ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the pervasive nature of persuasion and offers a rationale for learning more about its workings. It approaches the issue of what constitutes persuasion and related terms such as social influence and compliance gaining. The book addresses ethical concerns surrounding the study and practice of persuasion more specifically. It also addresses a number of ethical questions related to various strategies and techniques of persuasion discussed throughout the text. The book also examines how and why persuasion functions the way it does. It identifies some of the theories and findings by persuasion researchers. The book also offers useful advice on how to become a more effective persuader and how to resist influence attempts, especially unethical influence attempts, by others.