Cognitive loop of propaganda
The Cognitive loop of propaganda is a psychological and informational mechanism where repeated exposure to biased narratives reinforces belief in them, reducing the ability for independent verification or critical thinking.
The loop connects emotional stimuli, selective information intake, and social validation into a self-sustaining circuit of conviction.
The term is proposed within the WhatFor emulation project to describe how ideological systems — such as the Russki mir doctrine or radical Islamist rhetoric — maintain internal coherence despite contradictions with observable reality.
The Cognitive loop of propaganda appears as an advanced tool of the motivated reasoning (See also «Female logic») used by the governmental media of mass desinformation.
Tools to resist the Cognitive loop of propaganda are suggested in articles «TORI axioms» and «Rule of Newspeak».
Summary
The Cognitive loop of propaganda describes a self-reinforcing process in which emotionally charged messages, selective framing, and social validation form a closed feedback circuit of belief.
In this loop, information triggers affective responses (Trigger), aligns with prior bias (Alignment), is echoed through repetition (Amplification), rejects correction (Immunization), and stabilizes conviction (Reinforcement).
The concept systematizes how propaganda maintains coherence under contradictory evidence and how resistance to factual correction emerges.
Its relation to the Rule of Newspeak is hierarchical: the Rule of Newspeak outlines linguistic control in propaganda, while the Cognitive loop models its psychological feedback dynamics.
Description
In a cognitive loop of propaganda, several feedback steps interact:
1. Trigger [3] — an emotional or identity-based message activates fear, pride, or moral outrage.
2. Alignment [4] — the receiver accepts the framing that matches pre-existing bias.
3. Amplification [5] — selective media, peer groups, or algorithmic feeds repeat and affirm the frame.
4. Immunization [6] — counter-arguments are reinterpreted as “enemy propaganda,” strengthening loyalty.
5. Reinforcement [7] — each new cycle hardens the belief and suppresses cognitive dissonance.
The result is a population segment that becomes resistant to factual correction. The loop functions similarly to a closed feedback oscillator in engineering: even weak initial signals can reach high intensity if the loop gain exceeds unity.
None of the "feedback steps" above is compatible with the TORI axioms [8]. They give the formal criteria that makes difference between the scientific research and Propaganda.
No Cognitive loop of propaganda is expected to appear as a style, manner of the
Scientific research, assuming the TORI definition of term Science.
While TORI is based on these axioms, the Information warfare is supposed to appear at TORI
only as an object under investigation, but never as a method of performing research nor as a mode of transferring of information.
Examples
Creation of the «Cognitive loop» appears as a goal of so-called «Motivated reasoning».
The Cognitive loop of propaganda allows to establish some postulates of propaganda and to force the population to accept them.
The main tools of the Motivated reasoning are described in article «Female logic».
A practical illustration of the cognitive loop in pseudoscience is the “Gravitsapa” («Гравицапа») story — a media campaign in early 21st-century Russia promoting a non-physical propulsion engine.
The Gravitsapa appears as an instrument for the money laundering.
The claim of violation of the fundamental principles of physics had been implicitly declared.
The main idea of Gravitsapa is shown in cartoon at right.
Due to rampant corruption in Moscovia, none of the fraudsters associated with Gravitsapa were imprisoned; at least, no information about the punishment of the organizers of the Gravitsapa project has been found in open sources.
The Cognitive loop of propaganda causes protests, but they are not so often.
In century 20, the concept «Quantum fluctuations annihilate the optical soliton» seemed to be commonly accepted. After the publications and multiple presentations at seminars and the conferences with almost-scientific deduction and multiple repetition of the «cognitive loop», the concept looked as well-established scientific fact. It costed significant efforts to show, that the main idea of this concept is just wrong [13][14].
An illustration of resistance to a postulate established in such a way is shown in figure at right.
Domination of the Cognitive loop of propaganda over the axioms of arithmetics is shown in movie Alternative Math [15].
Denounce of the axioms of arithmetic is described also in article Mizugadro number («Число Мизугадро»), the example of a non-refutable concept is suggested as an extreme case of sci-fi.
During wartime, narratives such as "we are only defending ourselves"[16] or «the enemy is subhuman» («Less Than Human» [17][18]) are recycled until they appear as axioms.
