Final answer:
Persuasion in the context of social psychology is a message intended to influence people's attitudes and behaviors, utilizing either logical arguments and data (central route) or positive associations and emotional appeal (peripheral route). It's a common part of everyday communications and can also be applied therapeutically in clinical settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Yale attitude change approach, one of the foremost models on persuasion, persuasion best describes a message designed to influence people's attitudes and behaviors. Persuasion is a central concept in social psychology and represents the methods used to convince others to change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. This can involve the central route, which uses logical arguments and data to persuade, and the peripheral route, which relies on positive associations or emotional appeal.
Every day, individuals receive communications aiming to persuade them through various means, such as advertising, personal interactions, and media. Cognitive-behavioral therapists may also use persuasion within a clinical context, aiming to assist clients in changing cognitions and behaviors in a therapeutic setting. However, the nature of persuasion is not inherently manipulative; it becomes so depending on the intentions behind it and the methods used.