Once More With Feeling: How Affective Appeal Can Trump All
Briefly

Historically, positive traits like honesty and empathy were paramount, especially in political spheres. Psychologists argue that while these traits still hold value, their importance can wane in situations where emotional delivery trumps factual content. For instance, during family gatherings, a beloved but misinformed relative can maintain affection through an engaging style, emphasizing that charm and emotional engagement may surpass factual accuracy. This highlights a societal shift where affective appeal becomes crucial, especially when evaluating individuals, leading to complex dynamics in how we assess character in personal and political contexts.
Positive personality traits such as honesty and empathy were once considered crucial and held in high esteem. However, emotional appeal can eclipse these qualities.
While people still value qualities like honesty and warmth, trustworthiness may be overshadowed by someone's entertaining delivery or engaging personality.
Read at Psychology Today
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