Observing Persuasion in the New Age :: New Age Religion Psychology Essays

Observing Persuasion in the New Age thesisThe allure of the New Age can be attributed in part to an overall lack of understanding its nature when its history is taken into consideration and its persuasive element is exposed, we see that, contrary to the assumption that the New Age is a freer alternative to mainstream religion, public opinion is a very present part of the New Age.I. inaugurateII. What is new about it?A. The New Age is not new.B. If there is anything really new about it, it is its acceptance in the West.C. Its adaptation to the Western culture is also new.III. Persuasive elements definedA. ReactanceB. InGroupC. Foot-in-the-door phenomenaD. Low-ball techniqueE. Effects of the Communicator 1. Trustworthiness2. Credibility3. Speaking confidently F. Range of acceptabilityG. Fear of appearing foolish H. behavior changing attitude I. Internalization IV. Persuasive elements observedV. ConclusionPrefaceThe automatic and first context of an assessment of the New Age, as a m inisterial student, is religious. For the purpose of this paper, however, I shall endeavour to limit the assessment of the New Age to the primary context of social psychology.As this paper is an exposition of the presence of persuasion in the New Age (contrary to its assumed freedom), it is also necessary, in the interest of fairness, to make both(prenominal) fundamental distinctions, with respect to the possibility of illusory correlations being organize from the conclusions of this paper1. if the New Age does indeed use elements of persuasion, it is not necessarily cult-like, any more than is the average Christian denomination, whether evangelical or mainstream. Persuasion is basically a human phenomena, and thus it inevitably appears to some degree wherever two or more people interact2. the visibly tragic results of some cults do not attend the average New Age participant. Persuasion is not about ends, its about means. Some use persuasion to a tragic end, some do not.In addi tion to various real- behavior instances where these factors have be observed, I shall be drawing extensively from the particular case of Will Baron, who has run low a key speaker on the dangers of the New Age. It is of value for its contextual, in-depth examination of the duration of his entire experience with the New Age, from the earliest stages of involvement, to his total commitment of life and means, to his ultimate rejection of the philosophy of the New Age, as he was taught to understand it.