The High Ground Maneuver & Ocasio-Cortez
If there’s anyone on the left that can hold a candle to Trump’s persuasive techniques, it’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (aka, “AOC”).
Trump is an expert in using the High-Ground Maneuver. But you can see that AOC has potential to give Trump a run-for-his-persuasive-money from one of her tweets.
THE TWEET
Last July, Newsmax host John Cardillo tweeted a picture of AOC’s childhood home in NY. He wrote “[t]his is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in” and incorrectly said she want to Brown University.
AOC responded with textbook persuasive skills.
UNDERMINE AUTHORITY
First, she corrected him by noting she didn’t go to an Ivy League school like Brown (she went to BU). She undermined his authority by challenging his accuracy, and you know that authority is a crucial lever of persuasion.
HIGH-GROUND MANEUVER
Second, AOC pulled a High-Ground Maneuver:
“[My childhood home] is nice. Growing up, it was a good town for working people. My mom scrubbed toilets so I could live here & I grew up seeing how the Zip code one is born in determines much of their opportunity.”
BREAKDOWN
As you’ve learned about, the High-Ground Maneuver is an expert defensive technique where you: (1) move from the specific context to general concepts and (2) state an unassailable principle.
Here, AOC moves from the specifics of her own situation living in a nice neighborhood to broader principles of (1) parents that work hard to make sure their kids have opportunity and (2) how where you are born can affect your entire life (in good and bad ways).
Any reasonable person knows that being born in the Hamptons means you’ll probably have more wealth, opportunities and success than if you were born in a rough part of Detroit.
How could you argue with her on that broad principle? This is a perfect example of the High-Ground Maneuver in action.
And on top of that, humans are more persuaded by emotion than facts. By calling to mind her hard working parents, AOC tugs at your heartstrings.
Where else have you seen the High-Ground Maneuver? Share your expertise in the comments.
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