Our group members have expressed interest in the topic of manipulation. This weekend, we will delve into the tools of manipulation and enhance your knowledge in this regard because the more educated you are, the harder it is to be manipulated.
The information society daily, if not every minute, poses complex challenges to both states, social groups, and every individual. It's difficult not to get lost in the flow of news and opinions, to be aware of your own interests, to make plans in accordance with your own interests rather than those imposed by various interests, from political to commercial.
State interests often conflict with the interests of society and individual citizens. However, to ensure survival and stability, the state is forced to employ various methods of societal control.
There are essentially two such systems: one based on coercion and the other based on persuasion.
The first system employs mechanisms of state compulsion, while the second works with mass consciousness, convincing citizens of the righteousness of the state and its activities for the benefit of each individual.
However, it is not feasible for the state to explain its position and seek consensus on every specific issue. Therefore, those in power resort to manipulating public consciousness, using complex techniques and technologies to make society adopt their stance.
Of course, in pure form, these systems do not exist.
All states, to varying degrees, use both violence and manipulation, with some relying more on one and others more on the other.
In ancient times, the Middle Ages, and even up to the mid-20th century, "legitimate violence" was almost universally applied. However, in today's world, where humanistic values prevail worldwide and civil society is strengthened, authorities have to find more effective means of influence.
Totalitarian and autocratic states with strong executive power tend to use state compulsion more actively to control society.
In democratic states, where civil society is relatively independent and robust, manipulation of consciousness is more common.
Originally, the word "manipulation" (from Latin "manipulus" – a handful or bundle) referred to a complex manual action that required specific skills and dexterity.
In medicine, "manipulation" can refer to actions such as taking samples, examining a patient by physically touching them, or performing complex procedures like gastroscopy, in which a specialized instrument (endoscope) is inserted into a patient's stomach and acts as an extension of the doctor's hand.
Manipulation can also describe manual control of mechanisms, like using the handbrake in a car or a stop lever on a train.
However, in interpersonal relationships and social psychology, manipulation of consciousness broadly refers to covert control of people's opinions, desires, and behavior. It involves psychological influence directed at subconsciously and implicitly motivating individuals to take specific actions (or refrain from them) for the manipulator's benefit, or, less commonly, for the manipulated person's benefit.
Manipulation for the benefit of the manipulated person is called altruistic manipulation and is primarily used in relationships with close individuals, such as child-rearing in families and educational institutions.
This tradition has deep roots and specific rituals, such as encouraging a child to eat by saying, "Eat a spoonful for Dad, a spoonful for Mom, a spoonful for the kitty, and so on."
In this case, the parent clearly has an important goal – to feed the child who is unwilling to eat.
However, it is an entirely different matter when, with the same benevolent intentions, a parent frightens and disorients a child, saying, "If you don't finish your meal, you'll leave all your strength on the plate."
While the motivation in the first case can be considered motivational manipulation, in the second, it's intimidation based on equally imaginative grounds.
In either case, manipulative actions, whether real or imaginary, serve the actual or perceived benefit of the manipulator.
Therefore, an exclusively negative perception of this term is not justified.
In one way or another, all individuals engage in manipulation to some extent.
We manipulate our children to study better, read more, eat healthier, and they manipulate us in games, and we manipulate them when we want something from them.
Relatives, friends, and colleagues manipulate each other for their own purposes. Almost every day, we interact with our environment through this mode of communication.
to be continued…