Kings, political leaders, and even advertisers have been using propaganda to influence behavior for centuries now. The techniques used may differ but the end result remains the same. In this article, we tell you about the different methods of propaganda and give you examples of propaganda techniques.
Propaganda has been around since the beginning of time. It is basically a type of message aimed at influencing the behavior, opinions, and decisions of people. Propaganda doesn't necessarily have to take a moral path and can often be misleading and even exaggerated. Mainly used in politics, propaganda is hugely influenced by methods of influence used in public relations and advertising. Propaganda is often defined as the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause or a person.
Using emotions to overcome logical and emotional thinking is one of the key aspects of propaganda. If you have been influenced by the different techniques used, then chances are that you will not pay as much attention to the evidence presented as you would have normally. Every type of media uses propaganda including radio, television, newspapers, hoardings, the internet, etc. In order to understand this form of communication, you need to first understand the different types of propaganda that are used with the help of suitable examples. The types of propaganda that we have taken into consideration in this article are the ones that the Institute for Propaganda Analysis has identified as the most common types of propaganda methods.
| 1. Bandwagon |
| Influencing people by telling then how everyone is using the same product or is true to the same ideology. This encourages people to take the same course of action. | |
| Example
It is a technique that is used largely during elections. Many people are often influenced to vote for those candidates or parties whom the majority seem to be supporting. These people are also often the most likely to succeed. In the United States, because of the time zone difference, results in the eastern parts are declared before polls close in the west which often influences voters in the western zones. |
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| 2. Card Stacking |
| Most companies use this technique in advertising by highlighting the positives of a product while downplaying any possible negatives or side-effects. It is truth in half. | |
| Example
Many advertisers for drugs and food items use this technique effectively. The advertisement will talk about the evident positives of the product on sale which by implication makes it appealing to a consumer. By giving only part of the picture, the goodness of the product is highlighted greatly. It is a technique that is also used by political parties to highlight the good that they have done for their constituency while never mentioning the negatives. |
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| 3. Glittering Generalities |
| When emotionally appealing words that make us approve and accept an idea without examining the evidence, glittering generalities are put to use, the technique is known as glittering generalities. They carry conviction but have no supporting reasons to prove the same. | |
| Example
The most well-known example of this propaganda technique was its use by Adolf Hitler who would use words that were linked to ideas like freedom, pride, independence, and integrity in his speeches. This way he would create a sense of pride in the audience in the concept of fatherland as he suggested it. It was the use of this technique that helped him gain the mass support that he had. |
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| 4. Name Calling |
| The technique works in a way that is the complete reverse of glittering generalities. The technique used is such that it causes an audience to create a negative opinion about someone because of the bad opinions they hear of them. As with glittering generalities, there is no basis for the name calling. | |
| Example
The work by Leni Riefenstahl was hugely criticized by many people due to her associations with Hitler and the Nazi party. This was despite the fact that her documentaries, The Triumph of the Will and Olympia are seminal movies that used groundbreaking techniques for that time. After the Second World War, Riefenstahl could never reinvigorate her filmmaking career, thanks to these negative associations and the accusations that went along with it. |
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| 5. Plain Folks |
| This technique works in a way to establish that the speaker is regular and ordinary and has the same views and opinions as the people he is appealing to. It creates a sense of camaraderie between the speaker and his audience which helps build belief in the idea. | |
| Example
This is a technique that is used quite commonly during elections. Most politicians try to establish a rapport with their voter group by creating the image that they have a lot in common. Therefore, the images of George Bush wearing denims and a plaid shirt while relaxing at Camp David or Bill Clinton eating at McDonalds are all examples of using the technique. To a large extent the campaign slogan, Yes, We Can endorsed by President Obama also utilized the same method. |
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| 6. Testimonial |
| When a famous person or a celebrity endorses a certain view, they testify to the idea or the product. This is an effective propaganda technique that often works wonders to influence an audience. | |
| Example
This propaganda technique is probably the most widely used and the most effective of the lot. When a celebrity endorses a certain view, it is more than likely that fans and followers endorse the same view. This technique is effectively used in politics but has even more far reaching consequences in advertising wherein celebrity power can actually increase sales and brand value. |
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| 7. Transfer |
| When a product or an idea is linked with another to create the impression that they share positive attributes, the technique being used is known as transfer. This technique can be used to create positive and negative feelings about an entity. | |
| Example
This propaganda technique is capable of creating highly emotional responses and therefore, generally the imagery for association tends to be visual. The use of Swastika by the Nazi Party led to negative associations for the symbol when in actuality it was an identifier for health and prosperity. Till today the use of the Swastika can cause negative perceptions in the minds of people. |
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"Propaganda has absolutely nothing to do with truth," said Joseph Goebbels. After reading about the different propaganda techniques and the examples of these methods, you hopefully understand why, he said so. The examples of propaganda techniques used in this article are simple ones that make it easy to understand the concepts that they follow.
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