Leading Questions
In common law systems that rely on testimony by witnesses, a leading
question is a question that suggests the answer or contains the
information the examiner is looking for.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading_question
One way of influencing a person is to ask them questions that are
deliberately designed to make them think in a certain way. Leading
questions either include the answer, point the listener in the right
direction or include some form or carrot or stick to send them to the
'right' answer...
...Leading questions are often directional in that, whilst they do not
indicate an answer, they close off undesirable alternatives and guide
the person in a desired direction.
(1) - Assumptive questions
(2) - Linked statements
(3) - Implication questions
(4) - Ask for agreement
(5) - Tag questions
(6) - Coercive questions
----------------------------------------
(1) Assumptive questions
Leading questions can use Assumption principle, for example by moving
the subject of the sentence:
"How much will prices go up next year?"
This assumes that prices will go up next year - the subject of the
question is about how much prices will go up. In fact it is very
difficult to avoid assumptions. Even if you said:
"Do you think prices will go up next year?"
...you are still forcing the other person to think first and possibly
exclusively about prices going up (If they answer 'no' then this may
mean they will be stable - a thought about them going down may not
have been made).
(2) Linked statements
You can lead questions using the Association principle by things you
said previously and are still in the mind of the person being
questioned (they will stay there longer if you put emotion into them).
For example:
"I really hate this government!!...What are your thoughts about the XX
party?"
You can also put something within the question.
"What do you think about John Richards? Many people are opposed to
him, by the way."
Note the social coercion in this statement.
You could also add desirable carrots in the statement:
"Would you prefer to live in Alba or in Barta, where the crime rate is
very low."
Note that the crime rate in Alba is not mentioned, but the link of low
crime with Barta will still make it more desirable.
(3) Implication questions
Asking questions that gets the other person to think of consequences
or implications of current or past events links the past with the
future in an inescapable chain of cause-and-effect.
"If you go to the party tonight, what will happen in your examination
tomorrow?"
"If you vote for that party, then what do you think will happen to
taxes? What happened last time they were in power?"
(4) Ask for agreement
A very direct leading question is where they are closed questions that
clearly ask for agreement, making it easier for the other person to
say 'yes' than 'no'.
"Do you agree that we need to save the whales?"
"Is it true that you are happier now?"
(5) Tag questions
Tag questions are short questions that are tagged onto the end of
statements. They effectively make a command look like a question. They
are short phrases and often include a negative element such as 'Isn't
it?' or 'Don't you?' or 'Aren't you?'
Thus you might say:
"That's a good thing to do, isn't it?"
Or:
"You'll come to dinner tonight, won't you?"
Tag questions can used to add a confusion element:
"I wonder if you're feeling better now, aren't you?"
(6) Coercive questions
Questions that force specific answers can include implicit or explicit
coercion. Thus:
"You are coming tonight, aren't you? If you aren't then there will be
trouble."
"How can you say you won't come?"
"You do love me, don't you?"
http://changingminds.org/techniques/questioning/leading_questions.htm
Reconstructive Memory
Subjectively, memory feels like a camera that faithfully records and
replays details of our past. In fact, memory is a reconstructive
process prone to systematic biases and errors—reliable at times, and
unreliable at others. Memories are a combination of new and old
knowledge, personal beliefs, and one's own and others' expectations.
We blend these ingredients in forming a past that conforms to one's
haphazardly accurate view of oneself and the world.
http://www.bookrags.com/research/reconstructive-memory-lmem-01/
http://pages.slc.edu/~ebj/IM_97/Lecture7/L7.html
