Is planting a trigger for future mindfulness a named rhetorical device?
May 11, 2023 12:31 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a name and/or discussion or research about the rhetorical device of connecting the main topic of a speech or sermon to a future everyday event you expect a large percentage of the audience to encounter. The goal of the device is to trigger a moment of reflection and mindfulness about the broader topic of the sermon later in the week when the small event happens.
For example, for a sermon about loss and resilience, the connection might be, "at some point this week, you'll misplace your phone or your keys. And right in the moment where you realize you don't know where your phone or keys are, you'll feel a miniscule version of loss. You'll feel the pinch of frustration, betrayal, and powerlessness that we all feel when we need something that's been taken out of reach. In this moment..."
Most rhetorical devices I've read about are described from the perspective of a single speech and how it persuades or impacts the audience while the speech is happening. But this is more of a delayed effect, a 'sleeper-device,' that might not be very impactful during the speech itself, but the real goal is to bring the whole experience and message of the sermon back to the audience's consciousness later in the week.
For example, for a sermon about loss and resilience, the connection might be, "at some point this week, you'll misplace your phone or your keys. And right in the moment where you realize you don't know where your phone or keys are, you'll feel a miniscule version of loss. You'll feel the pinch of frustration, betrayal, and powerlessness that we all feel when we need something that's been taken out of reach. In this moment..."
Most rhetorical devices I've read about are described from the perspective of a single speech and how it persuades or impacts the audience while the speech is happening. But this is more of a delayed effect, a 'sleeper-device,' that might not be very impactful during the speech itself, but the real goal is to bring the whole experience and message of the sermon back to the audience's consciousness later in the week.
Best answer: I feel like I’ve heard this called “seeding” as well
posted by Mchelly at 3:03 PM on May 11, 2023
posted by Mchelly at 3:03 PM on May 11, 2023
Best answer: If you are running sleeper agents, this is called activation.
You are probably not running a sleeper cell, though
posted by DarlingBri at 4:01 PM on May 11, 2023 [7 favorites]
You are probably not running a sleeper cell, though
posted by DarlingBri at 4:01 PM on May 11, 2023 [7 favorites]
Best answer: In hypnosis and linguistic pattern circles, these are variously called anchors, embedded suggestions, or cause and effect.
posted by cocoagirl at 9:23 AM on May 12, 2023
posted by cocoagirl at 9:23 AM on May 12, 2023
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posted by wenestvedt at 12:57 PM on May 11, 2023