Everyday we are bombarded by countless messages that attempt to persuade us to do, buy, or think certain things. We also spend innumerable hours attempting to persuade others. Since persuasion is such a pervasive part of our lives, it is important to understand persuasive techniques and how they function. Without this understanding we could go mindlessly through life, and never know what we have been thoughtlessly persuaded to do.
Persuasion is a very complex concept.
There are many different types of persuasion and different techniques used to achieve desired effects. Two broad forms of persuasion are peripheral and central. Persuasive actions can be effective in either of these formats. Non-profit organizations use both peripheral and central routes of persuasion. Which format a certain persuasive message takes mostly depends on the recipient s interest in and sensitivity to the subject.