Be the Answer.... Sarah McLachlan

I've searched and searched, videos, speeches and commercials to find one that would fit Maxwell & Schmitt's Taxonomy Influence Tactics. I think that this video of Animal Abuse with the musician Sarah McLachlan fits perefectly for this weeks post.

From Maxwell and Schmitt's Influence tactics, the most predominant one is the Negative Self-Feeling. The video starts off by sharing small facts about animals being abused. It then shows clips of various animals looking sad or distressed. Trying to make you feel bad about animals that are being abused every hour. What are you doing to help? If you haven't or didn't know then you should do something and be the answer.

Then I feel it does the flip side to that with the Positive Self-Feeling. If you are to help donate and be the answer to these poor mistreated animals, then you will be a better person. You have done something to help those animals in need by taking action and being the answer.

There is also some Moral Appeal, if you are a dog or cat lover, you will do something to help their cause. Help an animal today by calling or going on line to sign up and pay a monthly donation to help change from the life they once lived.

Lastly of the tactics there is the Reward because you help donate you will be rewarded with a monthly gift. You will also receive a beautiful tote bag if you sign up today.

All of these tactics are used in this video to help motivate you to donate and be the answer to these animals lives. The process premises in this video under Maslow's Hierarchy is safety and belonging. They portray that these animals were abused from their previous owners and hope to give them that safety and belonging. They were not safe before and can only get that through your help. Make them feel that they belong and can have a happy place to live.

One of the biggest is the emotion they use in the entire video. Guilt. They want you to feel bad for the animals that they show and encourage you to be their answer. It is a guilt trip to get you to help donate for their cause. Make you feel bad and that you have to do something, acting on your emotion. This was a great video to do on Maxwell and Schmitt's tactics and help me see how and what people do to persuade you for their cause.

Out of Class Presentation

For my out of class presentation I was able to see my family down in Las Vegas last weekend. I had all of my siblings and their spouses there as well as my parents. Their ages ranged from 20-63. Some had a little bit of a college background and some never went on past high school. Their work background ranges from landscaping to front desk at the MGM and even pharmacy tech to building maintenance. 

For my speech I had them all gathered around after a Sunday dinner while all the kids ran off to play outside so as not to disrupt this time. I talked to them about the effects of soft drink beverages, soda. I started off by asking some questions; who would want to drink something that would lower your pH levels? Lower your immune system? or even something that would lead to gaining weight?

Of course none of them said they would but I told them that they already have. Soda is one of the most consumed beverages. I then explained what our pH levels are and what they mean. Soda is the most acidic drink that you can consume which lowers your pH level. Your body always wants to stay at an equilibrium. A state at which your levels are at normal. If you throw something in the mix, it imbalances those levels and it drops your pH level.

I explained how the body reacts and what it does to get back to an equilibrium. Some of them already knew what soda can do to you. My mother agreed with me because she has quit drinking soda for about a decade. 

I then transitioned into what it does to the immune system because it is already lowering levels in your body which need to stay at a normal range. Some of them knew this because my mom has shared the information she already knew with the family. It brought a reminder to some of them and the importance of trying to drink more water. Although some still drink it from time to time and some don't worry too much because they felt they were alright.

Then I transitioned into my last segment of the speech with weight gaining from it. They were told of the links and connections with gaining weight and how our body can not break down the fake sugars in soda.

After collecting all of my survey papers I calculated my data. Based on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. No surprise I got some 10 but that is probably because some of them wanted to be nice. I wish that I would have explained a little better on the rating so they could have given me their complete and honest answer. My weak points from what they rated me was the use of filler words: "like," and "umm." I also could have been more clear in my explaining so they could completely understand. It helped my understand and try to get out of my comfort zone when all eyes are on me. It was a fun experience for both my family and me. They were willing to help me out with my school work.

Life Happens... Christopher Gardner

I was curious to learn more about Reich's Cultural Parables, the Triumphant Individual. From the example we were shown "The Pursuit of Happiness," I wanted to know more about Christopher Gardner the one who overcame adversity. There are many stories of those that over came trials in their life to get where they are now. Christopher Gardner is a perfect example of Reich's Cultural Parable. He worked hard to get where he is now and became a successful person in society.

This isn't a full video of his speech but gives some life examples of how he grew. You can click here to get a brief bio on his life.

