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9: Antisocial Persuasion

  • Page ID
    199328
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    • 9.1: Dieselgate
      In 2013, a West Virginia University study found that Volkswagen’s diesel cars emitted excessive nitrogen oxides, contradicting their low emissions claims. The investigation revealed the use of defeat devices to cheat emissions tests, resulting in a major scandal that cost the company over $30 billion and led to criminal charges against employees. This significantly damaged Volkswagen’s reputation and market value, exposing broader concerns about unethical practices in the industry.
    • 9.2: Antisocial Persuasion
      This page discusses prosocial and antisocial persuasion. Prosocial persuasion is ethical, providing clear information for informed decision-making, while respecting individual choices. In contrast, antisocial persuasion uses manipulative tactics such as deception and coercion to obscure information and limit free choice, often for personal gain.
    • 9.3: Types of Antisocial Persuasion
      This page examines the interconnected concepts of lying, deception, propaganda, manipulation, and coercion, highlighting how they distort reality and influence decision-making. Lying involves intentional falsehoods, while deception can be more subtle. Propaganda uses emotional appeals, and manipulation exploits vulnerability without awareness. Coercion, in contrast, compels actions against free will through threats or force.
    • 9.4: Eleven Points for Speaking Ethically
      This page summarizes Johannesen's "Ethics in Human Communication," which presents eleven principles for ethical persuasive messaging. It stresses avoiding false evidence and unsupported reasoning, maintaining transparency, and accurately representing motives and consequences. Communicators should not rely on irrelevant emotional appeals or oversimplifications. Honesty about personal beliefs and embracing uncertainty are also crucial for upholding ethical standards in communication.
    • 9.5: Defending Against Unwelcome Persuasion
      This page discusses the "inoculation" method for defending against unwanted persuasion, revealing that exposure to weaker messages enhances resistance to stronger ones. Research highlights the importance of teaching individuals to differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate authority appeals to boost resistance. Acknowledging vulnerabilities and recognizing manipulation warning signs is crucial for protection, making awareness an essential defense against persuasive tactics.
    • 9.6: Works Cited
      This page provides a comprehensive works cited list of academic and media sources on deception, manipulation, and ethics in communication, focusing on case studies like the Volkswagen emissions scandal. It includes diverse scholarly articles, news reports, and studies, showcasing multiple perspectives on propaganda and misinformation. The page also emphasizes the collaborative nature of the content, with sections adapted from various works under Creative Commons licenses.


    This page titled 9: Antisocial Persuasion is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Paula Cardwel, Angela Prelip, and Jennifer Graber-Peters (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)) .