Written by: Doreen Horsley, Guest Writer
We live in a society dominated by the Good, The Bad, and the downright Ugly of mass persuasion through the Media. Often the information we are exposed to has been carefully crafted to appeal to our specific needs and desires. The urge to have fun, the hunger for security, or a yearning to be accepted by other people, are emotions that can be manipulated in such a way to influence us to take action. On the surface information in the media looks beneficial, particularly when this type of influence promotes positive body image, self-acceptance, or a bid for us to eat healthy or to look after our mental wellbeing.
However, what about the other side of persuasion and influence that promotes unhealthy lifestyle choices that can impact our health and wellness? How can we protect ourselves from an insidious amount of distorted and dishonest information and safeguard our mental health?
Before we answer these questions, let us first consider the good, the bad, and the ugly impact of mass influence through the media.
The Good
Media in any form whether it’s digital, pictures, written, television or social, can be a powerful teaching tool. How else could we learn about lands and places we may never visit or “travel” to tropical islands and polar ice caps, to mountain peaks and ocean depths. We peer into the intriguing worlds of our solar system and marvel at our beautiful earth. We gain insight into politics, history, current events, and culture. Television entertains, instructs, and even inspires.
Social media is a handy means for keeping in touch with friends and family from all over the globe. A single photograph or the sound of music may move us to anger, tears, joy stirring our emotions profoundly. Words, even on the printed page, make us think, feel, and act. What power there is when moving pictures, music, and spoken words are skilfully woven together! No wonder media is so seductive!
The Bad
Has the Media changed you? Can television and social media speak directly into your head and then, like some magician, leave images inside that can cause you to do what you might otherwise never have thought to do. No one can deny that the media has such a formidable power over people when it comes to advertising.
The way in which a product is presented may convey an idea such as, ‘If you buy this watch, people will respect you’ or ‘This car will make your neighbours drool with envy.’ and consumers fall for it, often buying more than their budget will allow. The result is debt, and debt caused by overspending can destroy a family and bring health risks, such as insomnia, headaches, stomach-aches, heart attacks, and depression.
Social media can be addictive too. Most experts say that we need at least eight hours of sleep each night, but many are getting less. How many of you check your phone before going to bed, and then end up wasting hours scrolling through posts, videos, and Reels. Are you Guilty? If we’re honest, most of us are, even when we know that insufficient rest can contribute to anxiety, depression and serious mental health issues. According to psychology professor Jean Twenge from the book iGen., a lack of sleep is the ultimate dampener to mood. She adds that “over time,” sleep deprivation can lead to “serious mental health issues.”
The Ugly!
Propaganda— the use of biased or misleading information to manipulate the way people think and act is known to be equated with lies, distortion, deceit, manipulation, mind control and psychological warfare (Propaganda and Warfare). Under its influence, says one scholar, men and women have been “quite easily led into the most preposterously dangerous behaviour” such as ‘genocide, war, racist, hysteria, religious intolerance and many other forms of irrational behaviours – Easily Led – A history of Propaganda.
Even more unpleasant are the social media algorithms that promote extreme content that is inflammatory racist, sexist, prejudiced, and can be dispersed quickly. Katherine J Wu in Nova Next spoke of the dire consequences of suggested hyperlinks and where web surfers are being nudged in the direction of political or unscientific propaganda, abusive content and conspiracy theories. Could these ideas have driven the perpetrators of several mass shootings including the alleged Christchurch gunman, whose white supremacist and Neo-Nazi fascist views appear to have motivated the slaughter of at least 50 people in 2019? Ugly influence indeed.
What can you do?
Are you affected? Perhaps not. But how you think, and hence how you act, will always be influenced in some way by the feelings and views of what you watch and who you listen to. If these are people who have your interests at heart—like teachers, friends, or respectable influencers—then you will get great benefit from their guidance and advice. But if they are people or corporations who have only their own interests at heart and who are themselves misled or corrupted in their thinking, then beware!
Do not become complacent and think that no one could ever influence you.
Most likely it is already happening—more frequently than you might care to admit—without your even noticing. How can we stay in control of what is influencing us out there and protect ourselves from the negative outcomes of influence?
These 5 suggestions can Protect yourself from:
Propaganda - Have Strong Convictions - Do not go along with an idea just because someone else accepts it, it makes it right. Make sure that the views you adopt are in line with your beliefs and values.
Extremism - Ask yourself - Is it justifiable. People in your community may have a negative view of certain races or ethnic groups. But why? If you find the reason unconvincing, why adopt the viewpoint and what is the motive for their opinion.
Manipulation by Ads - Protect yourself from being persuaded by Advertising that influences based on emotion. We cannot escape being stalked by ads, so to avoid being a victim the best rule is: Do not buy what you do not need and cannot afford. Avoid impulse buying. Even if something is half price, it is not a bargain for you if you cannot afford it.
Insomnia – Get adequate rest and keep electronic devices out of your bedroom at night. Whenever possible, stop using screens two hours before bedtime. If you need an alarm to wake you up in the morning, consider using one that isn’t on a phone or tablet.
Information overload. Be Selective and don’t be like sponges and soak up whatever you come across. It is all too easy to absorb whatever is around us. But it is far better to choose what you will personally feed your mind. We should all scrutinise whatever is presented to us, deciding what to accept and what to reject.
Yes, there is a mountain of persuasion and influence out there that comes in the form of the good, the bad and the ugly. Whilst information can be helpful and media has broadened your horizons and view of the world, there are some serious pitfalls to avoid to evade a negative impact on your Health and Mental Wellbeing.
Make the right choice and beware of mass persuasion.
Doreen Horsley, Brainz Magazine Guest Writer
Doreen Horsley, a certified Professional Life Coach & NLP Practitioner, is a member of the Association of Professional Coaches, and an accredited Public Speaker. Her work has led to the creation of her WHOLE-Listic Self Care™ practice where she guides women to dig deeper to gain perspective into who and what they choose to be. She brings 30+ years’ experience in leadership and personal development into her coaching practice and is committed and passionate about empowering women, particularly “quietly confident women”, to take the centre stage of their lives, and to know they don’t need to be the loudest person in the room, to be heard. You can find her here: https://doreenhorsley.com
