Personal influence and pre-industrial United States: An early relationship model that needs resurgence in U.S. public relations.

Highlights: [•] The personal influence model is common in Asian nations. [•] A few authors have argued that the model is universal and can be seen in the U.S. [•] These practices are not documented because U.S. historians focused on persuasion. [•] In early U.S. society, interpersonal communication was predominant over persuasion. [•] A few examples of personal influence in early U.S. history are included here. [•] With social media, personal influence can help restore relationship building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]