The use of contrasting propaganda methods to deepen ideological influence is a common but controversial strategy, which usually involves strengthening the audience's identification with certain values through distinct opposing narratives, visual impact, or emotional manipulation. The following are some specific methods and their potential impact analysis： --- ### **1. Binary opposing Narrative: Creating Contradictions between the enemy and the self** -**Method**: Simplify complex social issues into non-black and white antagonisms, such as： -**Labeled opposition**: such as “patriots vs. traitors”“ "progress vs. conservatism“, ”people vs. enemies". -**Crisis rendering**: Emphasize that “if you do not support a certain ideology, it will lead to disastrous consequences” (such as social collapse and moral decay). -**Case **: The narrative of “The free world vs. the threat of communism” in the West during the Cold War. -**Effect**: By creating a sense of urgency and fear, it forces the audience to strengthen their sense of belonging in “standing in line”, but it may lead to social division. --- ### **2. Extreme contrast between vision and symbols** -**Method**: Use visual impact to strengthen the “correctness” of ideology： -**Color contrast**: Use opposing tones such as black and white, red and gray to symbolize good and evil or the old and the new (such as the contrast between the “bright future” and the “dark past” in the propaganda poster). -**Character image shaping**: Portray oneself as a heroic image (unity, justice), while the opposite is vilified (greed, decadence). -**Case **: Jews were depicted as “parasites” in Nazi propaganda, while Aryans symbolized "pure power”. -**Effect**: Visual symbols can bypass rational thinking and directly trigger emotional resonance, but they are easy to solidify prejudices. --- ### **3. One-sided comparison of data and cases** -**Method**: Selectively present information to strengthen ideological advantages： -**Historical comparison**: Only show the “success stories” after the implementation of ideology, ignoring failures or costs (for example, only emphasize the economic growth of a certain policy and ignore environmental damage). -**Data manipulation**: Use one-sided statistics or comparative timeframes (for example“ "famine before reform vs. prosperity after reform", but ignore external factors). -**Case **: The propaganda of the authoritarian system emphasizes that "social stability is better than chaotic democracy”, but downplays the cost of suppressing human rights. -**Effect**: Strengthen the audience's cognitive bias through the information cocoon room, but it may lead to the collapse of trust in the long run. --- ### **4. Emotional Manipulation: the Dual binding of honor and shame** -**Method**: Use collective honor and shame to strengthen identity： -**Glory narrative**: Bind the ideology of support to the “great tradition” of “national rejuvenation” (for example, “the rejuvenation of China must adhere to a certain path”). -**Shame narrative**: Associate opposing ideologies with "historical humiliation” (such as “Western infiltration will lead to the death of the country”). -**Case **: The discourse strategy of “unpatriotic is a traitor” in ultra-nationalist propaganda. -**Effect**: Stimulate a sense of belonging to the group, but it may give rise to xenophobic emotions and irrational behaviors. --- ### **5. Monopoly and repeated strengthening of the media environment** -**Method**: Ensure the consistency of comparative narratives by controlling information channels： -**Information bombing**: Repeat the same comparative framework in mainstream media, education systems, and public spaces. -**Suppression of dissent**: Silencing or stigmatizing opposing views and shaping the ”only correct" public opinion environment. -**Case **: totalitarian countries use censorship to create a single ideological echo wall. -**Effect**: Consolidate ideological hegemony in the short term, but it may trigger rebellious psychology or underground resistance. --- ###**Ethical Risk and Critical Thinking** -**Social division**: Extreme contrasts can intensify group antagonism and even cause violent conflicts. -**Distortion of the truth**: One-sided propaganda may cause the public to lose their ability to judge rationally. -**Long-term backlash**: When reality is inconsistent with propaganda (such as economic recession, policy failure), ideological legitimacy may collapse. --- ###**Summary** Contrasting propaganda methods can efficiently shape ideological identity in the short term, but their success depends on the control of the information environment and the precise manipulation of emotions. If users ignore ethical boundaries, they may become a tool of thought control. A healthy society requires critical education and tolerance of diverse voices, rather than relying on unipolar contrasting narratives.