Peripheral

Definition

Peripheral refers to one of the two routes of persuasion proposed by the elaboration likelihood model (ELM). It involves influencing attitudes through superficial cues, such as attractiveness or credibility of the source, without deeply processing the message itself.

Related terms

Heuristics:

Mental shortcuts that people use to make decisions quickly without thorough consideration.

Source credibility: The perceived expertise and trustworthiness of the person delivering a persuasive message.

Attractiveness:

A characteristic that can influence persuasion by making someone more likable or appealing.