Final answer:
Jim was influenced by the peripheral route to persuasion when he decided to buy protein powder advertised by John Cena, a method that focuses on positive associations like celebrity endorsement rather than detailed information about the product.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jim was persuaded by an advertisement with John Cena advertising protein powder, which is an example of the peripheral route to persuasion. This method of persuasion utilizes peripheral cues such as celebrity endorsement rather than focusing on the quality and factual details of the product. The strategy is effective because it associates the product with positive characteristics that do not require analytical thinking or effortful processing from the audience, leading to a more superficial and potentially less permanent attitude change.
Using celebrity figures like athletes in advertisements takes advantage of the source's credibility and attractiveness to persuade the audience. While it often results in immediate positivity towards the product, the long-term impact depends on the credibility of the celebrity endorsing the product.
By contrast, the central route to persuasion would involve a more logic-driven approach, emphasizing the product's quality and features, with effectiveness dependent on the audience’s willingness to engage with and process the information.