Question

The word persuasion turns some people off. What negative connotations can it have? Explain in your own words.

Answer 1

Persuasion is the action or task of persuading someone else or of being persuaded to do or believe something by somebody else.This definition does not have a negative meaning on the face of it or per se but many a times when it is used in the day to day communication speech it is often interpreted to mean coercion, manipulation, brainwashing ,blackmail, etc.

The general understanding or connotation is that someone or something is trying to get another person to do something that they would not have normally under the those circumstances done. The meaning of the term “ persuasion” is many a times taken out of context.

There is a negative connotation attached to the word “persuasion” because mostly this term is considered as an unethical act when that act of persuasion is for the purpose of personal gain of the person indulging in that persuasion at the expense of another.

To sum it up the general connotation attached to the word “persuasion” is that some other person or something is trying to get the other person to do that he or she would not otherwise do but was the intention or was in the mind of the person who is persuading.