Strategies for Persuasive Arguments

THIS IS NOT A MADISON SKEPTICS MEETUP EVENT. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SIGN UP FOR IT HERE. THIS IS AN ON-LINE PRESENTATION OF INTEREST TO SKEPTICS FROM SKEPTICAL INQUIRER MAGAZINE.

Scientific skepticism may not be a religion, but many of its proponents do preach now and then. Unfortunately, evangelizing with logically sound explanations and iron-clad evidence often isn’t enough to loosen people’s hold on questionable beliefs. So how are we to counter the conspiracy theories, medical quackery, and science denial that’s so prevalent in today’s popular culture?

Join us on Thursday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. Central Time for a Skeptical Inquirer Presents livestream with social psychologist Barry Markovsky.

Social psychological research on influence and persuasion suggests factors that make arguments more compelling. Markovsky will explain how he puts those into practice in his own life, using examples and stories from his forthcoming book, Everyday Extraordinary: A Scientist Ponders a Lifetime of Magical, Bizarre, and Paranormal Experiences, which empowers readers with important tools for thinking critically about all sorts of claims, extraordinary and otherwise.

Barry Markovsky is a social psychologist who studies social influences on beliefs and behavior. He received his PhD from Stanford University, served on the faculties of the University of Iowa and the University of South Carolina, and directed the Sociology Program at the National Science Foundation. Recent publications include a series of popular articles on superstitions, ghosts, and UFOs in The Conversation.