Describe an instance when someone tried to persuade you with a fear appeal. Using the two key elements of the extended parallel process model, explain why the persuasion did or did not work

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The two key elements are perceived threat and perceived efficacy. Perceived threat deals with the extent to which a person believes he or she is vulnerable to the treat and how severe the threat is perceived to be. Perceived efficacy deals with the solution proposed to the threat: the extent to which the person thinks the solution will work and whether he or she feels capable of following that course of action. For instance, I received one of those fake telephone calls in which the caller tried to persuade me that he was an IRS agent and that I would be subject to arrest if I did not immediately pay up on alleged back taxes. I knew I did not owe the taxes, so the perceived threat wasn’t believable. Additionally, I knew that providing payment over the phone would not a viable solution to the problem, if it were real in the first place. I did not succumb to the threat. I did, however, inform the police about the call.