Decision rules are effective persuasive tactics because people react to information in a highly predictable, almost robotic manner rather than thinking carefully about it. A comprehensive grasp of these spontaneous reactions might help the persuader modify attitudes or behaviors, even if the impact is just momentary. Several characters in the Novel Catch Me if You Can have an exceptional comprehension of these principles (Abagnale and Redding 12). And, since the characters employ them several times in various circumstances, the novel gives a great chance to see the influence in action. This is particularly true for the protagonist, Frank Abagnale, Jr., who naturally leverages his expertise in heuristic decision-making to affect people around him. Abagnale and Redding’s Catch Me If You Can novel’s characters and particularly the lead character Frank Abagnale demonstrate that individuals’ actions can significantly impact the lives of others.
Frank’s parents’ divorce significantly impacts his action to flee from his home because he cannot choose between his mother and father. It is difficult for any adolescent to choose, and Frank’s decision to flee demonstrates that he is still a child (Abagnale and Redding 13). He cannot choose between his parents since he requires both of them, as seen by his response when the divorce was announced (Abagnale and Redding 13). Frank Jr. conveys his desire for a stable, tightly knit family throughout the book. It is what he desires more than anything else. However, he is predicted to prefer one parent over the other. This is an impossible assignment for him since he is still a teenager who needs the support of both parents in all he accomplishes and throughout his adolescence. His affection for his parents, which he displays throughout the book, is palpable.
Frank’s choice to become a criminal was severally attributed to his behaviors, which ended up affecting others’ lives. First and foremost, Frank is a blatantly dishonest individual. From the beginning to the novel’s finish, he was more at ease telling falsehoods than delivering the truth (Abagnale and Redding 30). One such instance occurred when his lover’s father found that his identification was a forgery (Abagnale and Redding 28). Furthermore, he falsely registered his name on a payroll, switched personal identities many times, and even misled the police. “You can fool these feds, but you can’t fool me. You conned this couch turkey.” He shook his head. “You’d con your father, Frank” (Abagnale and Redding 12).
The court keeps releasing Frank even though he goes right back to his conning ways. Offenders who serve time in prison convert into law-abiding individuals. In the long run, this cycle diminishes the prevalence of crimes to the point where society no longer produces new criminals. The formation and upkeep of courts is another step taken to avoid crimes. Judges’ primary responsibility is to assess evidence and make good rulings. As a result, they assure that crime expenses outweigh the advantages. In Frank’s case, the court merely sentenced him to a total of twelve years in prison “As a foreigner, you were not eligible for parole, but the judge had discretion to reduce your term, and he did so,” (Abagnale and Redding 372). Given the offender’s involvement in several theft instances, the courts should have raised the sentence and imposed a fine or compensation to Frank’s victims.
Work Cited
Abagnale, Frank, and Stan Redding. Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake. Crown, 2000.
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