StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
In a general sense propaganda is the dissemination of information with the view to spread and promote a particular idea or attitude. It is otherwise referred to as psychological warfare. Linebarger defines propaganda as the "planned use of any form of communication designed to affect the minds, emotions, and action of a given group for a specific purpose" (qtd…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.2% of users find it useful
Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism"

Download file to see previous pages

Totalitarianism is a new form of government falling into the general classification of dictatorship, a system in which technologically advanced instruments of political power are wielded without restraint by centralized leadership of an elite movement for the purpose of affecting a total social revolution, including the conditioning of man on the basis of certain arbitrary ideological assumptions, proclaimed by the leadership in an atmosphere of coerced unanimity of the entire population. (qtd.

in Linz 66). Therefore in a totalitarian regime propaganda is the psychological weapon used to make the unassuming masses toe the political line. The role of propaganda in bringing about such a revolution has been emphasized. History is littered with examples of the use of propaganda in transforming hitherto placid peoples into bloodthirsty vengeful killers. Records of such unimaginable violence raise many questions about the darker side of human nature and what goads ordinary individuals into performing unspeakable acts.

Thus the focus of this essay will be to study the psychological effects of propaganda in relation to totalitarianism. Totalitarianism relied heavily on fear to control individuals, stifle resistance, root out dissent and eliminate opposition. According to Bramstedt, propaganda and fear share a symbiotic relationship, "Terror without propaganda would lose most of its psychological effect, whereas propaganda without terror does not contain its full punch" (175). Fear and terror were used to prompt individuals to behave in the manner approved by the regime.

Propaganda had the effect of taking the edge out of the sting of terror by justifying the heavy-handed tactics employed as essential in the journey towards a bright future and by painting a rosy picture of the future under the current government. The combined use of fear and propaganda to great effect was demonstrated in the aftermath of the Russian revolution. The Bolsheviks under Lenin unleashed the red terror on the populace to deal with the insurgents. The secret police known as the Cheka and the red army under Trotsky sought to destroy the anti-Bolsheviks with a firm hand.

Thousands were executed in cold blood or imprisoned in concentration camps that spread like a rash throughout the country. The masses cowered in fear and were psychologically ripe for the effects of propaganda. Agitation propaganda had been employed by Lenin via inflammatory publications like the Pravda to discredit the Tsarist regime and to fan the flames of revolution. Having seen the revolution to its bloody end and by demonstrating their might the Bolsheviks set about establishing a totalitarian system.

Propaganda was used to garner popular support for the government and to enlighten the masses about the benefits of communism. People were led to believe that communism was the panacea for all their problems and the rewards were manifold for those who embraced its tenets. Needless to say the masses were convinced and thus propaganda bolstered by fear laid the groundwork for the development of a powerful Soviet Russia. The Nazis used a like combination of propaganda

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism Essay”, n.d.)
Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1500650-psychological-effects-of-propaganda-in-relation-to-totalitarianism
(Psychological Effects of Propaganda in Relation to Totalitarianism Essay)
Psychological Effects of Propaganda in Relation to Totalitarianism Essay. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1500650-psychological-effects-of-propaganda-in-relation-to-totalitarianism.
“Psychological Effects of Propaganda in Relation to Totalitarianism Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1500650-psychological-effects-of-propaganda-in-relation-to-totalitarianism.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism

totalitarianism is defined as a political organization in which the state strives to control all aspects of public and private life of its citizens.... For this, his actions constituted totalitarianism as defined by Arendt.... Totalitarian regimes stay in power by employing widespread use of violence, disseminating propaganda through state controlled media, political oppression, denial of freedom of speech and control over the economy....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Psychology and Propaganda

THE Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism: Propaganda can evoke varying degrees of psychological effects that depend on interpretation of the propaganda as can be seen in the example involving names that we discussed earlier in the presentation.... The Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism are complex.... It is important to remember that in relation to totalitarian propaganda works most successfully when it I psychologically effects the masses....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Totalitarianism as Concept and Reality

This one party system then provides a base for itself on military ideology, making full use of such techniques as secret police, persecution of those who oppose the party and heavy employment of propaganda aids to influence the more general public.... In the article “totalitarianism as Concept and Reality”, Bracher elaborates on his theme by providing an explanation of his concept of the term as well as a real-world example of how this is happening in the modern day world....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Phenomenon of Propaganda Effect

When we read and listen to these things more frequently we develop a propaganda effect which makes us to start believing that these things are indeed true simple because we… Ironically, this feeling happens irrespective of whether you had been warned or told that the statement is false.... Implicit memory is a propaganda EFFECT s propaganda effect relates to the phenomenon which associates things we have heard and read so many times.... When we read and listen to these things more frequently we develop a propaganda effect which makes us to start believing that these things are indeed true simple because we have been exposed to them before....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

How Far Does the Description of Totalitarianism in Nineteen Eighty-Four Fit Reality

The "How Far Does the Description of totalitarianism in Nineteen Eighty-Four Fit Reality " paper describes what is “disciplinary” society, M.... Foucault's “panopticism” principle and its application to G.... Orwell's “1984” and modern society, and examines the political system of the modern societies....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

The Discourse on Information Society - Theorising the Nature and Path of Information Society

nbsp; Luckily, most individuals keep on trying to make sense of what is occurring in the world, and thereby consult such concepts as liberal democracy, totalitarianism, industrialism, and capitalism (Hassan 2008).... This paper "The Discourse on Information Society - Theorising the Nature and Path of Information Society" focuses on the fact that most individuals are curious about the society that they are currently living in; how they understand the processes surrounding their milieu; where it will lead them....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Propaganda and Foreign Policy

The use of propaganda has been widely condemned for nearly a century, with authors such as Van de Water (1938) describing it as an 'insidious insult upon the intelligence'.... The focus of the paper "propaganda and Foreign Policy" is on the Bolshevik revolution, the propaganda machine the effects and factors that make propagandas effective, Authoritarian propaganda, Democratic propaganda, Neutrality vs....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Social and Political Order

The author of this essay "Social and Political Order" casts light on the sociological issues of the modern world.... According to the text, there's no doubt that the fact that the global community functions more or less consistently is predetermined by a certain form of social and political order....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us