Appeal To FearAppeal To FearandandScare TacticsScare Tactics

Krissy CrossKrissy Cross

DefinitionDefinition

X is presented. It causes fear. Therefore Y (which has some relationship to X) is true.

In most cases, this is done by some form of threat, which may be to the person or to something about which they care.

The threat may be physical, emotional or spiritual. Examples - 1) I know where you live, and I have friends who like a

good fire.. 2) You know, Professor Smith, I really need to get an A in this class. I'd like to stop by during your office hours later to discuss my grade. I'll be in your building anyways, visiting my father. He's your dean, by the way. I'll see you later."

Picture AnalogyPicture AnalogyThis clown is an appeal to fear, because a large amount of people are highly afraid of clowns. What makes this particular clown look so terrifying is the hooks pulling on it’s face, the teeth, and the different colored eyes.

Universal ExampleUniversal Example

Fear of heights is one of the most widespread fears ever. Being not as intimidating as other phobias can be, people suffering with fear of heights often try to live with it without getting a help, accommodating their lifestyle to the limitations.

A commercial about Allstate Insurance, invoked the fear of not paying attention while driving and having a wreck in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Rd-xQgU-g

Example #1Example #1

Parris “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!”Putnam “This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!”Tituba “No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir.”

Parris and Putnam were trying to scare Tituba into confessing to witchcraft. Tituba was fearing for her life.

Parris, Putnam, and Tituba – Act 1 pg. 188

Example #2Example #2

Proctor “Mary, God damns all liars!”

Proctor was trying to get Mary to confess to the court that she hadn’t been involved in witchcraft and that the girls were only faking it. She knew that if she were to lie under oath that she would’ve committed a sin.

John Proctor – Act 3 pg. 225

Example #3Example #3

Danforth “I cannot hear you. What do you say? You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!”

Danforth was trying to frighten Mary with her life into confessing to be apart of the witchery. Mary was so frightened that she falsely confessed so that she wouldn’t hang.

Danforth – Act 3 pg. 225

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Appeal to Fear." Changing Minds and Persuasion -- How We Change What Others Think, Believe, Feel and Do. Changing Minds, 2012. Web.

20 Feb. 2012. "Fallacy: Appeal to Fear." Holocaust Educational Resource. The Nizkor

Project, 2011. "Evil Clown." Clown Pictures - The Best Pictures of Clown.

Clownpictures.org, 2010. "Fear of Heights." Fear of Heights | Fear of Heights. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.