basic indoctrination
Basic Indoctrination
There is a brainwashing technique that starts out with a factual statement, then progressively increases the sense of confusion in the viewer, reader, or listener, by indicating something has been proven, which has not.
- allowing the audiences level of fear and anticipation to rise by leaving room for existing fear responses to be triggered and explored, in the midst of insufficient information for the viewer to resolve the questions raised by the news story..
- Reminders of fearfully exaggerated negative claims and projections.
- Providing detailed additional information that is rushed through. Increasing feelings of being both overwhelmed, and inferior.
- Provides images of similarly confused viewers, but they are certain whatever the story is leading them to believe, is correct.
- A slight break to allow this confused “psychological structure of acceptance”, to bed in.
- Then an Impactful News story that plays exactly to the pre-conditioned bias that the previous news sections had been designed to resonate with, in the viewer. This typically is a “call to action”, an appeal to the confused viewer to “Take Action Today!”.
This is a sophisticated form of manipulative communication, often associated with propaganda or psychological manipulation techniques. This sequence closely resembles several established concepts in psychology and media studies, particularly in the context of brainwashing and indoctrination.
- Factual Statement: Starting with a truth to establish credibility.
- Progressive confusion: Introducing misleading or false claims that create doubt and uncertainty.
- Fear Induction: Utilizing existing fears and exaggerating negative outcomes to heighten anxiety.
- Rushed Information: Overloading the viewer with information to prevent critical thinking.
- Empathic Break: Creating a sense of shared confusion or fear, making the viewer more susceptible to influence.
- Impactful Statement of Truth: Concluding with a strong, persuasive statement that offers a solution or a new perspective, often framed as a “truth” that addresses the viewer’s fears.
This technique can be seen in various contexts, including political propaganda, advertising, and even certain media narratives. It plays on cognitive biases and emotional responses, making it a powerful tool for persuasion.
Worked Example
It is doubtful this video will stay posted for long, but here are some notes about it.
Here is a “news” video, and my response to the first few items. How the flow I could see was an attempt to confuse to embed information in me without first being questioned.
The Setup
First spot on the disinformation front, was they used the price for one doz white eggs as a setup, but then, failed to give the comparable price today to prove their claim of inflation.
Confuser One
Instead, a range of prices that did not specifically include those white eggs! This had to be planned and deliberate. They deliberately inflated the fear factor, by speaking in riddles, forcing the viewer to go and find out, in order to see the truth of the matter.
More confusion
In the flow of a news update, claimed to delivery an important message, I can see it’s clearly, not “that” important. Unless the eggs are the setup to a con?
False Attempt at Empathy
In the editorial, it is claimed “everyone knows, that Fox News rarely throw red flags”. However, I don’t know that, but given their reputation, I’d be thinking they would tend to throw at least one red flag a week. So what is he really saying here? Is he starting to groom me to think along with this projected, and unexplained understanding? is this a brainwash technique too?
More Empathic Nonsense
Next they had a video of an incoherent witness, who mumbled something about a loss of a contract putting him in a bind, they did not explain clearly the problem or the size of the issue.
This is another technique. It is intended to inspire empathy between the confused interviewee, and the confused viewer. Confirmation of a planned attempt to manipulate their viewer into agreeing with the story, even though, there has been very little entirely truthful information on display.
But that is not the point, is it? This is the hype mobile powering up for the long haul. This is the eternally twisting snake of what they want you to assume, before the truth comes out. It is us they want in a bind, an ego bind.
Mad Men and Propaganda
The TV series Mad Men delves into the intersection of advertising, politics, and media, particularly during the tumultuous 1960s. Here are a couple of notable episodes that touch on these themes:
“Hands and Knees” (Season 4, Episode 10): In this episode, government agents visit Betty Draper as part of a background check for Don, who is applying for security clearance. This subplot highlights the intersection of personal lives and government scrutiny, reflecting the era’s political climate.
“Mystery Date” (Season 3, Episode 1): This episode features discussions around the Richard Speck murders, which were heavily covered in the media. The characters’ conversations reflect the influence of sensational news on public perception and the psychological tactics used in media narratives.
Propaganda and Psychological Techniques
Throughout the series, there are references to historical figures like Edward Bernays, who was known for his work in propaganda and public relations. His influence on advertising and government messaging is subtly woven into the narrative, showcasing how psychological techniques were employed to shape public opinion.
These episodes and themes illustrate how Mad Men not only explores the advertising industry but also critiques the broader implications of media and government interactions during that era
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