Final answer:
When attempting to influence opinion against a person by labeling them a 'loser,' one is using the 'name calling' technique; a form of ad hominem propaganda targeting the person's character rather than the content of their arguments.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person tries to turn others against someone by calling them a loser, this is an example of name calling, one of the propaganda techniques.
The act of calling someone a loser in order to persuade others against that person falls under the category of ad hominem attacks, often referred to as name calling. This propaganda technique targets the individual's character rather than addressing the substance of their arguments or positions. It is designed to discredit the person in the eyes of others by attaching a negative label to them, thereby manipulating the audience's emotions. By making the target seem undesirable, the speaker hopes to sway public opinion without having to engage in logical debate or provide evidence against the target's views or actions. This strategy is often used in political campaigns as a form of negative campaigning known as "mud-slinging". The effectiveness of such an approach relies on people's tendency to associate negative traits with the credibility of someone's argument, regardless of the argument's actual merits.