Psychological mechanisms of influence of disinformation and fake news on the formation of public opinion on Ukrainian European integration: Analysis of Russian propaganda
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the psychological mechanisms of disinformation and fake news influence on the formation of public opinion on the process of Ukraine's European integration, with a special focus on the analysis of Russian propaganda. The research methodology included analysing Russian propaganda narratives through mainstream media and social networks according to specific criteria; interviewing Ukrainian citizens about the impact of disinformation and identifying the psychological mechanisms by which disinformation influences public opinion. The study covered the psychological aspects of manipulating public consciousness, namely the use of fears, stereotypes and emotions to discredit the European integration course. The main tasks were to analyse the ways of spreading fake news, identify the key messages of propaganda, and study the susceptibility of different groups of the population to such information influences. Empirical data was collected through a survey, which allowed us to identify disinformation strategies and their impact on different segments of society. The results of the study showed that Russian propaganda actively used emotionally coloured fake news to manipulate public sentiment, which was particularly effective on audiences with low levels of media literacy. Such manipulations led to the formation of a negative attitude toward European integration and the creation of social tension. The significance of the findings was a deeper understanding of the impact of disinformation on public opinion, which was important for developing strategies to counter propaganda and increase media literacy
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