Yvette Linders
Yvette Linders

The art and pitfalls of persuasion

As you navigate the endless maze of online and offline temptations, your choices are unknowingly being controlled by invisible algorithms. Together with Peitho, Radboud’s Knowledge Centre for Rhetoric, Radboud Academy is launching a new course on unconscious influence. During this course you will learn about the manipulative effect of others’ messages and there are exercises to enhance the influence of your own message.

This column was written by Yvette Linders, coordinator of Peitho, Knowledge Centre for Retoric at Radboud University. 

In our professional and private life, we are unable to avoid rhetoric - the art of eloquence and persuasion. We try to convey our knowledge effectively and convince people of our opinions. And in the meantime, we are continually being exposed to other people’s attempts to convince us of their viewpoint. Yet, despite our vast experience of persuasion and influence, there is still much to be learned; in fact, there remains a great deal that can be learned about rhetoric, and we can and must continue to evolve. 

Would you like to find out about the implicit methods of unconscious influence? 

In February, Radboud Academy and Peitho, Radboud’s Knowledge Centre for Rhetoric, will be organising the four-part course Manipulation or Discussion - Unconscious Influence. Explore the facets of framing, algorithms and propaganda, focusing on the ethical and unethical aspects of unconscious influence. Find out more about the course and register for a journey into rhetorical insight and awareness

Contact information

Organizational unit
Peitho, Radboud Academy