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Original Question

Just wanted to ask a simple question, is the fallacy hypnotic bait and switch called the way it is because it is trying to bait someone by asking them immensely uncontroversial questions that lead to a, "switch" meaning it comes to a randomly irrelevant conclusion? I mean it is propaganda related just curious.

Answers

2

The idea of starting with several uncontroversially true statements (getting someone used to saying "yes") and then moving on to something that is less uncontroversial (hoping that the "yes" response has become somewhat automatic) is certainly an attempt at "bait and switch".  However, I've always considered the hypnotic bait and switch fallacy to involve more than just a series of true statements leading to conclusion.


Other sources suggest that the hypnotic bait and switch approach starts with using terms or concepts with multiple connotations over and over (the "hypnotic" part) in a way that encourages the listener to consider the term or concept in a particular way.  Then, once the listener has internalized the concept in a particular way (once the bait is taken), the leader uses the same concept in a different way that's based on a different connotation (the switch) to get the listener to reach a conclusion that doesn't necessarily follow in the new situation or environment.


It's a type of "doublespeak" that relies on ambiguity.  As Dr. Bo's description says, it's a classic sales technique often referred to as, “getting the customer used to saying ‘yes’!”  It's also a strategy used in politics and psychotherapy, among other places.  (I mentioned the latter use just so we don't get caught in the "bait and switch" to think that it's always a bad thing.)

Yes.


Ask a handful of closed questions where you can easily get instictive responses, then say that because of those previous responses, one must be in favour of X unrelated thing (the irrelevant conclusion).

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