A Rhetorical Analysis of a Filipino Psychic's Selected Viral Predictions and Their Public Reception on Facebook

Abstract: Psychic predictions made by a prominent Filipino psychic frequently go viral on Facebook, generating intense public engagement and influencing how social media users interpret uncertainty, danger, and future events. These posts circulate widely during moments of collective anxiety, making it important to understand how such messages are constructed and how audiences make sense of them. Yet, fear-based messages like psychic predictions remain largely understudied in communication research, particularly in relation to rhetorical construction, persuasive strategies, and patterns of audience reception in digital spaces. This study examines selected viral prediction posts of a prominent Filipino psychic and their public reception on Facebook. It analyzes the rhetorical strategies embedded in the predictions, the thematic patterns in audience responses, and how audiences appraise the messages based on perceived threat and efficacy. Guided by Aristotle’s Rhetorical Theory and Witte’s Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), the study employed a qualitative interpretive research design, analyzing three highly engaged prediction posts—Calamity, Accident, and Death—along with their corresponding audience comments. The analysis shows that the predictions rely primarily on emotional appeals, with pathos emerging as the dominant rhetorical device that intentionally instigate fear and urgency. Ethos appears intermittently through assertions of prophetic insight, while logical reasoning is largely absent. Audience responses reflect varied interpretive approaches, with faith-based comments being the most prominent across all datasets. EPPM appraisal indicates that perceived efficacy appears more frequently than perceived threat, suggesting that many commenters respond by invoking prayer, vigilance, or precautionary behaviors. Non-EPPM responses, including humor, skepticism, and off-topic remarks, occur but are comparatively limited. These findings highlight how viral psychic predictions function as persuasive fear narratives that shape public engagement by appealing to emotion and perceived credibility. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on digital fear communication and underscores the importance of enhancing public vigilance and critical evaluation when encountering fear-driven content online. Keywords: Aristotle’s Rhetorical Theory, Extended Parallel Process Model, Facebook, Fear Appeals, Psychic Predictions, Public Reception, Filipino Psychic, Rhetorical Analysis, and Social Media. Title: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Filipino Psychic’s Selected Viral Predictions and Their Public Reception on Facebook Author: Baria, J.C.Q., Camila, M.C., Hopio, D.E.D., Patriarca, M.M.C., Peral, G.D., Umali, L.E.C. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 14, Issue 2, April 2026 - June 2026 Page No: 29-37 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 29-April-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19878423 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/a-rhetorical-analysis-of-a-filipino-psychics-selected-viral-predictions-and-their-public-reception-on-facebook