propaganda
Definition
Propaganda refers to the structured communication of state interpretations of events that shapes how citizens understand the moral significance and value-based meaning of those events, rather than simply exposing them to messages or instilling fear. In the Russian context, state media present narratives portraying military action as defensive necessity, national collective effort, and historical continuity, and individuals who consume state media versus independent media systematically differ in how they construe events in terms of consequences for core values such as security, conformity, tradition, and self-enhancement. Propaganda operates by providing audiences with interpretations that make state-sanctioned actions consistent with their own value priorities, offering emotionally coherent motivations for compliance by redefining how value concerns can be addressed through specific acts. This meaning-making function of propaganda breaks down or reinforces value-behavior ties, making compliance either meaningless or motivated by alignment with personal value systems rather than through persuasion or domination alone.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Related Terms
Applications
Propaganda and Value-instantiating Beliefs
Propaganda shapes how citizens construe events by anchoring them to value-instantiating beliefs—beliefs about whether a particular event benefits or threatens basic human values such as security, benevolence, or achievement. Individuals exposed to state media show stronger beliefs that the war protects conservation values (security, conformity, tradition) while independent media consumers are more likely to see the war as threatening those values and benefiting self-enhancement and stimulation values.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Propaganda and War Support
Value-based construals mediate the relationship between propaganda exposure and behavioral intentions. Individuals whose value-instantiating beliefs frame the war as preserving the social order show more positive attitudes toward the war and stronger intentions to support it politically.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Propaganda and Media Consumption
State media consumption is systematically associated with particular value-based construals of events. Those who use and trust state media more than independent media are more likely to see the war as positive for conformity and tradition values, while independent media consumption is associated with viewing the war differently.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
