Appeal to emotions, argumentsum ad passiones, for the children is the attempt to convince someone by exciting their emotions rather than producing a rational argument. This fallacy is a part of Red Herring Fallacies group.
There are several specific variants of this fallacy:
argumentum ad consequentiam argument is made by making other someone fear a possible outcome without any supporting evidence
Argumentum Ad hominem is discussion method to reply in a way to minimize value of opponent’s argument by discrediting him/her. Currently it’s included into Red Herring Fallacies group.
This term was first defined by rhetoric scholars in classical Rome times. Then it ment using and appealing to personal point of view including appeal to emotions. In contrast to it, argument could be also ad rem (to the point), or to absolute truth ad veritatem. Argument ad rem is having a purpose to support and proof the statement true with scientific methods while the goal of A.H. is often to win discussion with opponent.