Here’s an interesting little RSA-style, 12 minute video on the psychology of persuasion:
The information mainly is delivered by Arizona State University’s Robert Caldini, of whom it is written, at the Farnam Street blog:
is the author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and the co-author of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week International Bestseller Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive.
For my part, every time I come across information like this I’m struck that (1) it doesn’t get much mention in argumentation theory and (2) that if it is even half correct then the potential for abuse is considerable. Any critical thinking class worth its salt should make students aware of dynamics like those depicted here.
RAIL 
wrong video…
Thanks Paul. The video is part of a YouTube playlist. Since the time I first put this post up it would appear that the video’s owner has made it impossible to link to or embed just the video discussed. You have to look the video in the playlist.
This is a pain, but if you still want to see the video at issue it’s the second one in the playlist. The first–the one that plays now–is about three and a half minutes long. That’s just long enough to go and refill your coffee if you’re not interested in it or, like me, you just cannot abide the pop-folksy sort of music they used for the soundtrack to it.
Sorry. Interwebz wins this one.