Detecting Biases: Propaganda Devices

Bias is a prejudice or a pre-conceived idea in favor of

or against one thing, person, or group compared with
another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Propaganda is information, especially a biased or

misleading in nature, used to promote or publicize a
particular political cause or point of view.

PROPAGANDA DEVICES
1. Bandwagon- It is an appeal to the subject to follow
the crowd. It tries to convince the subject that one side is
the winning side and that winning is unavoidable.
Examples:
1. Nine out of ten women use Creamsilk. You should,
too.
2. Here, the world is flat. Everyone knows that.

2. Testimonial- It is a quotation or endorsement which

attempts to connect a well-known or respectable person
with a product or ideas with the intent to better “sell” the
product or ideas.
Examples:
1. “Let’s show the universe how to glow up. Use
Olay.”- Pia Wurtzbach
2. “4G Antioxidant makes me feel young.”- Bea
Alonzo

3. Name-Calling- It is the use of abusive or

derogatory names to belittle or humiliate someone. It
happens when one bullies and labels another.
Examples:
1. She is a pig. (for someone who is fat)
2. He is a psychopath. (for someone whom one
dislikes)

Plain Folks Appeal, Transfer, and Fear Appeal/Card

Stacking

1. Plain Folks Appeal -is the use of ordinary people to

promote a product or service. The goal is to show that
the product or service is of appeal and value to
everyone. The plain folks appeal contrasts with the use
of celebrities in advertisements.
Explanation:
One example is a commercial that shows an
ordinary family sitting at the table having Lucky
Me noodles for a breakfast. Instead of having a
celebrity endorse the product, the commercial is
using an ordinary family to make the commercial
relatable to everyone.
2. Transfer is a technique used in propaganda and
advertising. Also known as association, this is a
technique of projecting positive or negative qualities
(praise or blame) of a person, entity, object, or value
(an individual, group, organization, nation, patriotism,
etc.) to another in order to make the second more
acceptable or to discredit the other.
Example:
1. A major soft drink brand was accused of having
traces of pesticides a couple of years ago. While
these allegations were on the rise, the entire
carbonated drink industry took a hit.
3. Fear Appeal is when it only presents information
that is positive to an idea or proposal and omits
information opposite to it.
Examples:
1. A television commercial portrays a terrible
automobile accident (the fear appeal), and reminds
viewers to wear their seatbelts (the fear-reducing
behavior).
2. A pamphlet from an insurance company includes
pictures of houses destroyed by floods (the fear
appeal), and follows up with details about
homeowners’ insurance (the fear-reducing behavior).