@article{Laskin, author = {Laskin, Alexander V}, title = {Defining propaganda: A psychoanalytic perspective}, series = {Communication and the Public, Vol. 4, No. 4 (2019), pp. 305-314 [Online ISSN 2057-0481] [doi.org/10.1177/2057047319896488]}, journal = {Communication and the Public, Vol. 4, No. 4 (2019), pp. 305-314 [Online ISSN 2057-0481] [doi.org/10.1177/2057047319896488]}, abstract = {Propaganda is a centuries-old term, and yet scholars and practitioners are still having a hard time defining it and pinpointing what makes propaganda unique. Many existing definitions fail to distinguish between propaganda and marketing, public relations, advertising, or even mass communications, in general. This essay proposes to define propaganda through psychoanalytical research pioneered by Erich Fromm on symbiotic relations. Symbiotic relations, when transferred from biology to psychology and sociology, describe a process of allowing a person to merge with something big and important, therefore creating meaning beyond an individual's life. As a result, following its religious roots, propaganda acts similar to religion - asking for a sacrifice of individualism in the name of something bigger - god, country, society, or political party. In the end, people willingly engage in propaganda because, although sacrificing something, they receive unity with the bigger powers of other people, organizations, political parties, countries, and so on. As a result, such persons are not alone against the world; they are now a part of a bigger and stronger union.}, language = {en} } @article{Laskin, author = {Laskin, Alexander V.}, title = {Symbiotic relations as the foundation of propaganda: Directions for future research}, series = {In Analysis, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2021), pp. 183-187. [Online ISSN 2542-3606] doi.org/10.1016/j.inan.2021.06.003]}, journal = {In Analysis, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2021), pp. 183-187. [Online ISSN 2542-3606] doi.org/10.1016/j.inan.2021.06.003]}, abstract = {Context: Propaganda seems to be around us all the time, yet many people would find it difficult to provide a definition of propaganda. It becomes one of those words that are easy to use, but hard to define. Scholars have been writing on propaganda for centuries, yet the definition still remains illusive. Lay people simply call propaganda all communications they disagree with. Propaganda becomes brainwashing or, even worse, psychological warfare. Objectives: The article seeks to address this problem of identifying propaganda. Method: The article develops a theoretical argument by bringing a psychological and psychoanalytic work of Fromm into the real of communication sciences. Results: The author argues that propaganda is more than just a profanity for communication activities we disagree with. In fact, this essay suggests that propaganda is best understood through a psychoanalytical research on sadism and masochism by Fromm. Fromm using a biological concept of symbiosis explained sadism and masochism as a way of building symbiotic relations making an individual bigger than just oneself. Applying this theory to a society makes propagandist and propagandee not that different from a sadist and masochist, both gaining meaning for their lives through propaganda and becoming parts of something bigger. Propaganda's symbiotic relations rely on groupthink and participatory rhetoric focusing on building group cohesion and establishing >us versus them< mentality. Conclusion: The article concludes that propaganda's symbiotic relations work through groupthink and participatory rhetoric focusing on building group cohesion and establishing >us versus them< mentality. Propaganda removes an individual, focusing instead on many; propaganda eradicates individual's desires focusing instead on needs of the group; and propaganda draws sharp boundaries where own group ends and the enemy territory begins. Propaganda becomes an aggressive symbiosis aimed at its own survival and protection from the others. The study, building on this explicating of propaganda through symbiotic relations, proposes several areas for future research on propaganda to better understand its connection to psychology and psychoanalysis.}, language = {en} }