The Triumphant Individual is the little guy who works hard, takes risks, believes in himself, and eventually earns wealth, fame, and honor. It's the parable of the self-made man (or, more recently, woman) who bucks the odds, spurns the naysayers, and shows what can be done with enough drive and guts. He's a loner and a maverick, true to himself, plain speaking, self-reliant, uncompromising in his ideals.

Gardner was determined to be successful in life but had to deal with the life challenges. He had to make the decision with every dollar that came into the house, have it to go to pay for rent or for parking tickets. He paid the rent. He was determined to live and to help support his family. The one and only time he had to serve time.

Gardner had to work hard and overcome the trials he faced while raising his boy. He is an excellent example of a triumphant individual. He took on the risks in life getting every opportunity to grow and strive to do his best. He obviously worked hard to get where he is now in the financial world and becoming a motivational speaker. He took the risk of surviving and doing all that he could for him and his boy.

Even though his ex never believed him he still put for the effort in becoming successful. He truly grew up and became a better man to his son and work.

The process premises in his speech are needs and emotions. Under the needs he gives his audience a reassurance of worth. You can still keep trying to work in life no matter your circumstances. He and his son were both homeless but he kept fighting to try and find a way to survive and provide. Anyone can accomplish anything it just depends on you whether you will try.

In his emotions he expresses some fear of what he had to go through. Hoping that no one has to go through what he had to and the hardship that he faced. Never quit and keep trying. Another emotion is, of course, happiness. The pursuit of happiness. Gardner doesn't specifically talk about it in this speech but if you have seen the movie you can see what challenges he faced and how he kept pushing until he was successful and gained that happiness.

Opportunities, Being Sexy, Living life - Chris Kutcher

I saw this video when it first came out and was surprised to see something different than the cliche Hollywood speech for an award. Typically they are grateful for their award and don't care much more after that just that they are the best. Whereas Kutcher is truly grateful for where he has gotten in life himself and what he has learned in his teen years. Although a short video it does has some significance especially for the audience he is talking to. Don't mind the girls screaming for Kutcher, its the Teen Choice Awards for 2013.

In Kutcher's speech he mentions 3 important topics that made him who he is and what he has learned from his teen years: opportunities, being sexy and living life.

Larson's Cultural Images and Myths

There are 6 Cultural Images and Myths and in this speech I have found 3 that Kutcher relates. The first myth that I noticed was  Wisdom of the Rustic. Kutcher talks about from when he was at the age of 13 he always worked. He went from job to job but first finding that next job that all were a stepping stone one after another.

The Wisdom of the Rustic is the valuing humble beginnings and believe that difficulty teaches. He says that he never had a job that he was better than. He was always grateful to just have a job. Kutcher knew that putting in the hard work would benefit him in the long run in life. He always worked hard to get what he wanted and continued that learning process. From a young age working with his dad he knew what in meant to do hard work.

Another myth that also ties in is the Possibility of Success which is the idea that success comes to those that are honest and work hard. Kutcher always knew that putting forth the hard work that it would pay off for him. He never would quit his job until he knew that he another job. Because he was knew it was important to have a job he never quit. Thus helping him to become more an more successful. "Opportunities look a lot like work" - Ashton Kutcher

The third myth in this speech is the Value for Challenge, which is wisdom that can be gained only through challenge and suffering. Not to say that he suffered to be where he is but Kutcher knew it was a challenge. The only way for him to challenge himself is to find those opportunities and to always seek to gain more knowledge. I think that these 3 myths tie into each other pretty well and for this speech. Kutcher gave an abnormal speech because you don't see too many teen role models that encourage our youth today to work hard, get a higher education and to build a life worth living.

Process Premise

One of premises that I found in this was a need. There was a reassurance of worth that Kutcher expressed to the audience. Many of them just want to be like people in Hollywood but Kutcher tells them that its not all glamorous. People had to put in work to get where they are now. However he says that they can build a life where they are now. Make life worth living and that the people are them are no smarter than they are. Motivating them to be who they are and that the only way to be sexy is being smart not physical features.

He also talks about his roots, having a sense of roots. How Kutcher was raised and learned what he needed to at a young age to accomplish where he is now. Learn while in your youth so that you can achieve anything you believe in.

