How to Dissuade People
An effective grasp of dissuasion can be as important to any speaker as a mastery of persuasion. In public speaking, it is often as paramount to turn a group of people off a certain path as it is to convince them that your ideas are worth endorsing. However, dissuasion can be quite difficult. Much like the act of persuasion, it is possible to exercise it both subtly or overtly by taking advantage of distinct psychological techniques.
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Instructions
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Chat about the decision or issue in a friendly, informal manner. You don't need to offer a convincing argument right off the bat. In fact, you're more likely to be successful if you take your time and get on good terms with the people you're speaking with. It is important to remember that people are better motivated to adopt your point of view if they think you've got their best interests at heart.
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Make sure the people you are trying to dissuade are aware that you are extremely familiar with the issue at hand. Express a familiarity with all sides of the issue, including the viewpoint you are trying to dissuade them from. If there is any credibility to their position, acknowledge it. Yielding minor points can bolster their image of you. Moreover, as long as the strengths of your position outweigh the strengths of theirs, it shouldn't make a difference to your case.
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Give the people you're trying to dissuade something -- anything -- of value and they may accept your point of view out of a feeling of owing you a favor.The commonly accepted law of reciprocity is a psychological truth that states that people are inclined to respond to gifts or kindness with a desire to give something back in return. This concept doesn't just apply to material goods.
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Use -- or at least refer to -- people your target audience respects that have adopted your point of view. Celebrity endorsements of political figures are great examples of this. It's common because it works. A common advertising trick is to associate a product with people or things a target audience likes or respects. This works for dissuasion too.
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Make convincing arguments. There is no substitute for clear and confident arguments that take into account the evidence and offer reasoned conclusions. Informing people that their course of action is misinformed cannot be achieved without effective argumentation. Once all the other psychological tricks and advantages have been employed, this is the surest way to dissuade your audience.
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Thank the people you are trying to dissuade for their consideration, regardless of any definite decision they may or may not make. After all, people can always change their minds after the fact. By being respectful, you have the best chance of dissuading them from supporting a given perspective.
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Tips & Warnings
People tend to favor people who are like themselves. Align yourself with your target population as much as you possibly can. The more they think you're one of them, the more likely they are to both trust you and hear you out.
If you have any personal stake or bias in the issue, you'd better either come clean and be honest or hide it well. If the people you're trying to dissuade find out on their own, they may disregard your arguments out of a lack of trust.
References
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