Which phrase describes the reasoning behind saying, "Dad doesn't want to go to his mother-in-law's house, so do you want to go play at Uncle Harvey's?"

The reasoning in the statement, "Dad doesn't want to go to his mother-in-law's house, so do you want to go play at Uncle Harvey's?" exemplifies the Appeal to Prejudice. This type of argument leverages the existing negative feelings or biases that someone might have about a particular person or situation—in this case, the mother-in-law's house. By mentioning Dad's dislike for visiting his mother-in-law, it hints at a shared sentiment that the listener might also hold, possibly encouraging them to reject that option and instead consider the alternative that is presented, which is going to play at Uncle Harvey's.

The approach effectively plays on the emotional context and predisposed feelings related to family dynamics, steering the listener away from a less desired option by emphasizing a common discomfort. Thus, it invites the listener to align with avoiding the disliked situation and focusing on a more favorable one instead. This reasoning reflects how prejudice against a certain experience can be used to persuade someone to accept an alternative more amenably.