Comm In-Person: Art and Science of Persuasion

The Art and Science of Persuasion
Three In-Person Sessions
Thur., Sept. 12, 19, 26, 2024, 7-9 pm MT

Imagine if you could persuade family, friends and even acquaintances to consider your perspective in an election year. What if you could change their minds? Persuasion is both an art and a science; more importantly, it can be learned. Join Denver Post columnist and communications specialist Krista Kafer as she unveils the secrets of how to converse with others on religion, science, public policy, even 2024 politics and presidential candidates. Gain an understanding of the psychology behind persuasion and influence. See how stories and humor persuade better than facts. Practice pivoting to gain common ground. Learn how to spot the difference between facts, spin and deceit. Discover how advertisers and other influencers get you to buy their products and adopt their ideas. What can we learn from them? Get the scoop on tricky concepts like psychological reactance, confirmation bias, motivated reasoning and cognitive dissonance. See how trust impacts influence. Kafer pulls from communication masters of past and present: Jonathan Haidt’s moral reasoning; Robert Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion; Vance Packard’s compelling needs; Robert Reich’s cultural parables; and Aristotle’s insights on the art of persuasion. Feeling persuaded?

Krista Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist and adjunct instructor of communications and political science, including at DU’s Department of Political Science. She has over 20 years of experience in public policy, public speaking, broadcasting and persuasive writing.