Introduction
Communities can be enriched by maintaining the diverse cultural identities by individuals. Multiculturalism is not a tool for promoting one cultural identity as being above other cultures. Instead, it gives us the opportunity to value our heritage at the same time respect other people’s beliefs thus celebrating diversity. Cultural diversity has an intrinsic section of cultural respect. Some individuals are ignorant and lack the correct information, which makes them lack respect. If an individual fails to understand the values and beliefs of others, it is easier for such an individual to belittle other people. Therefore, the individual will be sewing seeds that would later germinate to prejudice and stereotype (Tien & Green, 2005).
A door-in-the-face strategy that can be used to enhance a positive behavior toward a disliked group
Door-in-the-face is a compliance technique where the persuader makes efforts to convince the respondent to agree by making enormous requests likely to be turned down by the respondent; it is just like the metaphor of banging the door in the face of the persuader. Therefore, the respondent is likely to comply with the next reasonable request compared to the request made in isolation. This technique is exactly a contrast to the foot-in-the-door (Dillard, Hunter, & Burgoon, 1984).
A door-in-the-face strategy
Below is a classic example of a door-in-the-face strategy:
I divided participants in to three different groups. In the first group, I made a large request by asking the participants to offer to counsel minor delinquents for two hours on a weekly basis for one year duration voluntarily. After the refusal to comply with my request, I requested them to chaperone minor delinquents on a tour to the zoo that would last for one day; this was indeed a small request. I gave a small request to the second group. In the third group, I gave a description of the large request, but I requested the participants to perform the small request. Half of the group one participants complied with the small request compared to the less than 25% in groups 2 and 3. This concludes that my DITF strategy was successful. There was significantly large compliance with the small request in the first and third groups. This suggests that exposure to tasks which are extreme will not necessarily affect compliance. This technique only affects the rate of compliance if the small requests are preceded by the extreme requests (Dillard, Hunter, & Burgeons, 1984).
Steps necessary to initiate commitment or Reciprocity processes
Participants in the DITF case read through the scenarios and made assessment depending on relevance of the terms to the situations. These terms referred to bargaining. Participants were able to rate the situations as offering help to a friend. The above DITF scenarios reveal that the technique is effective in influencing compliance to change through making commitments to requests. Evidently, participants could feel that they were bargaining to comply with the small request, which is a key factor of reciprocal concessions. This would lead to long-term change. The change resulting from the compliance would be long-term because the participants were honest in their response to the request.
Cognitive dissonance in changing negative attitudes towards a stigmatized group
Gays and lesbians are the most discriminated against the group in the entire world. The audience holds an extremely negative attitude towards the group. Some audiences have also used some religious beliefs as justification to stigmatizing the group. However, religious orientation is not the only available source of such prejudice. Surveys have revealed that lesbians and gays are the most highly discriminated groups. Youths belonging to such groups are forced to leave school because they are made to feel uncomfortable there they end up with high chances of committing suicide as compared other people (Sherman, 1980).
How my target audience would commit a discrepant act that would cause dissonance.
Dissonance can be created by convincing an individual to comply with a request thus making commitment. I would create dissonance by simply revealing to my prospects that they are not maintaining their commitment. For instance, I would tell them statements such as “you told me that you wanted this right away, then why are you telling me that you need time to think about it”. Such consistent pressure will obviously squeeze the person’s self image from all directions. The person then will feel pressured thus come inline with the action. The person will at the same time pressured to adjust his image according to how other people’s perceptions.
How I would provide the means to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes toward the stigmatized group.
As a persuader, I would always find a way of reducing dissonance. It will be necessary for me to give explanations and statements that can cut down on the rate of dissonance felt by the prospects. For example, I would inform them that if they did certain activities, the society would significantly benefit. Such statements and requests that will help me achieve my objective. I will prepare my persuasive presentation by asking for a major request. The prospects will finally accept my solution because they will be convinced that they agreed to the right choice. This decision will make them feel powerful. As a result, the cognitive dissonance will eventually disappear. They made they own decisions by making their own choices which eventually provided a solution to the dilemma in their own minds (Tien & Green, 2005).
A Persuasive message designed to promote the appreciation of multicultural diversity
The human spirit is extremely universalized by education. An individual who is only living in a one world of ethnic group or religion can not be universalized. This concept is related to the word “university”. Understanding and appreciating many worlds enhances our lives. It must be noted that an individual who gains a new language also acquires a new world. The reverse of this statement is correct. Universalization of our spirit makes us cross borders and become comfortable in other peoples’ worlds.
How I would motivate my audience and provide the ability to process your message
In this case, my target audience would be multinational students. I would motivate them by enriching them with the knowledge that appreciates diversity. Such knowledge can considerably make significant contributions to eradicating prejudice and discrimination against members of a certain group. Through the persuasion to develop religious tolerance, the audience will be acknowledge and give support to individual’s right to their own culture and other practices, without having to accept or practice those beliefs and practices.
Three strong arguments I would use to persuade them to appreciate multicultural diversity.
Promoting of a positive personal self image is essential. Life is all about building and retaining a positive self identity. This process involves learning to cope with other people who are different from us. While it is ok for an individual to feel proud of his own culture and heritage, it does not imply that one’s culture is more superior to other people’s cultures, (Sherman, 1980). Children must be given teachings of respecting others and not judging them. We can assist children to understand that other cultures have positive things. Children must be taught to behave in a respectful manner when dealing with other people and understand that rejecting a person because of his heritage is terribly wrong.
People may be reluctant to accept diversity because they are used to doing things in their own cultural ways and they become uncomfortable to change. Other people may feel that other dominant cultures are a threat to them n the work place thus challenging their power. Such issues must be addressed because they can result in bigotry and resentment. However, through education such fears can be successfully countered (Sherman, 1980).
A positive source cue that I would include in influencing these audience members through the peripheral route
Parents have the biggest ability to influence the views of children about diversity. If parents and guardians remain silent, children will take their cue from other negative and unhealthy sources. Parents and guardian can motivate children to develop positive attitudes towards the diversity of culture through providing them with the necessary information about their own culture and other people’s heritage (Tien & Green, 2005).
Conclusion
Endowing of children with a combination of healthy self esteem and respect for different people will be a considerable effort in promoting future adults who appreciate diversity.
References
Dillard, J., P. Hunter, J., E., & Burgoon, M., (1984): Sequential-Request Persuasive Strategies:
Meta- Analysis of Foot-in-the-Door and Door-in-the-Face. Michigan: Axon Group.
Sherman, S., J., (1980): On the Self-Erasing Nature of Prediction. New York, NY: SUNY Press.
Tien. C., & Green, M. C. (2005). Persuasion: Psychological insights and Perspectives (2nd ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
