24. Propaganda

Propaganda is a one-sided communication designed to influence people’s thinking and actions. A television commercial or a poster urging people to vote for a political candidate might be propaganda, depending on its method of persuasion.

Propaganda appeals to its audience in 3 ways:

It calls for an action or opinion that it makes seem wise & reasonable. It suggests that the action or opinion is moral & right. It provides a pleasant feeling , such as a sense of importance or belonging.

There are some techniques of propaganda:

Gaining people’s trust. Propagandists must be believable. Audience must consider them reliable authorities. Gaining people’s trust can be made by:

Reporting unfavorable needs that the public knows or will design; agreeing by people’s existing opinions. People place most trust in speakers and writes whose ideas are similar to their own;

Simplicity and repetition. Propaganda must be easy to understand and remember;

The use of symbols. Words and illustration that can attract their attention.

Distortion and concealment. Propagandists exaggerate some facts and twist the meaning of others.

Source of Propaganda

Government use propaganda in order to win support from other nations, to promote disordered behavior among their own citizens.

Organizations represent members of various professions, religions. It is worldly used during election period to influence public opinion.

Business often use propaganda in their advertising. (to study why people buy certain products).