The dehumanization of a potential enemy leads to concept of Small victorious war
[19][20] («Маленькая победоносная война»).
An examples of such a narrative is presented in emulation «SimonianZa2» (in Russian).
Apology of acceptance of ideology of the Cognitive loop of propaganda is descried in article «Философия Сережи» (In Russian).
In authoritarian states, state television or social networks serve as amplifiers that synchronize emotional reactions across millions of individuals.
In decentralized online communities, viral posts play the same role, creating synchronized belief clusters detached from evidence.
The Mechanisms of history are supposed to provide the collapse of civilizations where the Cognitive loop of propaganda replace the scientific analysis and deduction.
The believe in the good will of the lifetime dictator of a country implies the concept that the Separation of powers is not necessary; that cause the seduction to eliminate it at the level of the Federal Law, to nullify the Separation of powers. In model «Duration», an empire collapses approximately after 15 years since such a nulling.
An example of punishment of population of a planet for acceptance of the Cognitive loop of propaganda as a tool for practical decisions is described in the short sci-fi novel «Payback» (in Russian).
Variability and priority
The sequence of feedbacks in the Cognitive loop of propaganda is not strictly fixed.
Any subset of its elements — emotional Trigger, ideological Alignment, mass Amplification, defensive Immunization, or rationalizing Reinforcement — may appear in different orders or operate simultaneously.
In some campaigns, amplification precedes emotional triggering; in others, immunization is built in from the start through anticipatory slogans.
This flexibility allows the loop to adapt to diverse audiences while preserving its self-sustaining nature. Within the hierarchy of TORI concepts, the Rule of Newspeak retains priority: it defines the linguistic and semantic constraints that make the cognitive loop possible.
The Cognitive loop of propaganda functions as a subordinate psychological model, describing the internal feedback once the Rule of Newspeak has fixed the permissible vocabulary and meanings.
Rule of Newspeak
Cognitive loop of propaganda is related to the Rule of Newspeak.
The Rule of Newspeak provides a tool for interpreting the verbal content of propaganda.
The Cognitive loop of propaganda describes and predicts the cognitive reaction of people exposed to that propaganda.
It also suggests how to route truthful information around audiences who are unable or unwilling to update their beliefs.
ChatGPT illustrates this with the diagram below:
PROPAGANDA MESSAGE
│
▼
┌──────────────────┐
│ Rule of Newspeak │ → decodes verbal inversion
└──────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ Cognitive Loop of Propaganda │ → predicts social / emotional response
└──────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR (acceptance, denial, resistance)
Warnings
Study or exposure to real propaganda materials may cause distress or unwanted emotional activation.
Readers are advised to maintain analytical distance and to verify information across independent sources.
The concept is intended for educational, not manipulative, application.
The tools to resist the Cognitive loop of propaganda are suggested in articles «TORI axioms» and «Rule of Newspeak».
Attribution
The first draft versions of this article were generated by ChatGPT and debugged at the Sandbox before to load the article at the current location.
The later versions significantly deviate from the original drafts.
References
- ↑ http://avmalgin.livejournal.com/4153098.html Поддержим отечественного производителя! Ноябрь 18, 2013, 08:48 pm. Лидер партии "Справедливая Россия" Сергей Миронов, чтобы избежать подобных трагедий в дальнейшем, предложил компаниям перейти на российские самолеты и перестать закупать подержанные зарубежные машины.
- ↑ https://www.digitalsovietart.com/thematic-shows/72-the-red-leaders/3219-the-communist-party-solemnly-declares-the-current-generation-of-soviet-people-will-live-under-communism-nikita-khruschev "The Communist Party Solemnly Declares: The Current Generation of Soviet People Will Live Under Communism". Nikita Khruschev. 1961.
- ↑ https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.94.3.385 Robert B. Zajonc. *Feeling and thinking: Preferences need no inferences.* American Psychologist, 1980, v.35(2), p.151–175. “Affect can be aroused prior to and independently of cognitive processing.” — describes how emotional triggers precede reasoning, forming the first step of the loop.
- ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0033-295X.108.3.480 Ziva Kunda. *The case for motivated reasoning.* Psychological Bulletin, 1990, v.108(3), p.480–498. “Motivation affects reasoning through reliance on a biased set of cognitive processes.” — explains the alignment of perception with preexisting bias.
