Putin's propaganda: in-depth analysis of the impact

Many Ukrainians and sane Russians have noticed how difficult it is to communicate with those who have been indoctrinated by Putin’s propaganda. They are not only not ready to hear critical information regarding their beliefs, but also aggressively attack those who have a different point of view.

The symptoms are well known to many, but to explain the essence is given to people with in-depth knowledge of human psychology.

In the modern world there is an outstanding thinker - Ken Wilber, who writes books on human consciousness, understanding religion, psychology, and many other important things.

I recently decided to read one of my favorite books, The Social God, by Ken Wilber (A sociable god) with the subtitle "towards a new understanding of religion".

This book has a small chapter (7 pages) that presents four levels of religiosity. She is very instructive.
Can read this chapter in the original.

And what is especially valuable for us is that his descriptions of the lowest level of “religiosity” contain the most important postulates that can help us understand the behavior of victims of propaganda, both Putin’s and other totalitarian regimes, and not only...

Four levels - in English they are called by the author — Belief, Faith, Experience and Adaptation.

Already at the very beginning the first “catch” is hidden. We often confuse the concepts of belief and faith.
We often translate the word belief into Russian as belief, and faith as faith, and this blurs the boundary between the terms.

It is better to translate belief as beliefs and then it will be easier to distinguish between levels.

At the very beginning, the author introduces the most important idea. Here is a translation of several excerpts from the book, after which I will give comments and interesting conclusions. Ken Wilber writes: "Belief is the lowest form of religious involvement."

A true believer (sort of like a true believer - but the translation sounds strange - MB) is a person who does not have true faith, much less religious experience. It covers a more or less codified belief system that acts as a "fund of immortality symbols..."

The belief system generates a curious SECONDARY PSYCHODYNAMICS:
Since this is an internal approach to immortality, such a belief system can be revised with great difficulty.

Therefore, when normal and inevitable moments of uncertainty arise, the questioning impulses are not allowed to remain within the system, since they are a threat to the “immortality qualifications.”

As a result, this doubting factor is PROJECTED ONTO OTHERS and attacked with obsessive persistence.
A true believer is always active. He either seeks to convert others to his system or fights against “non-believers.”

The fact is that the very existence of those who do not believe in his views reduces his “account in the bank of immortality.”
And on the other hand, the treatment of a new man in his camp allows him to calm his deep-seated uncertainty.
If the belief system is “mythical-religious,” then such a person burns witches and hangs heretics. If the system is Marxist, then he puts “witches” in prison and sends “heretics” to a mental hospital.... The desire to convert is caused by his own deep-seated insecurity.

However, if a belief system is associated with AUTHENTIC and higher religiosity, then such a system is positive and can be called an authentic belief system.
(End of quote - short translation).

And now - my comments. We see that the author combines both religious and ideological (secular) constructs into one form.

And he absolutely brilliantly uses the idea taken from E. Becker’s book “The Denial of Death” (Becker E. “The denial of death” New York, 1973) that beliefs are not just facts about life, but mechanisms that help a person to join to the idea of ​​immortality.

Let's analyze the situation.

An ordinary person lives a boring and routine life, in which all days are similar to each other and leave no traces in memory. And a person feels the fear of death, realizing that there will be no trace of him left in the world. Religion is one of the mechanisms for forming the experience of immortality.

But there are other forms. One of them is heroism. A hero is a person who accomplishes an outstanding achievement that remains in the memory of posterity. This can be a positive achievement, but also destructive (remember the glory of Herostratus, who became famous for setting fire to a temple).

Ukrainians on Maidan showed real heroism, resisting and defeating corrupt rulers. In addition, the “Heavenly Hundred” was ingeniously included in the arsenal of Ukrainians’ achievements. This is an absolutely stunning concept that enhanced the effect of heroism.

Moreover, particularly smart analysts, for example Vitaly Nakhmanovich they write that the image of the Heavenly Hundred made it possible to replace heroes like Bandera, who have an ambiguous image, with pure and bright heroes who do not have “side effects.”

By the way, in Bandera's surname the Russian ear hears the word BANDA, although in fact the word Bandera means banner (the famous song - Bandiera Rossa - red banner, also in English banner - banner). But in the concept of “Heavenly Hundred” - the word HEAVENLY has one hundred percent positive meaning and this is wonderful and worthy.

So, the Ukrainians, with their victory on the Maidan, deserved the title of heroes, and this title (including also fallen heroes) turned out to be a CHALLENGE for their Russian neighbors.

And here we see another curious phenomenon. There are different ways for an individual to escape his “little man” complex.

