My name is Steve Booth-Butterfield. I run the Healthy Influence website and am therefore responsible for its content.

I created this website to provide updates and applications of persuasion theory and research. Much of the world depends upon persuasion and influence, although in ways that may not seem obvious, effective, or interesting. This site delivers analysis and comment on all things persuasion.   I have over 30 years experience in the application, research, and training of persuasion in government, academic, and commercial settings.  For details on my work, please consult my online curriculum vita.

In government, I served as a scientific administrator in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as Chief of the Health Communication Research Branch from 1998 until 2002. I directed a large budget, multidimensional program of eighteen to twenty people doing basic and applied research projects with an in-house message engineering team and a state of the art research lab. I also got to serve on a wide variety of inter-Agency teams consulting with groups from Defense, Commerce, Labor, as well as other Health and Human Services agencies.

In academic settings, I have taught and trained all ages from first grade to adult and all levels of instruction from survey to doctoral studies. From 1988 until 1998, I was an award-winning professor at West Virginia University in the Department of Communication Studies. I’ve been using technology for instructional goals throughout my career and WVU provided me with many interesting opportunities in this regard.

In commercial settings, I’ve consulted with a variety of business, government, and academic organizations with a prime focus on Healthy Influence concepts. It’s amazing how important communication and persuasion theory and research can be in the Real World. Some of the most interesting work I’ve done has been through this kind of consulting. References are available upon request.

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about the content of this website, please contact me at “drsbb at HealthyInfluence dot com.” I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Finally, remember:  All Bad Persuasion Is Sincere.