Final answer:
The easiest component of an audience's belief system to change is an opinion or belief that is weakly supported or based on limited information. Susceptibility to change is influenced by factors such as age, intelligence, and self-esteem. Weakly held beliefs are more easily persuaded to change, particularly when new compelling evidence is presented.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component of the audience's belief system that is easiest to change is likely to be an opinion or belief that is weakly supported or recently acquired. Persuasion research indicates that people with less information, lower intelligence, moderate self-esteem, and younger age are more susceptible to changing their opinions. This susceptibility occurs because the effort required to maintain existing beliefs is less than the effort required to critically examine and potentially revise them. Furthermore, ideological shifts occur more readily when beliefs are not strongly held, and cognitive dissonance is more likely to lead to belief change when individuals are confronted with new, compelling information that conflicts with existing beliefs.
People are more likely to change their beliefs if doing so does not require extensive effort or if the beliefs are not central to their identity. Cultural and social factors also play a significant role; for instance, as individuals grow older and gain independence from their family, their opinions may change. In summary, weakly held beliefs or opinions based on limited information are the most malleable components of an audience's belief system.