Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Why Do People Believe Liars?

[Nevilledog]

https://lucid.substack.com/p/why-do-people-believe-liars

I write about authoritarian leaders past and present. That means I’ve spent a lot of time studying professional liars. I’m frequently asked why people believe the falsehoods told by political figures and their media allies. Here I’ll look at how propaganda works and why people are often influenced by it. A second post, to be published next week, will discuss how to respond to lies and how we can push back against propaganda.

Propaganda gains traction through repetition and saturation. The same message is disseminated through multiple channels and institutions, with small variations, to lead a maximum number of individuals “in the same direction, but differently,” as the sociologist Jacques Ellul wrote.

In Fascist Italy, for example, a speech by Il Duce would be reproduced in print, seen on newsreels, and heard on the radio. Clips from the newsreels would go into documentaries, and quotes from the speech would end up in books (including textbooks), on posters along city streets, and on the facades of buildings like the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (commissioned for the never-held 1942 world’s fair).

Seeing the same messages over and over can lead some to tune out, but it may also boost confidence that the content is truthful. Repetition can lead to familiarity, which increases acceptance -- especially when the state has silenced alternate voices.

*snip*

[lindysalsagal]

1. "Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies."

Because it's what they want to be true.

[smirkymonkey]

2. K&R

[qazplm135]

3. the truth is hard

it requires sacrifice, or commitment, or acceptance.

Lies only give you what you want, reinforce what you believe, and don't require any sacrifice at all.

It's actually surprising the truth gets as much progress as it does to be honest.

[Bucky]

4. If you don't waste time researching and verifying the truth, you can devote more time to being sexy

...and people always believe the sexy

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. People are also indoctrinated from early on

not to question what the religious leaders tell them. It's a very short distance from there to believing whatever political leaders say.