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Consider 3 scenarios:
1) Advertising - You've graduated with a degree in behavioural economics. A company hires you to give them a consultation in regards to the subconscious psychological cues and other nudging effects they can use to make their product more palatable to consumers. A guy in the grocery store walks by a sign that leads him down an aisle where the product in question is on display. Your marketing tactics lead to him make a purchase that he otherwise wouldn't have.
2) Bar Night - You've got a crush on a girl you work with. You've asked her out to dinner twice, but been turned down both times simply because she "isn't interested". One night the office goes out to a bar to celebrate the acquisition of a new premiere client. You've both had a couple drinks - nothing too serious. She's giving you eyes. You ask her what she's doing later. She tells you to ask again in a few hours. You wake up the next day wrapped around her in her bed (with a headache).
3) Religion - You've got an extended cousin that you see a few times a year at various family functions. Every time you see her, she manages to turn the conversation onto the glory of her religion. You've had enough. You politely engage her with some questions intended to eventually convince her that her religious beliefs are false. She answers your questions and shows a hint of doubt. You press on the time next time you see her, continuing in this manner for a couple of years. Finally you get an email in your inbox. She's lost her faith. She's confused and doesn't know what to do or what to think, so she's coming to you for advice.
In each scenario you've acted specifically on the intention to persuade someone else to make a decision. In each one the target showed no sign of wanting to make such a decision; it's safe to say that two of them even expressed a desire not to.
Have you done anything wrong?
1) Advertising - You've graduated with a degree in behavioural economics. A company hires you to give them a consultation in regards to the subconscious psychological cues and other nudging effects they can use to make their product more palatable to consumers. A guy in the grocery store walks by a sign that leads him down an aisle where the product in question is on display. Your marketing tactics lead to him make a purchase that he otherwise wouldn't have.
2) Bar Night - You've got a crush on a girl you work with. You've asked her out to dinner twice, but been turned down both times simply because she "isn't interested". One night the office goes out to a bar to celebrate the acquisition of a new premiere client. You've both had a couple drinks - nothing too serious. She's giving you eyes. You ask her what she's doing later. She tells you to ask again in a few hours. You wake up the next day wrapped around her in her bed (with a headache).
3) Religion - You've got an extended cousin that you see a few times a year at various family functions. Every time you see her, she manages to turn the conversation onto the glory of her religion. You've had enough. You politely engage her with some questions intended to eventually convince her that her religious beliefs are false. She answers your questions and shows a hint of doubt. You press on the time next time you see her, continuing in this manner for a couple of years. Finally you get an email in your inbox. She's lost her faith. She's confused and doesn't know what to do or what to think, so she's coming to you for advice.
In each scenario you've acted specifically on the intention to persuade someone else to make a decision. In each one the target showed no sign of wanting to make such a decision; it's safe to say that two of them even expressed a desire not to.
Have you done anything wrong?