Southern Utah University’s Matthew Barton, communication department chair, and Kevin Stein, director of the Master of Professional Communication program, published “Persuasive Attack” in July 2024. Written alongside fellow researcher William Benoit, professor at the University of Alabama, this book serves as a culmination of years of research.
“Persuasive Attack” investigates the way people verbally attack each other in public. The book covers the various channels of persuasive attack throughout history, with examples as early as Victorian England and as recent as political memes from the 2020 presidential election.
Benoit, co-writer of the book, spent his career doing research in the field of persuasion, specializing in image repair. Barton and Stein say that Benoit’s previous work is foundational for the content covered in their book.
“The reason people have to repair their image is because they are facing tremendous amounts of attack,” said Stein.
The book’s publication is not just a full circle moment in terms of research, but also for Barton and Stein themselves.
Stein studied with Benoit years ago at the University of Missouri. Meanwhile, Barton, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, used much of Benoit’s literature to write his doctoral dissertation. It’s a satisfying experience for the pair to both end up at SUU and have this opportunity to write with Benoit.
Aside from writing this book, Barton and Stein have spent years working together at SUU as administrators and on research, and have grown very comfortable collaborating.
“I feel like we have synergy and it does create a better product,” Barton admitted. “I would have never published as much as I have if [Stein] hadn’t come here.”
While Stein won’t take credit for any of Barton’s publishing success, he admits their working dynamic is special. He shared that they will actually sit down and write together, sentence by sentence.
“I’ve never worked with anyone else that way before,” said Stein, “but we’ve been working so long together that we just have a system.”
Barton and Stein’s recent publication is another example of the research achievements of SUU’s department of communication. The department’s faculty produces multiple journal articles, book chapters and research publications every year.
“My metaphor is that a rising tide raises all ships,” Barton mentioned. “So the more that we do in creating a climate of research, the more we raise the reputation of SUU and our communication department.”
“Persuasive Attack” can be purchased on Amazon and through its publisher, Peter Lang. For more information on the opportunities offered by the communication department, check out their website and instagram, or stop by EVT 213 to speak with a faculty member.
Author: Heather Turner
Editor: Anna Mower
Copy Editor: Michele Fogg
Photos courtesy of Kevin Stein
news@suunews.net