Persuasion: Social Influence and Compliance Gaining first helps students understand established theories and models of persuasion.  It then encourages them to develop and apply general conclusions about persuasion in real-world settings. The 5th edition explores how social media continues to be a form of influence, but it also looks at grassroots movements, such as the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, and traditional forms of persuasion, such as advertising, marketing, and political campaigning.