Propaganda Techniques

Question 1

Appeals that attempt to persuade the target audience to join in and take the course of action that “everyone else is taking”.

Answer 1

Bandwagon

Question 2

A type of propaganda that deals with famous people or depicts attractive, happy people. This makes other people think that if they buy a product or follow a certain ideology, they too will be happy or successful. (used more in advertising for products, instead of political reasons)

Answer 2

Beautiful people

Question 3

The repeated articulation of a complex of events that justify subsequent action. The descriptions of these events have elements of truth, and the “big lie” generalizations merge and eventually supplant the public’s accurate perception of the underlying events. After World War I the German “Stab in the back” explanation of the cause of their defeat became a justification for Nazi re-militarization and revanchist aggression.

Answer 3

Big Lie

Question 4

This approach attempts to convince the audience that the propagandist’s positions reflect the common sense of the people. It is designed to win the confidence of the audience by communicating in the common manner and style of the target audience.

Answer 4

plain folks or common man approach

Question 5

Making individuals from the opposing nation, from a different ethnic group, or those who support the opposing viewpoint appear to be subhuman, worthless, or immoral, through suggestion or false accusations.

Answer 5

Demonizing the enemy

Question 6

This technique hopes to simplify the decision making process by using images and words to tell the audience exactly what actions to take, eliminating any other possible choices.

Answer 6

Direct order

Question 7

The use of an event that generates euphoria or happiness, or using an appealing event to boost morale. Euphoria can be created by declaring a holiday, making luxury items available, or mounting a military parade with marching bands and patriotic messages.

Answer 7

Euphoria

Question 8

The creation or deletion of information from public records, in the purpose of making a false record of an event or the actions of a person or organization, including outright forgery of photographs, motion pictures, broadcasts, and sound recordings as well as printed documents.

Answer 8

Disinformation

Question 9

An attempt to justify an action on the grounds that doing so will make one more patriotic, or in some way benefit a group, country, or idea. The feeling of patriotism which this technique attempts to inspire may not necessarily diminish or entirely omit one’s capability for rational examination of the matter in question.

Answer 9

Flag-waving

Question 10

Emotionally appealing words applied to a product or idea, but which present no concrete argument or analysis. A famous example is the campaign slogan, “Ford has a better idea!”

Answer 10

Glittering generalities

Question 11

A deceptive statement which may come in several forms and includes some element of truth, or it may utilize some deceptive element, such as improper punctuation, or double meaning, especially if the intent is to deceive, evade blame or misrepresent the truth.

Answer 11

Half-truth

Question 12

Generalities are deliberately vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations. The intention is to move the audience by use of undefined phrases, without analyzing their validity or attempting to determine their reasonableness or application. The intent is to cause people to draw their own interpretations rather than simply being presented with an explicit idea. In trying to “figure out” the propaganda, the audience forgoes judgment of the ideas presented. Their validity, reasonableness and application may still be considered.

Answer 12

Intentional vagueness

Question 13

This technique is used to persuade a target audience to disapprove of an action or idea by suggesting that the idea is popular with groups hated, feared, or held in contempt by the target audience. Thus, if a group that supports a certain policy is led to believe that undesirable, subversive, or contemptible people support the same policy, then the members of the group may decide to change their original position. This is a form of bad logic, where a is said to equal X, and b is said to equal X, therefore, a = b.

Answer 13

Obtain disapproval or Reductio ad Hitlerum

Question 14

Favorable generalities are used to provide simple answers to complex social, political, economic, or military problems.

Answer 14

Oversimplification

Question 15

Selective editing of quotes that can change meanings. Political documentaries designed to discredit an opponent or an opposing political viewpoint often make use of this technique.

Answer 15

Quotes out of Context

Question 16

Used to incite fears and arouse prejudices in their hearers in the intent that bad names will cause hearers to construct a negative opinion about a group or set of beliefs or ideas that the propagandist would wish hearers to denounce. The method is intended to provoke conclusions about a matter apart from the impartial examinations of facts. It is thus a substitute for rational, fact-based arguments against an idea or belief on its own merits.

Answer 16

Name-calling

Question 17

Individuals or groups may use favorable generalities to rationalize questionable acts or beliefs. Vague and pleasant phrases are often used to justify such actions or beliefs.

Answer 17

Rationalization

Question 18

Presenting data or issues that, while compelling, are irrelevant to the argument at hand, and then claiming that it validates the argument.

Answer 18

Red Herring

Question 19

A generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant.

Answer 19

Euphemism

Question 20

An expression with connotations that are offensive either about the denotatum (the object referred to by the linguistic expression) or to the audience, or both, and it is a substitute for a neutral or euphemistic expression. Ex: “Liberal” - intended to diminish the perceived credibility of a particular Mark. By taking a displeasing argument presented by a Mark, the propagandist can quote that person, and then attach ‘liberals’ in an attempt to both (1) create a political battle-ax of unaccountable aggression and (2) diminish the quality of the Mark.

Answer 20

Dysphemism

Question 21

Describing someone or something in a word or short phrase. Ex: calling someone who has broken the law as a “criminal”.

Answer 21

Labeling

Question 22

The attribution of guilt (without proof) to individuals because the people they associate with are guilty. Ex: Simon, Karl, Jared, and Brett are all friends of Josh, and they are all petty criminals. Jill is a friend of Josh; therefore, Jill is a petty criminal.

Answer 22

Guilt by Association

Question 23

This type of propaganda deals with a jingle or word that is repeated over and over again, thus getting it stuck in someone’s head, so they can buy the product.

Answer 23

Repetition

Question 24

Assigning blame to an individual or group, thus alleviating feelings of guilt from responsible parties and/or distracting attention from the need to fix the problem for which blame is being assigned.

Answer 24

Scapegoating

Question 25

Quotations, in or out of context, especially cited to support or reject a given policy, action, program, or personality. The reputation or the role (expert, respected public figure, etc.) of the individual giving the statement is exploited. . . . to cause the target audience to identify itself with the authority or to accept the authority’s opinions and beliefs as its own.

Answer 25

Testimonial

Question 26

This is the suggestion that by buying a product, the user will be ahead of the times; for example, a car company shows a new car being driven in a futuristic setting.

Answer 26

Avante Garde

Question 27

This is the suggestion that by buying a certain product, the user can demonstrate love of country; for example, a company stresses the fact that it’s product is made in America by American workers.

Answer 27

Patriotism

Question 28

This is the suggestion that use of this product will help the user get the approval of friends; for example, a company shows it’s product being enjoyed by a happy group of friends at a party.

Answer 28

Peer approval

Question 29

This type of advertising provides specific numbers or scientific proofs that a product works; for example, a toothpaste company claims that it’s users had an 85% reduction in the number of cavities.

Answer 29

Facts and figures

Question 30

This suggests that the use of the product will ensure the user’s inclusion in an elite group; for example, a mustard manufacturer shows well-dressed people in very expensive cars asking for its brand.

Answer 30

Snob appeal