PSYC 3007
Analyzing Persuasive Communications
Bachelor of Science in Psychology,
Walden University
PSYC 3007: Influence and Persuasion
Analyzing Persuasive Communications
Perloff defines persuasion as an attempt to convince others to change their attitudes or
behavior (Perloff, 2017, pg. 27). Many people feel as if persuasion is a way to easily
manipulate others into doing things that they want them to do. However, persuasion is
involving anything that molds or shapes one decision-making processes. It also the study of
attitudes and how to change them (Perloff, 2020, pg. 3). Persuasion has been a great way to
communicate with the world to help change attitudes toward race, gender, and many other
ongoing issues. An example of persuasion communication that spread throughout social
media and the world expeditiously was the Black Lives Matter campaign. After the first
police brutality toward a black person in
2014, the hashtag #blacklivesmatter trended on Twitter and Instagram. The power of
persuasive communication can have an effect on worldwide issues as well as personal doings.
Based on the persuasive communication chart in which was filled out for this
assignment, it showed how persuasive communication can be unconsciously used to influence
one’s decision- making. A normative theory of ethics adopts a prescriptive approach to things
(Perloff, 2020, pg.
65). Normative theories suggest what people ought to do in light of morals and what is
considered right doing. The two main normative perspectives, utilitarianism, and Kantian
deontological thought will be examined for this assignment. Utilitarianism focuses on moral
, acts that benefit the greatest good and the most significant number of people at large (Perloff,
2020, pg. 65). Ultimately utilitarianism seems morally wrong because it places consequences
ahead of other considerations, such as fairness and truth (Perloff, 2020, pg. 66).
On the other hand, Kant's deontological theory believes that "just because something
gives many people pleasure does not make it right. The mere fact that the majority, however
big, favors a certain law, however intensely, does not make the law just" (Sandel, 2009, p.
106). A deontological theory emphasizes morals, universal obligations, and respect to
individuals as ends in and of themselves. This approach argues that an act's moral value
derives not from the consequence it produces but from the intention from which the act is
performed (Sandel, 2009). Both theories are imperative to consider in this study conducted my
persuasive communication. Based on the entries I have charted, two are based on
utilitarianism thought, and the remaining two are based on Kantian deontological thought.
Interaction #1, which happened at 8:30 a.m., was based on utilitarian thought. In a
brief explanation, the plan was to cook breakfast for me. However, I was persuaded to cook
breakfast for the family if I wanted my mother to cook lunch. In this entry, you can see how I
was persuaded by utilitarian thought. The moral act of making breakfast for everyone instead
of just myself ensured that everyone was being taken care of despite them not having to do
anything else rather than eat the food. In this case, I would still be responsible for washing
dishes and ensuring that clean-up took place. In my opinion, this act of kindness is not fair on
my behalf because though my other family members benefit from the greater good, I am the
only one getting the consequence of still having to clean up and cook for all.
Utilitarianism gives short shrift to other values such as fairness and justice (Perloff,
2020, pg. 66). Based on the second utilitarianism encounter, this interaction occurred during a
Zoom call with my coworker, who persuaded me into teaching the class every morning in
order for her to prep for activity time. Though I agreed to this act which I felt was morally right
to do, I did
Analyzing Persuasive Communications
Bachelor of Science in Psychology,
Walden University
PSYC 3007: Influence and Persuasion
Analyzing Persuasive Communications
Perloff defines persuasion as an attempt to convince others to change their attitudes or
behavior (Perloff, 2017, pg. 27). Many people feel as if persuasion is a way to easily
manipulate others into doing things that they want them to do. However, persuasion is
involving anything that molds or shapes one decision-making processes. It also the study of
attitudes and how to change them (Perloff, 2020, pg. 3). Persuasion has been a great way to
communicate with the world to help change attitudes toward race, gender, and many other
ongoing issues. An example of persuasion communication that spread throughout social
media and the world expeditiously was the Black Lives Matter campaign. After the first
police brutality toward a black person in
2014, the hashtag #blacklivesmatter trended on Twitter and Instagram. The power of
persuasive communication can have an effect on worldwide issues as well as personal doings.
Based on the persuasive communication chart in which was filled out for this
assignment, it showed how persuasive communication can be unconsciously used to influence
one’s decision- making. A normative theory of ethics adopts a prescriptive approach to things
(Perloff, 2020, pg.
65). Normative theories suggest what people ought to do in light of morals and what is
considered right doing. The two main normative perspectives, utilitarianism, and Kantian
deontological thought will be examined for this assignment. Utilitarianism focuses on moral
, acts that benefit the greatest good and the most significant number of people at large (Perloff,
2020, pg. 65). Ultimately utilitarianism seems morally wrong because it places consequences
ahead of other considerations, such as fairness and truth (Perloff, 2020, pg. 66).
On the other hand, Kant's deontological theory believes that "just because something
gives many people pleasure does not make it right. The mere fact that the majority, however
big, favors a certain law, however intensely, does not make the law just" (Sandel, 2009, p.
106). A deontological theory emphasizes morals, universal obligations, and respect to
individuals as ends in and of themselves. This approach argues that an act's moral value
derives not from the consequence it produces but from the intention from which the act is
performed (Sandel, 2009). Both theories are imperative to consider in this study conducted my
persuasive communication. Based on the entries I have charted, two are based on
utilitarianism thought, and the remaining two are based on Kantian deontological thought.
Interaction #1, which happened at 8:30 a.m., was based on utilitarian thought. In a
brief explanation, the plan was to cook breakfast for me. However, I was persuaded to cook
breakfast for the family if I wanted my mother to cook lunch. In this entry, you can see how I
was persuaded by utilitarian thought. The moral act of making breakfast for everyone instead
of just myself ensured that everyone was being taken care of despite them not having to do
anything else rather than eat the food. In this case, I would still be responsible for washing
dishes and ensuring that clean-up took place. In my opinion, this act of kindness is not fair on
my behalf because though my other family members benefit from the greater good, I am the
only one getting the consequence of still having to clean up and cook for all.
Utilitarianism gives short shrift to other values such as fairness and justice (Perloff,
2020, pg. 66). Based on the second utilitarianism encounter, this interaction occurred during a
Zoom call with my coworker, who persuaded me into teaching the class every morning in
order for her to prep for activity time. Though I agreed to this act which I felt was morally right
to do, I did
