What is the term for an argumentative style that relies on immediately extrapolating or threatening worst outcomes? [closed]

Question

For example "You don't want to see the Jumanji sequel?!? I'm filing for divorce."

"The soup is cold? I'm throwing dinner in the trash."

"You're buying a house in Harlem? I predict your kids will grow up to be transients and drug addicts."

etc.

Is there a term for this?

Answer 1

You could describe this style of argument as alarmist (adj.). The person who adheres to this style of argument could also be called alarmist as an adjective or even referred to as an alarmist, using the noun sense of the word.

The OED gives this definition:

Characterized by a tendency to exaggerate potential dangers or an eagerness to express fears or concerns publicly; esp. that creates needless worry or panic in this way.

In use in the wild, the word is often somewhat derogatory, meant to describe a person or their argument as extreme, overblown, or highly reactive, which seems to fit with the sentiment sought in the question.

Here is an example of "alarmist" employed with a negative connotation in an opinion piece in the National Review:

Though rhetorically powerful, this alarmist tone is misleading.

• Andrew L. Shea, The National Review. "Private Universities Protest the ‘Endowment Tax’" - March 20, 2018

Answer 2

If you are suggesting that it’s a character flaw, psychological defect or mental health issue, then catastrophising (Merriam-Webster) is the word you are looking for.

Let us start by considering why some people catastrophise – that is, on hearing uncertain news, they imagine the worst possible outcome.
— The Guardian

Another is to title the person (a) Chicken Little, which has roughly the same meaning.

However, the style of argument is perhaps a subtly different thing, and I’m not convinced any one word will carry all the strength of meaning you want. The first two examples are probably best handled with fly(ing) off the handle; the third is more in the category of things I’d assume were intended to be (at least partly) humorous, but you could fall back on my first suggestion if they’re serious.

Answer 3

I would call this "invoking the nuclear option".

nuclear option

The most drastic or extreme response possible to a particular situation.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/nuclear_option

Here's an example that actually happened to me this week.

I rent a townhouse in a city I visit often. On Wednesday, I received a text message from the owner saying that she wanted to sell the property and wouldn't be renewing the lease. I couldn't respond to her that day. I planned to respond the next day, but before I could I received a second text message threatening me with legal action if I didn't cooperate with the brokers.

She went nuclear in less than 24 hours. It was an extreme and unnecessary escalation. She had never had a problem with me before.

Answer 4

A less formal term might be appeal to ridicule (click for that Wikipedia page). Quote from that page:

"Appeal to ridicule is often found in the form of comparing a nuanced circumstance or argument to a laughably commonplace occurrence or to some other irrelevancy on the basis of comedic timing, wordplay, or making an opponent and their argument the object of a joke." 1

Attribution

1 Wikipedia. (2018, March 21). Appeal to ridicule. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_ridicule

Answer 5

When I read the example sentences, they all strike me as making a mountain out of a molehill. From wikipedia:

Making a mountain out of a molehill is an idiom referring to over-reactive, histrionic behaviour where a person makes too much of a minor issue. It seems to have come into existence in the 16th century.

However, based on the title of the question, I'm not sure this phrase would be considered a "term." And while it's exaggerating the situation, I don't think this idiom can only be used for the "worst" outcome. On the other hand, the example sentences don't meet these criteria either, so I'm not sure the "term" and "worst" criteria in the title are essential to the answer.

Answer 6

I have heard used jumping to (the worst) conclusions, even when the process was not a simple deduction. But your examples (especially the first) are more applications of the appeal to extremes fallacy:

Description: Erroneously attempting to make a reasonable argument into an absurd one, by taking the argument to the extremes.

This can also be done for dismissal purposes, and in that case is more resemblant of a reductio ad absurdum (except that the absurd consequence is not at all inevitable, and that's why the attempt is "erroneous"): "You don't want to stop for lunch now? Sure, let's all starve".

If the consequence is not (as it is in the first example) of the actor's doing, but is feared by the latter to be a consequence of the other party's actions ("if you do that, we'll all die horribly!"), then it would be alarmism. Your third example is more like this.

In your second example, it could also be a case of overreaction.

1. to react or respond more strongly than is necessary or appropriate.

Answer 7

I would go with "hyperbole", which in the analysis of arguments means gross overstatement. The speaker is being hyperbolic. Obviously, a term borrowed from math, in which it has a precise and quantitative meaning.

Answer 8

scaremongering free dictionary

One who spreads frightening rumors; an alarmist

Answer 9

I'll venture this: black-or-white thinking, or in psychological parlance, splitting.

Splitting (also called black-and-white thinking or all-or-nothing thinking) is the failure in a person's thinking to bring together the dichotomy of both positive and negative qualities of the self and others into a cohesive, realistic whole. It is a common defense mechanism used by many people.1 The individual tends to think in extremes (i.e., an individual's actions and motivations are all good or all bad with no middle ground).
Link

Answer 10

It may be a British English thing, but I think Melodramatic fits well.

Melodrama: overdramatic emotion or behaviour

"Drama Queen" works perfectly as a label, if you can forego the' single-word' aspect of your request.

Drama Queen: someone who gets too upset or angry over small problems:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/drama-queen

Answer 11

You could say they are "going overboard"

overboard (ˈəʊvəˌbɔːd) adv ... 2. go overboard informal a. to be extremely enthusiastic b. to go to extremes

Answer 12

Calling them a doomsayer would be appropriate. You could also say they are prone to doomsaying.

one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity

Answer 13

From An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments, this is the appeal to fear (also known as: argumentum ad metum, argument from adverse consequences, scare tactics).

This fallacy plays on the fears of an audience by imagining a scary future that would be of their making if some proposition were accepted. Rather than provide solid evidence that the proposition would lead to a certain conclusion (which might be a legitimate cause for fear), such arguments rely on rhetoric, threats, or outright lies. For example, "I ask all employees to vote for my chosen candidate in the upcoming election. If the other candidate wins, he will raise taxes and many of you will lose your jobs."

It goes on to mention that:

When an appeal to fear proceeds to describe a series of terrifying events that will occur as a result of accepting a proposition - without clear causal links between them - it becomes reminiscent of a slippery slope argument and when the other person making the appeal provides one and only one alternative to the proposition under attack it becomes reminiscent of a false dilemma.

_{An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments - Page 20, Appeal to Fear}

You can read more about the Appeal to Fear here.

Answer 14

If it is a neurotic tendency and not a style of argumentation, perhaps it is catastrophization (yes, it's a word). Seeing not only the worst, but the unreasonable worst outcomes

See also A !Tangled Web by Joe Haldeman

Answer 15

I think you may use the expression specious argument

seeming to be right or true, but really wrong or false:

• a specious argument/claim specious allegations/promises

(Cambridge Dictionary)

Answer 16

These kind of responses remind me of someone with fiery temper.

Which I suggest fiery response/argument.

Answer 17

Belligerence:

Senior politicians use incredibly belligerent rhetoric that presents protest as a crime.

Also, in many relationships power struggles develop wherein one or both parties attempt to dominate the other psychologically, utilizing verbal abuse as a means to pressure their victims into submission, specifically with irrational leaps of logic, designed to terrorize them emotionally:

...there are six stages in the "escalation" or tension building stage...