Final answer:
The student's question deals with military strategies and persuasive tactics such as the use of emotional appeals, which are part of Social Studies, particularly at the college level. These tactics suggest influence from Sun Tzu's military principles and rhetorical strategies aimed at influencing through emotion rather than logic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to tactics used in military strategy and appeals to emotion in persuasive tactics, which can be classified under Social Studies, particularly in the fields of military history and rhetoric. The tactics mentioned seem to derive from principles which may be associated with the works of Sun Tzu in The Art of War, and the persuasive techniques related to emotional appeals which are prominent in the study of rhetoric. These concepts are often explored at the college level in courses on military strategy, leadership, and communication.
One tactic described involves placing one's army in a vulnerable position to induce a stronger desire for survival and consequently, a potential victory. This idea parallels Sun Tzu's principle about how soldiers respond when in 'deadly peril'. Moreover, the use of emotional appeals such as fear and terror to compel action is indicative of strategies used in persuasive writing and speeches. Emotional appeals can be complex and multifaceted, targeting a range of emotions from fear to sympathy to motivate the audience.
In the context of military strategy, for instance, a principle is mentioned that resembles water flowing along the path of least resistance, which is a metaphor for avoiding direct confrontations with stronger enemies and instead striking at their weakest points. Similarly, in rhetoric, emotional appeals like fear can be powerful in propelling action as they target the reader or listener's instinctive responses, often bypassing rational analysis.