Which persuasive technique is described as 'shoot the messenger'?

Which persuasive technique is described as 'shoot the messenger'?

• A. Ad hominem
• B. Stacking the deck
• C. Denial evades responsibility
• D. Group dynamics

Answer: (A)

Attacking the messenger is an ad hominem tactic: it sidesteps the actual claim by attacking who is delivering it—their motives, credibility, or character—rather than examining the evidence or reasoning itself. The phrase “shoot the messenger” captures that impulse to dismiss the message because of who says it. In persuasion, this weakens the argument by shifting focus away from the content and onto the source. The other options describe different ideas—selectively presenting evidence, avoiding responsibility, or focusing on group influence—so they don’t match this specific tactic.

Attacking the messenger is an ad hominem tactic: it sidesteps the actual claim by attacking who is delivering it—their motives, credibility, or character—rather than examining the evidence or reasoning itself. The phrase “shoot the messenger” captures that impulse to dismiss the message because of who says it. In persuasion, this weakens the argument by shifting focus away from the content and onto the source. The other options describe different ideas—selectively presenting evidence, avoiding responsibility, or focusing on group influence—so they don’t match this specific tactic.