The negative impact of news on the human psyche is especially acute during periods of crises, catastrophes and military-political conflicts. Thus, people who regularly watch these events on the news channels may have symptoms similar to PTSD. The situation is aggravated by the fact that news reports are not only a source of information about what is happening, but also a battlefield for the minds of people. What should you pay attention to in order to protect your psyche?
My thoughts in recent weeks, like many others, went in a vicious circle, provoking anxiety and stupor: “What is happening?”, “I don’t know who to believe”, “Something needs to be done, but what?”, “So a lot of information, but nothing is clear…”
I watched several news channels, read my feeds on social networks. I have never seen such a number of verbs in the imperative mood and expressive vocabulary. I was physically ill, but my hand still reached out to scroll the tape — as if right now I would find at least some intelligible, without shouting, explanation of what was happening.
Valentin Mikhailovich Falin, a diplomat and public figure, once remarked: “When they ask what today most threatens humanity and all life on Earth, they usually name nuclear, chemical, bacteriological weapons. But they forget about another truly terrible weapon of mass destruction, aimed primarily at the human brain. This is information. Propaganda and Agitation.
The drama is that we have a constant need for information.
We live in a chaotic world and need an explanation for the events taking place around us. It often happens that several pictures of the world are available to us for perception at once — and this makes it even more difficult to understand what is happening. All this confuses, frightens and deprives us of inner stability.
All people have different sensitivity to the text and the meanings that are sewn into it. In a situation of external chaos, potential threat, accusatory attacks, the critical ability of the mind is even lower. Many stop thinking about any event, assuming that the text about what is happening (or speech) by an authoritative person reflects reality. This is not true. The text is always an interpretation. And impact.
Any public speech or text published for a wide audience is aimed at bringing the reader or listener into a certain psychological state and influencing the course of his thoughts.
Here are a few speech methods of influence that are most often used in socio-political discourse. They influence the emotional state, become a prism through which the audience begins to perceive the world, what is happening in it and themselves.
Semantic category «own circle»
This is the active use of personal pronouns in texts and speeches within the framework of the dichotomy «we» — «they» (others). The society is structured with the help of the opposition «us» — «them», where the latter are viewed through the prism of their views, interests, values and are often perceived as an obstacle to something. Speech becomes a way to either simply outline your circle (“We are not like them!”), Or agitate for the fight against “enemies”.
Labels
We are talking about a technique when a simplified description is given to something: a general conclusion is made about the properties of an object or subject based on a particular detail. Examples of labels: «gang», «crazy», «foreign agent», «aggressor» and others. Most often, labels have a negative connotation and are aimed at discrediting the plans and actions of the opponent. The speaker uses them to evoke a feeling of distrust, fear, hatred, without resorting to an objective assessment or analysis of what is happening.
The danger of the active use of labels lies in the fact that they displace the usual vocabulary and are easily fixed in the mass consciousness, automatically modeling the «image of the enemy.»
Conceptual metaphors
That is, the use of images and analogies in order to influence the worldview. Attempts to directly explain to a person what is happening are often ineffective: the speaker or writer may use the wrong word, he may not have enough arguments — the interlocutor or reader may begin to doubt. Action through the image is more effective.
What is the power of metaphor: it gives the phenomenon under discussion a name and offers a certain perspective of his vision. It also offers (or rather imposes) a “forecast”. Examples: «sick society», «evil empire», «empire of lies», «tumor». The danger of a metaphor is that it affects our emotions and serves as an impetus for the further generation of thoughts: since we have a tumor in front of us, then, probably, death.
Narratives and pre-narratives
Narrative (or stories) is a format of communication in social networks that is familiar to many, which can be called “soft” news. The author (speaker) tells what he saw or heard, passing everything through personal experience and values. At the same time, events unfold for the reader or listener as if by themselves, while the author’s meanings are sewn into the text.
A huge number of people share the latest news online, and almost every personal narrative ends with an impact: either an assessment or an appeal.
A pre-narrative, unlike a narrative, is not a formalized, fragmentary story. It pays attention to ambiguities, living experience, on which the requirements of the narrative have not yet been imposed. More often, the narrative does not interpret what is happening, but starts a discussion of reality. The speaker presents several facts, asks questions. The structure might look like this: “Look what’s going on… How can this be?”
If we talk about the communicative goal, then in the pre-narrative it is not important whether what is said corresponds or does not correspond to reality, what is important is the resonance with the audience. Pre-narratives are capable of provoking panic and aggression and are an audience management tool.
It’s not easy for everyone right now. The world is changing and doing so at a fast pace. The brain adapts to these changes. The main thing is not to get lost in a sea of information, not to make hasty decisions, to be more critical of everything that is written and said. Rely on your values and look for your meanings.