Scarlet Pimpernel
Propaganda is a set of messages made to influence the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to create a certain meaning, or tries to get people to think emotionally rather than logically. The desired result is for the audience to change its opinions or thinking to further a political agenda or sell a product.
Your deeper understanding of propaganda devices can:
Save you lots of money.
Assist you in making better political decisions.
Help you distinguish between fact and opinion.
Aid you in persuading others.
Ad hominem
A Latin phrase what has come to mean attacking your opponent, as opposed to attacking their arguments. (Example: “Obama is a liar!”)
Ad nauseam
This argument uses repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works best when media sources are limited and controlled by the propagator.
Example:
Appeal to authority
Appeals to authority cite prominent figures to support a position, idea, argument, or course of action.
Appeal to fear
Appeals to fear seek to build support by creating anxieties and panic in people.
Appeal to prejudice
Using emotional words to attach value or moral goodness to believing the proposition. For example, the phrase: "Any hard-working taxpayer would have to agree that those who do not work, and who do not support the community do not deserve the community's support through social assistance."
"Argumentum ad populum" Bandwagon
Bandwagon and "inevitable-victory" appeals attempt to persuade the target audience to join in and be part of the winning team because "everyone else is." It works because people have a natural desire to be on the winning side.
Black-and-White fallacy
Presenting only two choices, with the product or idea being sold as the better choice. (e.g., "You are either with us, or you are with the enemy")
Your deeper understanding of propaganda devices can:
Save you lots of money.
Assist you in making better political decisions.
Help you distinguish between fact and opinion.
Aid you in persuading others.
Ad hominem
A Latin phrase what has come to mean attacking your opponent, as opposed to attacking their arguments. (Example: “Obama is a liar!”)
Ad nauseam
This argument uses repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works best when media sources are limited and controlled by the propagator.
Example:
Appeal to authority
Appeals to authority cite prominent figures to support a position, idea, argument, or course of action.
Appeal to fear
Appeals to fear seek to build support by creating anxieties and panic in people.
Appeal to prejudice
Using emotional words to attach value or moral goodness to believing the proposition. For example, the phrase: "Any hard-working taxpayer would have to agree that those who do not work, and who do not support the community do not deserve the community's support through social assistance."
"Argumentum ad populum" Bandwagon
Bandwagon and "inevitable-victory" appeals attempt to persuade the target audience to join in and be part of the winning team because "everyone else is." It works because people have a natural desire to be on the winning side.
Black-and-White fallacy
Presenting only two choices, with the product or idea being sold as the better choice. (e.g., "You are either with us, or you are with the enemy")