Overview
A persuasion technique for changing a superior's hostile stance by combining emotional appeal with evidence of loyalty and contribution.
Steps
- Identify the grievance: Understand exactly why the superior is displeased
- Find an intermediary: Approach someone close to the superior (e.g., a trusted relative) rather than directly confronting the superior
- Lead with emotion: Begin with tears or visible distress to signal sincerity and gravity
- Reframe the narrative: Present the accused party's actions in context:
- Cite specific past contributions and sacrifices
- Explain apparent transgressions as misunderstandings or justified actions
- Highlight the accused's fundamental loyalty and filial piety
- Invoke shared bonds: Emphasize family relationships and the superior's own role in the situation
- Show vulnerability: Describe the accused's fear, regret, and suffering to evoke sympathy
- : Ask the intermediary to speak on behalf of the accused