Puppets and Puppeteers

• Author: Georgiana Andreicut - Andreea Serban
• Position: Student, 'Mihai Viteazul' National Intelligence Academy, Romania - Student, 'Mihai Viteazul' National Intelligence Academy, Romania
• Pages: 428-432

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives 2014

428

Puppets and Puppeeters

Georgiana Andreicut

1, Andreea Serban2

Abstract: Manipulation. A word with such a special echo that exceeds the boundaries of semantics, creating

rumor and scenarios which are more or less whimsical, with a pregnant whiff of conspiration. Passing

through the scientific-psychological essential aspects, we r each the coup de grace: from the manipulation of

the masses, through the culture of mediocrity, to the much debated manipulation through the use of mass

media. We do not strictly treat the psychology of large groups, neglecting the individual. Thus, we will

tangentially walk the path of Intelligence. How are these strings pulled? Who are the puppeteers and how can

we become them?

Keywords: manipulation; subliminal messages; CIA techniques; religion

The concept of ―manipulation‖ is highly debated nowadays and utterly present in day-to-day respects.

Although virulently criticised for its prevalent negative aura, it is undoubtedly useful when it comes to

recognize its specific signs in order to fight against it, let alone using it for personal, harmless

purposes. Subsequently, we enter a fascinatig world resembling a complex show with puppets and

puppeteers with different scenarios and actors. The usually scorned puppets, orchestrated by their

master‘s personnel will could be anyone of us whether it comes to a person as part of a nation, seduced

and heavily influenced by an evil personality cult, as history provides us numerous examples or the

individual facing a myriad of commercials with subliminal messages, demagogic speeches of

politicians following certain psychological techniques designed to appeal the subconsciuos, foreign

agencies trying to recruit us or other persons attempting to take advantage of our weaknesses. In our

project we will present ―Mice‖ - the most basic scheme in every recruitment process, a short analysis

of of the infamous personality cult that characterizes every dictatorship or non-democratic regimes,

like Nazism and last but not least, an attempt to penetrate the internal mechanism of manipulation used

in advertising, sales and the most banal fields of our lives.

Let’s dissect the process a bit. Let’s start off simple, linear. What is it? How is it created? Which

are the main methods? Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change

the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By

advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at another's expense, such methods could be

considered exploitative, abusive, devious, and deceptive. Social influence is not necessarily negative.

For example, doctors can try to persuade patients to change unhealthy habits. Social influence is

generally perceived to be harmless when it respects the right of the influenced to accept or reject and is

1 Student, ―Mihai Viteazul‖ National Intelligence Academy, Romania, Address: 20, Odai Street, 1st district, Bucharest,

Romania, Tel.: +4021 410 65 50 / extension 1144, Fax: 021 310 47 50, Corresponding author:

georgiana.andreicut@gmail.com.

2 Student, ―Mihai Viteazul‖ National Intelligence Academy, Romania, Address: 20, Odai Street, 1st district, Bucharest,

Romania, Tel.: +4021 410 65 50 / extension 1144, Fax: 021 310 47 50, E-mail: andreea.serban11@gmail.com.