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Definition: propaganda from Philip's Encyclopedia

Systematic manipulation of public opinion through the media. Although examples are found in ancient and early modern writings, the most effective propagandists in the 20th century were totalitarian governments of industrialized states, which were able to control all means of public communication. Many political, economic and social organizations, and pressure groups employ some kind of propaganda.


Propaganda

From Encyclopedia of Social Problems
In its broadest sense, propaganda is simply “persuasion in bad faith.” That is, it is a species of persuasion, but one distinguishable from other varieties along several dimensions: Accuracy . Propaganda is most commonly assumed to consist of willfully inaccurate communication. But while propaganda can and often does involve deception, this is not uniquely indicative of propaganda. The selective and strategic use of truth and half-truth is as characteristic of propaganda as is untruth, and likely much more effective. Indeed, a recurrent theme among successful practitioners is that messages must be as accurate as their goal allows. Method . Of somewhat more diagnostic value is propaganda’s emphasis on bypassing its target’s reasoning and critical faculties. Accordingly, it typically presents one-sided arguments that rely on nonrational influences such as instinctive or conditioned emotional responses to stimuli. Witness the ever-enduring efficacy of the atrocity story as a propaganda…
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Full text Article Propaganda

From The Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science
Propaganda is the advancement of a position or view in a manner that attempts to persuade rather than to present a balanced overview. Propaganda often carries the connotation of a government activity, although persuasive communications are, of course, regularly used in the private or voluntary…
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English gets the word propaganda from the term Propaganda Fide , the name of a Roman Catholic organization charged with the spreading of the gospel. This meant literally ‘propagating the faith’, prōpāgānda being the feminine gerundive of Latin prōpāgāre , source of English propagate [16]. Originally…
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A poster for the 1917 World War I film Under Four...
Published in 1928, Propaganda is a hugely influential work by Edward Bernays, who argued that overcoming chaos and conflict within society required the scientific manipulation of public opinion. Although the term “propaganda” has come to be closely associated with despotic governments and carries…
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Full text Article propaganda

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
systematic manipulation of public opinion, generally by the use of symbols such as flags, monuments, oratory, and publications. Modern propaganda is distinguished from other forms of communication in that it is consciously and deliberately used to influence group attitudes; all other functions are…
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Full text Article propaganda

From Encyclopedia of American Government and Civics
The term propaganda has been applied to many types of political communication, but what does it really mean? When most people think of propaganda, they think of the fiery speeches given by Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. In a sense, this is a good place to start, because Hitler had a special “Minister…
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Full text Article Propaganda

From Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies
Usually deliberate manipulation by means of symbols (words, gestures, images, flags, monuments, music, etc.) of thoughts, behaviour, attitudes and beliefs. The word originates with the Roman Catholic Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, a committee of cardinals in charge of missionary…
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Full text Article Propaganda

From Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology
“I Want You for the U.S. Army” - Uncle Sam...
Propaganda is the use of various persuasive techniques in order to spread a belief, opinion, action, or mode of behavior and have it be accepted through an emotional response. Propaganda is the deliberate spreading of information in order to implant an idea in the psyche of a large group of people…
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Full text Article Propaganda

From Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications Full text Article Contents by Subject Area
I. Definition II. History III. Description IV. International Law V. Effects GLOSSARY clandestine radio stations Unlicensed, underground stations sponsored by a hostile political group or government seeking the overthrow of or political change in an adversary regime. customary international law If…
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Full text Article propaganda

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Systematic spreading (propagation) of information or disinformation (misleading information), usually to promote a religious or political doctrine with the intention of instilling particular attitudes or responses. As a system of spreading information it was considered a legitimate instrument of…
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Full text Article propaganda

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Osama bin Laden propaganda poster, photographed...
Manipulation of information to influence public opinion. The term comes from Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith), a missionary organization established by the pope in 1622. Propagandists emphasize the elements of information that support their position and…
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