Why fear won’t always persuade

Why fear won’t always persuade

August 3, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

This episode discusses why fear-based persuasion tactics are ineffective and explores alternative methods of persuasion.

To persuade someone, most of us are tempted to use fear. We tell clients how much they’ll struggle if they pick a competitor. We tell our kids how they’ll lose TV time if they don’t finish their homework. We plead with our partners to kick bad habits by highlighting how unhealthy it’s making them. We all do it; we opt for doom-and-gloom messages baked in fear. But today's guests on Nudge, Elizabeth Dunn and JZ, explain that these messages won’t work. When it comes to persuasion, fear doesn’t persuade. To find out what does, listen to today’s episode of Nudge. --- Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/148fd5fb0a Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Get the book Leave the Lights On: https://amzn.to/3SDr4sX Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/

People in this episode

Host: Phill Agnew

Guests: Elizabeth Dunn, JZ

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Books & works: Leave the Lights On

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