Social Psychology: Persuasion Procedure

The scientific research of persuasion’s procedure has been a fundamental aspect of social psychology since the World War II when the Nazi Party, grace to its propaganda drive, was voted by Germans despite the extreme policy it followed (Cialdini, 2001). In the last 30 years, significant research has been conducted concerning the persuasion process and the way it works (e.g., Cialdini, 2001; Crano & Prislin, 2005; Petty & Cacioppo, 1986). Sutton and Douglas (2013), suggest that during the persuasion procedure, individuals’ beliefs and perspectives are effectively influenced by new information provoking this way a change in their attitudes. Although many influential techniques have been detected (e.g., Ingratiation, Reciprocity, Lowball tactic etc.) there are various circumstances when even the strongest ones do not succeed (Jacks & Cameron, 2003; Sutton & Douglas, 2013). The aim of this essay is to make clear why these techniques are unsuccessful by presenting strategies people use to resist persuasion based on social psychological research.

The aim of this essay was to present some effective strategies individuals resort to in order to protect their own opinions and beliefs, causing influence attempts to fail. It can eventually be concluded that not only can persuasion be avoided but there are different resistance strategies, applying to various circumstances that enable individuals to maintain their private ideas and detect suspicious messages which can then be avoided. Either due to the situation they are into, or to their self-concept, or even due to a hostile predisposition towards alternative messages, it is evident that individuals tend to remain loyal to their perspectives and confront even the most adept persuasion