Final answer:
The two types of persuasion used to modify someone's beliefs or values are the central route, which utilizes factual information and logical arguments, and the peripheral route, which relies on superficial cues like attractiveness and social endorsement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Persuasion in Changing Attitudes and Beliefs -
The two primary routes to persuasion discussed in social psychology are the central route and the peripheral route. The central route to persuasion involves logical arguments and factual evidence to influence beliefs or values. For example, to persuade someone that a car is a good purchase, advertisers might provide data on the car's safety record and fuel efficiency. This route relies on the quality and strength of the information, and if the argument is sound, it can lead to long-lasting attitude change.
On the other hand, the peripheral route to persuasion emphasizes superficial cues rather than factual information. This may include endorsements by celebrities, attractive visuals, or associating the product with positive emotions. While this method can be effective, the resulting attitude change might be more temporary unless reinforced over time.
Attitudes can be internally changed through the process of cognitive dissonance, which occurs when there is a conflict between beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, leading to discomfort that motivates change to reduce the dissonance. Externally, attitudes are influenced by various forms of communication that appeal to logic, emotions, or credibility, such as advertisements, rhetoric employing ethos, logos, pathos, or even propaganda techniques.