Social myth as a Means of Consolidation of Ukrainians and Counteraction to Hostile Propaganda

Abstract

The article deals with a social myth as a means of influence on masses and manipulation of collective consciousness. The existence of social myths in modern society and specificity of their dissemination through media has been aanalysed. Mass media is described as a means which allow the authorities to target population at the necessary socio-political directions, control resistance, give facts the necessary estimation and introduce the appointed values and ideals. The article researches propaganda as one of the forms of communication which affects the formation of public opinion and promotes the emergence of certain civil position and social activity. The study has defined the elements of formation of trust to media – trust to the content of a message, to the source of information and also to the specific type of media. It has been processed the ways of manipulating public consciousness, which are used by propaganda. We have detected the value of language as an important aspect of presentation and perception of information messages.

Key words: Social Myth, Propaganda, Media, Manipulation, Collective Consciousness, Modern Ukrainian Society.