How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Repetition

Disciplines > Argument > Fallacies > Repetition

Description | Discussion | Example | See also

Description

The more X is repeated, the more true it becomes.

Repeating something, over and over and over (yes, I know, I know), makes it right, true and more certain.

Example

That is bad, bad, bad. Oh, that's so bad.

Dad, I'm thirsty. I want a drink. I really need a drink. Can I have a drink, please.

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times...

Listen, everyone, I want to tell you how I have been enlightened!

Discussion

When I am uncertain about something myself, I will seek ratification of my decision through confirmation by other people. This is one reason why people smitten by an ideology will preach it to others -- not so much as wanting to see them saved, but to prove by the conversion of other people the validity of their own conversion.

Repeating the same thing makes it more available to other people, which they then may confuse with statistics to assume that this makes it more probable. It also makes the speaker more confident. If I say something repeatedly, it must be because it is true.

Nagging is also a way of wearing people down. Eventually they will agree with you just to get you off their backs. There is also danger in this, as it can drive people away or result in them snapping back at you. They may reduce their commitment as they feel you are trying to control them.

However, it still remains that repeating something does not make it true.

Classification

Distraction, Statistical

Also known as

Ad Nauseum, Nagging