Cognitive Distortions as a Means of Manipulation in News Discourse in the Field of Information Technology

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify cognitive tools used to influence the mass media addressee. The influential potential of discourse is revealed by imposing an evaluative interpretation of an attractor event in the media. The research methods are critical discourse analysis, interpretation in the aspect of inference. The theme of threats and risks of artificial intelligence was chosen as an attractor event. The empirical material consisted of Western and Russian articles selected by relevance in the field of information technology. The distorted interpretation in terms of imposing cognitive errors is analyzed. Among the identified linguocognitive mechanisms associated with distortions, the following are noted: imagining, focusing, spin doctoring, metaphorization, positioning, involvement, inspiration. The cognitive distortions behind them are: sharpening, minimization, catastrophization, selective perception, mental filter, focusing effect, narrative fallacy, FOMO, bangwagon effect, should statement, personalization and blame, overgeneralization, illusion of frequency, illusion of control, loss of value, negative forecast, available information cascade, subjective attribution of significance. It is concluded that in order to manipulate the addressee, a negative scenario is most often constructed, which is presented as a real state of affairs in order to influence the addressee with a reduced level of criticality and awareness.