Propaganda and Persuasion

Gender Appeals

this tool involves using ideas about masculinity or femininity to manipulate people. For instance, a gender appeal would try to make a man believe that doing something is necessary in order to be " a real man" or attack a man by suggesting that he is not "manly" enough.

Slogans

this tool involves using memorable phrases to foster support for a cause. Short catch phrases like "Remember the Alamo!" are easy to remember and pass on.

euphamisms

when propagandists use glittering generalities and name-calling symbols, they are attempting to arouse their audience with vivd, emotionally suggestive words. In certain situations, however, the propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable.This is accomplished by using words that are bland and euphemistic. During wartime, civilian casualties are referred to as "collateral damage"

Testimonial

Propagandists use this technique to associate a respected or famous person (who may not have any relevant expertise) to endorse a product or cause by giving it their stamp of approval hoping that the intended audience will follow their example

Plain Folks

Propagandists use this technique to convince the audience that the spokesperson is from humble origins, someone they can trust and who has their interests at heart. Propagandists have the speaker use ordinary language and mannerisms to reach the audience and identify with their point of view

Name Calling

Propagandists use this technique to create fear and arouse prejudice by using negative words (bad names) to create an unfavorable opinion or hatred against a group, beliefs, ideas, or institutions they would have us denounce

Card stacking

Propagandists use this technique to make the best case possible for his side and the worst for the opposing viewpoint by carefully using only those facts that support his or her side of the argument while attempting to lead the audience into accepting the facts as a conclusion. In other words, the propagandist stacks the cards against the truth. Card stacking is the most difficult technique to detect because it does not provide all of the info necessary for the audience to make an informed decision.

Bandwagon

Propagandists use this technique to persuade the audience to follow the crowd. This device creates the impression of widespread support. It reinforces the human desire to be on the winning side. It also plays on feelings of loneliness and isolation. Propagandists use this technique to convince people not already on the bandwagon to join in a mass movement while simultaneously reassuring that those on or partially on should stay aboard. Propagandists also use bandwagon appeals to convince the target audience that if they don't join in they will be left out

Negative Association

This technique is used to get the audience to disapprove of an action or idea by associating the target with something that is usually disliked, or by suggesting the idea is popular with groups hated, feared, or held in contempt by the target audience. Thus, if a group which supports a policy is led to believe that undesirable, subversive, or contemptible people also support it, the members of the group might decide to change their opinion

Emotional Appeals

This tool involves exaggeratedly playing on people's emotions to get them to promote the war effort. Fear is the most common emotion played upon in propaganda, but anger, love, and other emotions are regularly targeted.

Demonization

This tool involves portraying the enemy as purely evil, menacing, murderous, and aggressive. The propagandist attempts to remove all confusion and ambiguity about whom the public should hate

Transfer

a technique used to carry over the authority and approval of something we respect and revere to something the propagandist would have us accept. Propagandists often employ symbols (e.g. waving the flag) to stir out emotions and win our approval

oversimplification

generalizations are used to provide simple answers to complex social, political, economic, or military problems.

Authority

propaganda often plays on the emotional desire to please authority figures and to be considered worthy by them

Glittering Generalities

propagandists employ vague, sweeping statements using language associated with values and beliefs deeply held by the audience without providing supporting information or reason. They appeal to such notions as honor, glory, love of country, desire for peace, freedom, and family values. The words and phrases are vague and suggest different things to different people but the implication is always favorable

pathos

refers to arguments that try to appeal to the emotions of an audience. You can use an emotional appeal to try to bring out sadness, fear, joy, or anger in an audience. Legitimately persuasive emotional appeals do not overly exaggerate or distort a situation and should not be overused.

Half-truths

the propagandist includes an element of truth, but deliberately ignores other elements of it.