Mandatory BLog #2: AR Chap. 7

I agree with the book that " emotions are associated with the body and are thought to be dangerous and superficial" ( Crowley & Hawhee, 247). That's because many people get emotional and become irrational. However, when It all comes down to it emotions is a very powerful tool and is necessary to establish our beliefs. Most of our emotions shape our decision making skills because people want to do the moral thing and that means touching up on our emotions as well as practicality to make the right choice.

The only way emotions can be deemed dangerous is because people may be persuaded to do the wrong things simply through manipulation of emotions. That's why one must understand the way emotions are aroused or quelled. For example, Aristotle says that, " first they must understand the state of mind of people who are angry, joyful or indignant; second, they must know who can excite these emotions in people; third they must understand the reason for why people become emotional" ( Crowley & Hawhee, 251). The intensity of emotions is also noted. The more anger and sadness and joy the closer and near their objects are in time = intensity.

As many rhetoric's who use emotional appeal the most important center piece is the audience. without the audience their is no purpose for spreading the message. Rhetoric's study audiences to test their appeal to emotions and persuasiveness of the audience. One example of a man who did this was Plato. Aristotle was believed to follow Plato in this idea writing, " young people are more passionate then old people, but their emotions pass quickly" ( Crowley & Hawhee, 253). I agree with that statement strongly. If you look at the most persuasive forms of communication, we often think of the media. The media often targets young audiences rather than old and that is precisely why. Young people are more emotional because they are constantly changing and developing, with their hormones ranging out of control. Young people are targeted because they are the most vulnerable to persuasion. They lack developmental maturity, meaning they are not at the same capacity as a adults to make the right decisions and therefore easily influenced. That is why in the U.S there are different laws, or rules for adolescents and adults.

In contrast, older people, as Aristotle states, " tend to be suspicious because their hopes have often been dashed" ( Crowley & Hawhee, 253). I also agree with that statement because many old people often don't trust people because they are wise. Their experiences have shaped them to believe that people can't be trusted because they are only trying to manipulate the elderly. Elderly are at the point where they can no longer be easily as influenced. They are near death, so they have lived there life and waiting to pass over. There is nothing to hope for, as they age they become brittle, and they are not even capable of taking care of themselves. Older people are rarely targeted by the media. The only advertisements directed at them are advertisements dealing with supplements to help with pain and memory loss.