People who are scared act out of their fight or flight response, not out of their own rationale. If trying to convince someone of something or change their mind on a topic, it is more important to provide helpful information to shape their opinions or actions rather than definite statements or doings that will only scare the person and cause resentment of the messenger. 

As seen in recent political events, using violence to scare people into submission is not an effective way to convince them to support a person. The rushing of the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 by a mob did not lead to a mass conversion of people in support of Donald Trump. Rather, it has framed his supporters as rabid and turned many away from him. The trials and negative publicity that ensued after the attack have not promoted his causes but rather spread messages around the globe about his wrongdoings. I vividly remember seeing the event online as a young child and being scared that the mob might travel to other areas. This event has scarred my vision of the Trump campaign and painted a picture of violence. Rather than gaining mass support for Trump and advancing his own goals, the scary event has only turned more people away. Moderates, including young and undeveloped minds, are not enticed by the shameful events of that day. Using fear turns people away rather than making them more interested in what a person wants to argue. It closes their ears and makes them less likely to interpret what is being said. Exaggerated, scary acts turn people away rather than convincing them to join in appreciation of a cause. 

Rather than using fear of failure as a motivating factor, it can be very effective to utilize constructive criticism to change someone’s thoughts or actions. Receiving feedback from a mentor on an action, whether that be within sports or school, leads to future success. Coaches and teachers correct each detail in turn, eventually developing a polished skill in their need to mentee. Being given small corrective feedback helps to guide a person without upsetting them. Forceful critiques can make a person afraid of what feedback may follow completion of a task, causing procrastination and other avoidance behaviors. Those who have been put down by others feel resentful and dislike the person rather than the task they need to correct. People shut down when scared and aren’t able to think rationally. This phenomenon allows the use of rational rather than fear as a way to easily convince a person. Using persuasive techniques can be very effective because they react positively with the human brain. 

While some may argue that fear is a way to decisively change a person’s mind, doing this often weakens the argument. A fearful person isn’t in a place to listen to an argument or change their mind. The new idea won’t stick with them, but how they felt as they were being talked to will. If a person is spoken to kindly but firmly, the messages being delivered are more likely to take root in the listener’s mind. Because people who are afraid aren’t in a place to truly listen and interpret the information given to them, there will be no lasting impact of rational thought if it is forced on a scared person. 

Utilizing rational thought is most effective when coupled with a patient and open-minded person, a state which is not possible found in a scared person.