Convincing Based on Logic and Facts a Losing Proposition
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We all like to think how smart, sophisticated and logical we are. We think we can’t be manipulated by people trying to use our emotions in order to get us to buy something or agree to someone’s opinion. We may be overestimating ourselves. The truth is an argument based on an emotional appeal has a greater chance of getting someone to agree with you than facts that support your position, according to an article in Quartz.
Rob Yeung, a psychologist and author of How to Stand Out, states the most effective strategy to win an argument may be to use emotion, not logic & facts. He states that people who smoke or are overweight know they’re not healthy, but that doesn’t change their minds. Facts aren’t always enough to motivate people to change because people don’t pay attention to facts, but they can be convinced if given the appropriate emotional argument.
Logic & Facts
Yeung says there are some facts to back up his argument. Researchers have found those who cannot process emotions have difficulty making decisions, which suggests that the two are related. Which emotional appeal to use in an argument depends on the topic, the people involved and the situation. Yeung warns that there are many options so you need to choose wisely to be effective.
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