Explain what this cartoon is saying about persuasive communication:

2. One day at a golf tournament, a friend and I were convinced to drink several Red Bull energy drinks. We both knew the negative effects energy drinks have, yet we drank several. The Red Bull booth was a large, colorful, booth advertising free cans of Red Bull in a variety of new flavors. The booth workers were several young, attractive, women, dressed in shorts and tank tops. Looking back,  it seems this is a perfect example of "peripheral route"  persuasion. Have you ever experienced this type of persuasion? Provide an example from your own life.

3. One of the toughest choices any speaker makes is how to use  "ethical persuasion."  The author of our textbook claims speakers should always do this. But is this possible? Is it wise? Answer each of these questions with an interesting example. Your answers do not have to be based on personal experience. They can be hypothetical.

Ethical behavior: do not break the law - do not speed : Give me an example when unethical behavior might be necessary and beneficial.

Ethical behavior: always tell the truth - do not lie:  Give me an example when unethical behavior might be necessary and beneficial.

Ethical behavior: be forthcoming - do not keep secrets:  Give me an example when unethical behavior might be necessary and beneficial.

Ethical behavior: be kind and gentle - do not harm others (this might be hard):  Give me an example when unethical behavior might be necessary and beneficial.

(The point of this last question is NOT to convince you to behave unethically. It is to point out that being ethical is not always easy.)