MANIPULATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS AS AN OBJECT OF SOCIAL-PEDAGOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Abstract. Deploying negative trends in the development of modern society, including informatization, makes the problem of manipulating consciousness at different levels of human communication one of the most relevant. This, in turn, requires the scientific community to create an effective system of socio-psychological protection against manipulative actions in the modern information society. In this article, we studied the meaning of manipulation as a form of covert psychological influence. We defined the criteria on the basis of which one can ground the expediency of distinguishing the manipulative influence over other types of psychological impact. The most considerable characteristic feature of manipulation is the thing that the object of manipulation is not aware of the influence exerted upon him that is determined by veiling of the real aims of the subject of manipulation, who influences not only the sphere of the conscious (mind), but also the sphere of the unconscious (instincts, emotions, and needs). The typical features of manipulation are described: the attitude to an object of manipulation as to a means of achieving one’s own goals; the desire to get a one-sided advantage; the hidden nature of influence; the use of psychological vulnerability; the desire to bring an interaction partner into psychological dependence; the creation of a manipulation recipient’s illusion of independent decision-makings and actions. Manipulative influence differs from its other types by the parameters of morality, awareness, criticism and social autonomy. Manipulation becomes dangerous not only because of the hidden nature of influence, but also, depending on a person’s identity resorting to it, on his/her purpose, aims and beliefs, values, personal properties, social status, etc. Thus, the study of psychosocial factors of persons, inclined to manipulations in interpersonal interaction, is the prospect of our future studies.