In addition to heroism, there is also a “FAN CLUB” mechanism, when a person becomes a fan or a fan of a famous personality. One option is sports fans. But there is one problem with sports. If the competition is short-term, then the joy of “pain” quickly “dissipates” and a residue remains - a bygone illusion. Therefore, long championships and famous teams have “long-lasting” mechanisms. And by the way, many teenagers and childish adults use the role of sports fans as an ersatz “anti-smallness.”

What happened to Ukrainian history? While the Ukrainians fought valiantly on the Maidan, the Russians “played” the Olympics. This very expensive event allowed fans to join in the glory of their idols. And even to the delight of the fans, Russia won the team championship in terms of the number of medals.

But the Olympics ended and the enthusiasm quickly dissipated and instead there was emptiness. And at the same time, at the same time, history was being made among the neighbors (Ukrainians) and heroism of true value was manifested. That is, a real contrast has arisen between the “children’s toys” of the Olympics and the “adult victory” of the Maidan.

And a real challenge to the Russians arose from the Ukrainians - in the form of envy. The Ukrainians “broke through” into history (that is, into IMMORTALITY), and at that time the Russians “played” with children’s Olympic toys and their ardor cooled down.

Such is the pattern of the situation. And here comes the second (already understandable to many) call.

The Russians, looking at the Ukrainians, might also want to get into history in the same way, that is, to receive “SYMBOLS OF IMMORTALITY.”
And Putin realized that the situation created a real threat to his power, which could be overthrown in a fit of heroism (and the desire to get into the “club” of immortals).

And then Putin’s political strategists are developing an ingenious and at the same time “diabolical” scheme. The people of Russia were offered their own version of getting into immortality, which at the same time would destroy the glory of Ukrainians in the eyes of the Russians. That is, Putin’s technologists have developed the technology of a double strike - victory for their own and at the same time defeating the “image of heroism” of their neighbors. This is, of course, a super-effective move, albeit an absolutely “diabolical” one.

On the one hand, the heroism of Ukrainians was most brazenly devalued in the eyes of Russians, blackened out and replaced with the label “fascists.” (They are BANDERites, that is, like BANDITS). (The poor Ukrainians were unlucky with the hero’s surname. The students of the Kiev-Mogila Academy named after Peter MOGILA were even more unlucky, but this is already half a joke).

Further, taking advantage of the peacefulness of Ukrainians, who were least willing to fight the Russian monster, Putin’s “squeezed” Crimea from Ukraine. From the point of view of a sane observer, this is absolute chaos. And the entire civilized world looks at Putin’s Russia as real BANDITS.

But inside Russia, propaganda has turned the view of the situation “inside out.” All the wild inconsistencies in the scenario in Crimea were simply kept silent by the official media. And symbolic games were inflated - about the great collector of lands and winner.

At the same time, Putin, as a “kind” person, shared the glory of the winner with the people. And the people received their “portion of IMMORTALITY”, feeling their INVOLVEMENT in the pseudo-heroic events of the “return of Crimea”. Moreover, Crimea is “full” of its own heroic symbols, such as the defense of Sevastopol, etc. So Putin’s VICTORY was decorated with various historical allusions, as well as medals and other trinkets.

So, we see that the Russians acquired (at their own expense) a system of beliefs/beliefs, which - like a set of “symbols of immortality” - became part of their personal heritage and even identification (for many).

Now we summarize.

Russians have loaded into their consciousness and subconscious an insidious program that not only “zombifies” them, as many people write, but which creates in them an ersatz happiness—introduction to “immortality.” And this program also has serious aggressiveness towards others, whom it seeks to convert.

This program also has aspects of patriotism, but an unhealthy one - since it is based on lies and other distortions of the truth. And therefore, the easiest way for normal people is to keep their distance from people “infected” by this system.

What positive thoughts can be about this.

(A) Putin’s adventure should not devalue Ukrainian heroism.
Ukraine must take even more care of its achievement and try to use it for the benefit of not only its people, but also other peoples of the world.

(B) is it possible to cure infected Russians? This is not an easy question.

Since we are talking about “symbols of immortality,” it is possible that it is necessary to offer Russians other symbols of immortality, more significant and valuable.

(B1) Theoretically, religion provides a similar system if religion manages to become an adequate mechanism in modern conditions. Religion gives an introduction to immortality.

(B2) It is possible that it will be possible to find other forms of heroism - without such odious side effects. You can look for interesting ideas in Ken Wilber's books...

Valery Pekar and Andrey Dligach and their colleagues have great potential, which can help them jointly find a recipe for the “elixir”.

Author: Meir Brooke (New York, USA).