Appeal to emotion

Appeal to emotion is a logical fallacy wherein the arguer (who is using this fallacy) takes advantage of emotion to prove his or her argument. This is a type of red herring. It encompasses several logical fallacies, including:

• Appeal to fear
• Appeal to flattery
• Appeal to pity
• Appeal to ridicule
• Appeal to spite
• Wishful thinking

Related fallacies

Many other fallacies often, but not necessarily, constitute themselves or overlap an appeal to emotion. These include:

• Ad hominem attacks
• Guilt by association / honor by association
• Misleading vividness
• Pathetic fallacy
• Slippery slope
• Two wrongs make a right (if arguing for revenge)

External links

• About.com: Appeals to emotion index
• Fallacy Files: Emotional appeal
• Nizkor: Appeal to emotion
• Emotion Theory in Advertising