Propaganda and Psychology

Recruiting

Propaganda is a form of communication that strongly favors a particular group and attempts to influence the thinking, feelings, and actions (that is, the core functioning components of cognition, emotion/ affect, and behavior) of group members to actively support a group or a cause.

Propaganda is an effective method of shaping public opinion. The presentation of selective information can influence people's views of reality, the way they feel, and what they do. Propaganda may be used for positive and negative purposes.

Examples of groups that use propaganda include:

Political parties

Governments, especially war departments

Advertisers

Religious groups

Propaganda is not the same as spin or persuasion. 

Spin is a form of propaganda used to manage information (including facts) in a favorable way.

Persuasion is a form of communication that attempts to influence others by presenting logical arguments, evidence, and appeals to reason. Unlike propaganda, persuasion seeks to engage the audience in a rational and informed decision-making process. Persuasion relies on presenting facts, expert opinions, and logical reasoning to convince individuals to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific course of action.

Research sample

In an article published a few years before the horrific World War II and the powerful propaganda efforts of nations at war, Biddle (1931) identified four principles (quoted from his abstract).

Propaganda relies less upon techniques which help the individual to come into intelligent control of his conduct, and more on techniques which induce the individual to follow non-rational emotional drives. The four principles followed in propaganda are: (1) rely on emotions, never argue; (2) cast propaganda into the pattern of "we" versus an "enemy"; (3) reach groups as well as individuals; (4) hide the propagandist as much as possible.

In a 2016 study, Carriere and Blackman conducted a study of recruitment videos. One was action-oriented and the other was community oriented. They were produced by the US or ISIS. The participants rated the community oriented response highest.

References

Biddle, W. W. (1931). A psychological definition of propaganda. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 26(3), 283–295. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0074944

Carriere, K. R., & Blackman, M. (2016). Perceptions of recruitment videos from armed forces. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 22(4), 401–403. 

Sutton, G. W. (2024, January 28). Propaganda and psychology. Psychology Concepts and Theories. Retrieved from https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2024/01/propaganda-and-psychology.html

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

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Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 

Psychology defined

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines psychology as "the study of the mind and behavior". Psychology is a diverse scientific discipline that comprises several major branches of research, including experimental, biological, cognitive, lifespan developmental, personality, and social psychology, as well as several subareas of research and applied psychology, such as clinical, industrial/organizational, school and educational, human factors, health, neuropsychology, and cross-cultural psychology.


The British Psychological Society defines psychology as "the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour".

The Canadian Psychological Society defines psychology as "the scientific study of behaviour and the mind". 

The Australian Psychological Society defines psychology as "the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes". 

The South African Psychological Society defines psychology as "the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, including perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behaviour, and interpersonal relationships". 

References


APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Psychology. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://dictionary.apa.org/psychology

Australian Psychological Society. (2018). Psychology. In *APS Dictionary of Psychology*. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://dictionary.apa.org/psychology

British Psychological Society. (2015, October 19). Psychology’s contribution. https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/psychologys-contribution

Canadian Psychological Association. (2022). Psychology. In Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000304

South African Psychological Society. (n.d.). What is psychology? [Webpage]. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://www.sapsychology.org/page/WhatIsPsychology

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   X  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 

Christian Psychology as a concept

 

Christian Counseling 2024
Created by Geoffrey Sutton with Designer

Christian Psychology

Christian psychology is an approach to psychology that begins with a Christian understanding of the soul. Sizemore (2011) credited two philosophers, Stephen Evans and Robert Roberts, with the impetus for Christian psychology based on their challenge to develop a Christian psychology based on a Christian framework and not limited to the variables studied in secular psychology.

Sisemore referred to a journal as “the primary voice of the position, Edification: The Transdisciplinary Journal of the Society for Christian Psychology.”

Sisemore also referred to Eric Johnson’s work (e.g., see Johnson, 2020), including the Society for Christian Psychology (Johnson was the director when Sisemore's article was written).

Christian psychology is one of the views in Johnson's (2010)  Five Views book referenced below. The book includes a chapter on Christian psychology and perspectives on other views.

References

Johnson, E. L. (Ed). (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five Views (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.

Sisemore, T. A. (2011). An introduction to the Christian psychology special issue. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 30, (4), 271-273.

Sutton, G. W. (2024, January 26). Christian psychology. Psychology Concepts and Theories. Retrieved from https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2024/01/christian-psychology-as-concept.html

Related post

Psychology defined

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   X  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 

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