1. What is the difference between Mindless versus Mindful Persuasion? Provide examples of each and talk about how this form or persuasion is achieved. What are the lasting effects of each type of persuasion?
2. Cults are strong persuasive groups that indoctrinate people via various methods. Watch the following 10-minute video that discusses how cults work (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxJyfqeaKU8&feature=related). Discuss the common elements of cults as detailed by the video. In researching this topic, are there any other characteristics that are effective in cults, which were not discussed in the video?
3. Pick a form of propaganda (there are several examples in the chapter) and discuss the context of the time it was implemented. What did the propaganda entail? Was the propaganda effective or not? Finally, discuss the elements of persuasion that were considered when developing and implementing the propaganda.
4. How do the concepts of group polarization and groupthink play into the capital insurrection that occurred in early January 2021? Are there other group influencing concepts that may play into people’s decision to storm the capital of the United States?