The argument from example in health communication
Persuading and enabling patients to live a healthier life
The argument from example is frequently used in health communication interventions. Some of these arguments are
narrative in nature, in the sense that they relate a series of logically related events containing an experiencing agonist. In
this article, research on narrative persuasion is discussed in order to show how such narrative arguments from examples can
influence the target audience’s beliefs about the possibility that a certain action will lead to certain consequences, the
desirability of such consequences, as well as provide the target audience with ways by which to circumvent obstacles that prevent
them from putting their intentions into actions. As such, narrative arguments from example can serve the needs of both people who
still need to be motivated to change their behavior as those of people who already intend to adapt their behavior but fail to put
this intention into action.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Communicating with non-intenders, intenders and actors
- 3.The argument from example: Its use and strength
- 4.Narrative aspects of the argument from example
- 5.How stories influence people’s attitudes
- 6.The argument from example in health contexts
- 6.1Non-intenders and the argument from example
- 6.2Intenders and the argument from example
- 7.What makes a convincing argument from example?
- 8.Conclusion and discussion
- Note
-
References
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Cited by (3)
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Rubinelli, Sara & Nicola Diviani
2025.
An argumentation theory-based assessment tool for evaluating disinformation in health-related claims.
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Wang, Nan, Han Zhang, Xiaolong Kong & Dazhuan Xu
2025.
Explicit entropy error bound for compressive DOA estimation in sensor array.
Digital Signal Processing 156
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Dudley, Matthew Z., Gordon K. Squires, Tracy M. Petroske, Sandra Dawson & Janesse Brewer
2023.
The Use of Narrative in Science and Health Communication: A Scoping Review.
Patient Education and Counseling 112
► pp. 107752 ff.

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