Anchoring is a cognitive bias where initial information shapes subsequent judgments.
As a selling tactic, pre-telling exploits this bias. For instance, labeling a product "delicious" anchors consumers’ evaluative expectations, influencing them to perceive it as tasty. Similarly, using words like "power" to describe a product anchors it in the consumer’s mind as highly effective, regardless of its true capabilities.
This manipulative use of language sets a baseline expectation, influencing us before intellectual consideration.
Interestingly, ideology does the same thing: pre-blinding us, pre-disposing us.