PERSUASIVE DEFINITION:able to influence others by argument, entreaty, counsel, or protest CATEGORIES:achievement, identity, interactive SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:compelling, convincing, eloquent, influential POSSIBLE CAUSES: Being naturally charismatic Being passionate about a certain subject Confidence Desiring to enlighten or educate others Having a knack for reading people and influencing them Knowing how to speak, write, or otherwise present matter in the most appealing way ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Being charming Inspiring trust in others Instinctively knowing the right thing to say Paying close attention to others Being a charismatic speaker Listening actively Reading others well Carefully tailoring one’s approach to the audience Being confident Having a reputation as someone who knows one’s stuff Being passionate Showing vulnerability in order to gain empathy Persuading others through results; doing what one says one will accomplish Knowing what concerns people care about and having answers ready Showing extreme dedication to one’s cause Being diplomatic Staying focused on the end result Relating to people; finding common ground Sticking to one’s beliefs Saying the same thing in many different ways Using different methods to persuade different kinds of people Speaking and acting with authority and confidence Voicing one’s opinion as fact Remaining calm in the face of opposition Expressing empathy for others Using humor to disarm others and put them at ease Anticipating objections and providing solutions that address concerns Viewing opposition as an opportunity to win someone over Being a skilled debater Speaking of one’s weaknesses so they look like strengths Studying the art of persuasion Thanking people for listening and weighing in Showing respect for others Treating each concern seriously Promising to follow up or look into areas one was unable to address Encouraging people to have an open mind Proving credibility through one’s knowledge rather than citing one’s résumé ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: How can I win this guy over? What’s the best approach with this group? I’m right about this; now I just have to convince everyone else. If I emphasize the positives, they’ll forget about the negatives. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:confidence, determination, excitement POSITIVE ASPECTS:Persuasive characters are passionate. It is often their zeal and devotion, as much as their eloquence, that convinces people to jump on the bandwagon. Characters with the gift of persuasion are charismatic and charming, drawing others to themselves. Their successes often occur due to their ability to read people and relate to different people groups. This trait can enable these characters to elicit change and make a difference in their communities and the world at large. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Persuasive characters are charming. Due to the ease with which they read people, it can be easy for them to slip into a manipulative role, telling others what they want to hear and faking concern in an effort to win them over. Because of their passion and the belief that their cause is just, they can also become frustrated or angry when people don’t come around to their way of thinking. EXAMPLE FROM HISTORY:Many words have been used to describe Winston Churchill, but most would agree thatpersuasiveis entirely appropriate. He was a student of rhetoric and public speaking. His speeches were motivational, inspirational, and carefully crafted weapons of persuasion, winning over a lukewarm parliament and encouraging his people to never give up hope, even in the midst of defeat. To this day, he is believed to be a master of persuasive speaking, and his techniques are studied by those wishing to motivate and inspire others.Other Examples from Literature and Film:Sherlock Holmes, Harvey Dent (The Dark Knight), Dr. King Schultz (Django Unchained) TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:confrontational, disrespectful, intolerant, pretentious, sleazy, stubborn, timid CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE PERSUASIVE CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Having to persuade others about something that goes against one’s moral code PLOTLINE: Having to choose whether or not to use immoral means to persuade one’s audience PLOTLINE: Facing an actively hostile audience PLOTLINE: Being reluctantly persuasive; being good at influencing but not wanting a leadership role