Final answer:
Persuasion is the process through which communication is used to influence someone to change their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. This is extensively researched in social psychology, particularly in the Yale attitude change approach and strategies such as the foot-in-the-door technique.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of motivating someone, through communication, to change a particular belief, attitude, or behavior is known as persuasion. Persuasion is a concept that has been thoroughly researched within the field of social psychology, and it involves various techniques and factors that can influence individuals to adjust their views or actions. For example, the Yale attitude change approach, developed by researchers including Hovland, Janis, & Kelley, emphasizes how the source of a message, the content, and the characteristics of the audience impact the effectiveness of persuasive efforts. Additionally, the foot-in-the-door technique illustrates the principle of consistency, where small initial commitments can lead to larger ones over time. This psychological strategy plays on our natural desire to be seen as consistent in our behaviors.