The purpose of this study was to determine if male and female communicators utilize different styles of persuasion with an attractive versus an unattractive female target. Forty undergraduate students were asked to persuade a female confederate in either an attractive condition or an unattractive condition to eat M&M's. Perceptions of attractiveness and personality assessments were checked by a post-experimental questionnaire. Influence attempts were rated and categorized by the use of the Social Interaction Scoring System. Individual responses were then factor analyzed to identify profiles of persuasive communication. These behavioral profiles were then statistically compared across experimental conditions by analyses of variance. No significant differences were found for sex or experimental condition. The subjects did, however, perceive the confederate as significantly more attractive when in the attractive condition than when in the unattractive condition. Further, while the confederate was perceived as more curious and perceptive when in the attractive condition, she was perceived as more indifferent and insensitive when in the unattractive condition. From the results of this study, it -was concluded that people do not necessarily alter their persuasive technique according to the attractiveness of the target person. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, and suggestions for further research are given.

This diploma thesis deals with distinctiveness in the style of preaching of Jaroslav Pleva, a Baptist preacher, on the basis of analysis of his preaching. This distinctiveness is realized through his use of language and style devices, and text structure. The final form of the discourse is influenced by its function and objective style factors. What mainly determines the structure of Pleva's texts to a considerable extent is a spoken form of the discourse. His code choice switching between standard and non-standard code, the official character of the discourse and its place and time given by the tradition are all very important; moreover, it is the addressee who represents the crucial factor of the preaching. The analysis of subjective style factors is also included. Intertextuality is typical for the genre of preaching, primarily following the biblical texts of the Old and New Testament. According to the variety of texts the motifs are diverse. Figurative speech, mostly originated in biblical texts, is used plentifully. Pleva uses these intentionally chosen devices to present his thoughts to his listeners and fulfil a persuasive function of a genre of preaching.

In this diploma thesis the verbal persuasive devices typical of two new religious movements' texts (Jehovah's Witnesses and New Age) have been analysed, with regard to manipulation. Because of the interdisciplinary character of manipulation religion and sociological aspects in new religious movements section and logical, psychological and ethical aspects in manipulative argumentation section have been considered. It was found that the style of the analysed texts and its verbal persuasive devices differ from the field of religious communication only in few aspects from verbal persuasive devices of journalistic communication and that manipulative devices are partly acceptable with regard to the sources and methods involved in the texts, however, the field of quasiargumentation have been found outside acceptability.