An emotion that Kutcher expresses is happiness. He is grateful where he has gotten in life but that is because of his fans and the hard work he put in to achieve his status. He started from small beginnings, having typical jobs people have until he got into acting at age 19.

I also would say that he had a good attitude about himself. He didn't seem to concerned about the award which he won but more so on the message he wanted to share to the teens. I think this speech was something different and needed for teens. He addressed his audience and brought up his past of hard work so that maybe those teens may see what he did when he was their age.

Why Exercise seems Harder to Others

In this video by Emily Balcetis she explains her studies and correlation of people and exercise. She explains how people, fit and unfit, have different perspectives on exercise. She conducted several studies to help support her idea and help understand peoples perspectives. Her studies don't seem to be absolutely accurate but tries to convince her audience how people view things differently. In the beginning of her speech she shows a picture of a man that has a peculiar facial expression and asked them in one word describe this man. In a survey of 120 people there was a variety of answers ranging from discomfort to happy. This study just goes to show that people have different perspectives and view things differently. Then, why do people see exercise as harder than others?



Dr. BJ Fogg's model explains that there needs to be three elements in order for a behavior to happen. Which are motivation, trigger and ability. All need to happen at the same time in order for a behavior to happen and if it fails then one of the elements is not fully present. Balcetis's speech triggered me in to view her speech. I was curios to know what her reasoning was, as to why people view exercise as harder than others.



In Balcetis's speech she gives the examples as to why people have different perspectives. In her experiments she had groups focus on the goal (the finish line), ignore any surroundings and to guess the distance from where they are to the finish line. Then they had a separate group do the same thing but acknowledge the different objects surrounding the finish line and then guess the distance to the finish line from where they were. Those that focused on the finish line reported a shorter distance compared to those that saw everything to the finish line. Her motivation was trying to get her audience to focus on a goal, thus making it seem easier to accomplish. If people, fit and unfit, focus on their goals ignoring anything around the task will seem easier to accomplish.  Although it seems that this could get people triggered to view exercise differently, I don't think that it would last long. Those that are unfit lack that motivation to work out hence the reason why they are unfit.

In order to take action (exercise) you will need to be motivated to do so. BJ Fogg's model also requires to have motivation to help get the desired behavior. Balcetis's motivations for the audience was to help them see exercise as easy. If people see something as easy they are more likely to act than those that are not. Those that are unfit (because of their lack of motivation to exercise) would much rather do something easy than hard because of their physical ability. I would agree that if you focus on a goal then you will be more motivated but when it comes to exercise and people do not see their results as quickly as they like motivation decreases.

Lastly is ability in Fogg's model. As all human beings we have the ability to exercise but everyone different than each other. I have the ability to workout but would need the motivation and a trigger to get me to that behavior. Balcetis's acknowledge that unfit people can work out but that they can make it seem easier if they are to focus on the goal.

In general I agree with Balcetis's idea of making exercise seem easier by staying focused on a goal however it is difficult for others to focus on the goal they wish to achieve. There are plenty of distractions to everyone when it comes to exercise. A lot has to do with what you consume. If you are not eating healthy it will be difficult for your body to preform any strenuous work if it does not have the right amount of nutrients. Although she explained a different perspective on exercise it did not quite motivate me to see exercise as easier. She also correlated that your hip to waist ratio has to do with how well fit you are. The larger hips and waist you have the more unfit you are. I don't see that as being scientifically correct. You can not assume that measurement of people determines their fitness level. When she mentioned this in her speech I did not agree with much more she had to share. People come in all kinds of sizes and are different in their own abilities. Researching a measurement of peoples waist to hip does not support her idea of exercise being easier for smaller and skinnier people.

Her title to her talk caught my attention and curiosity to see why people view exercise as easier but after hearing her methods and studies it was not sound to me. When you talk about exercise it can range from any kind of physical activity. While listening to her speech it made me think about professional sports. Particularly line backers in the NFL, yea they are probably not as small or skinny as a wide receiver but does that mean they are unfit. They have that bigger body build but are strong dudes, so does that mean they are unfit in what they do? Comparing this speech to Fogg's behavioral model, she did not motivate me to see exercise differently and there were no triggers to make me stop and run off to the gym because I now see it as being easier. I also believe that her studies are falsely viewed and do not support her idea that exercise is seen as being easier for others.

We are almost half way!! Glad to have Eric back!! One of the best in the DCP!!!