Hi Corina: Thank you for your insightful comment. In my book, I discuss how persuasion works in deliberation, and you hit the mark when you note how this phenomenon can play out in our own minds, consciously or subconsciously.
The examples from the movies point to a type of conscious sentimentality intended to elicit "unearned" emotions in others. I happen to observe more frequently a type of the self-driven/unconcious-based sentimentality arising within myself or people around, for which I find as a common denominator a desire to feel something while repressing any data that could interfere with the process and in the absence/dormancy of an "observing self". Maybe an internal manipulation similar with the one described in the article, yet unconscious, knocking on the door, and therefore telling us someting worth knowing. Capturing ourselves in these moments is quite something!
Hi Corina: Thank you for your insightful comment. In my book, I discuss how persuasion works in deliberation, and you hit the mark when you note how this phenomenon can play out in our own minds, consciously or subconsciously.
The examples from the movies point to a type of conscious sentimentality intended to elicit "unearned" emotions in others. I happen to observe more frequently a type of the self-driven/unconcious-based sentimentality arising within myself or people around, for which I find as a common denominator a desire to feel something while repressing any data that could interfere with the process and in the absence/dormancy of an "observing self". Maybe an internal manipulation similar with the one described in the article, yet unconscious, knocking on the door, and therefore telling us someting worth knowing. Capturing ourselves in these moments is quite something!