An analysis of fear-based manipulation in American televised news
LE3 .A278 2011
2011
Pyrcz, Greg
Acadia University
Bachelor of Arts
Honours
Political Science
Politics
Despite our tendency to gain everyday social and political knowledge from the mass media we neglect to take into account the power this knowledge has in mediating our social and political realities. This thesis argues that the use of emotions, particularly fear, within the mass media, has the power to mediate and manipulate perceived socio-political life. The implication for such manipulation is found in the link between the mass media, deliberation and democratic outcomes. It is argued that a recurrent pattern can be identified in the American polity, from relative liberalism toward conservatism. This pattern is illustrated in both historical and more contemporary examples using sources that focus on the particular role of American televised news media. The thesis outlines the theoretical framework needed to understand how fear-based manipulation works and how people’s perceived realities can be mediated by the mass media. The initial theory also focuses on many of the aspects of modern media that contribute to its manipulative characteristics. An historical example is considered, one that focus on a fear-based manipulated shift in democratic politics from the liberal 1960s to the 1980s and the election of Ronald Reagan. It is suggested that the decade between these two periods was a time in American history when a powerful exaggeration of fear moved Americans toward conservatism partly as an irrational emotional response to representations in the mass media. A more contemporary example attends to the rise in conservatism following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, highlighting the relative liberalism before the attacks and the rise in Bush Administration approval amongst the American populace afterwards. It is argued that an exaggerated sense of fear exacerbated by the media, manipulated citizens once more. Applying a theoretical understanding of emotional-based manipulation, it was found that in both cases the use of fear and other emotions in the media contributed to a turn towards the political right in American society. The thesis concludes by briefly considering the future of fear-based manipulation in American media and suggests some potential options for counteracting manipulation and the mediating of realties. It is also important to note that this thesis does not suggest that each instance of manipulation was necessarily intentional, but that manipulation is nevertheless detrimental for deliberative democracy. 1 "What difference does it make if it's true? If it's a story and it breaks, they're gonna run with it." Wag the Dog, 1997 (film)
The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.
https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:782