- ↑ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaa1160 Eytan Bakshy, Solomon Messing, Lada A. Adamic. *Exposure to ideologically diverse news and opinion on Facebook.* "Science", 2015, v.348(6239), p.1130–1132. “Online environments may create selective exposure and limited cross-cutting interactions.” — illustrates the amplification phase through algorithmic repetition.
- ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1965-06342-001 William J. McGuire. *Inducing resistance to persuasion: Some contemporary approaches.* Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 1964, v.1, p.191–229. “Preexposure to weakened counterarguments increases later resistance.” — anticipates the immunization effect within propaganda loops.
- ↑ https://doi.org/10.1037/10318-001 Leon Festinger. *A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance.* Stanford University Press, 1957. “Individuals seek internal consistency, and when inconsistency (dissonance) is experienced, they are motivated to reduce it.” — describes how repeated rationalization stabilizes the belief, completing the loop.
- ↑
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=36560
https://mizugadro.mydns.jp/PAPERS/2013jmp.pdf D.Kouznetsov. TORI axioms and the applications in physics. Journal of Modern Physics, 2013, v.4, p.1151-1156. - ↑ http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050329/39700712.html Andrei KISLYAKOV. RUSSIA TO HELP DEVELOP NUCLEAR-POWERED SPACECRAFT. 15:34 29/03/2005. ... the R&D institute of space systems near Moscow is busy developing a perpetuum mobile (perpetual-motion engine), of sorts. This engine that will have a virtually unlimited service life could be used on Earth and in outer space.// Our institute's staffers have been developing a non-jet propulsion unit for several years in a row, Valery Menshikov, who heads this institute, said in mid-March. A liquid or solid-state propulsive mass moves along a preset tornado-shaped trajectory inside this engine, thereby ensuring sustainable propulsion.
- ↑ http://english.pravda.ru/science/tech/14-04-2009/107399-Russian_scientists-0 Russian scientists test perpetual motion machine in space. "Pravda", 14.04.2009. Specialists of the Institute for Space Systems conducted successful tests of the perpetual motion machine in space. Valery Menshikov, the director of the institute, said that the machine was installed at Yubileiny satellite which was launched into orbit almost a year ago. The satellite can now move from one orbit to another with the help of the engine, which discharges no reaction mass.// The first tests were conducted in June and July of 2008. The tests revealed some problems that need further developments of the machine, but the orbital experiment was conducted successfully in general.
- ↑ https://www.pravdareport.com/science/112279-nano_satellites/ Dmitry Sudakov. Russian Scientists Test New Type of Engine for Nano Satellites. 18.02.2010 05:29. Specialists of the Russian Research Center for Space Systems are completing the tests of a unique engine based on new physical principles to obtain propulsive power, Itar-Tass reports.// The engine, which does not emit reaction mass, was installed at Yubileiny satellite, which was launched into orbit in May of 2008. The engine, which operates both autonomously and remotely, allows the satellite to move from one orbit to another.// “Our engine is now the last working element on the platform of Yubileiny satellite,” a spokesman for the research center said.// The scientist rejected the information which said that the developers of the unique engine had spent millions of rubles from the Russian budget on the development of the new system.// “If we had had 200-300 thousand rubles, we would have conducted the experiment on a completely different level to receive much more interesting results,” the scientist added.// “Our engine is now the last working element on the platform of Yubileiny satellite,” a spokesman for the research center said.// The scientist rejected the information which said that the developers of the unique engine had spent millions of rubles from the Russian budget on the development of the new system. // “If we had had 200-300 thousand rubles, we would have conducted the experiment on a completely different level to receive much more interesting results,” the scientist added. // The current tests have revealed a number of problems, which the scientists will need to solve to improve the work of the new device. In general, the Russian scientists are satisfied with the results of the experiment conducted on Earth’s orbit.// They originally intended to test the new type of engine on the International Space Station, but it was later decided to install it on a satellite for a more pure experiment. // The movement takes place as a liquid or solid body moves on a tornado-shaped trajectory. The engine will last for at least 15 years and can be activated nearly 300,000 times during the operation period. The engine is powered with solar batteries.// The untraditional engine was tested on Earth too. Russia’s Space Corporation Roskosmos supported the project. Once the tests are completed, the new engine will be used to control orbits of spacecraft and orbital stations. It can also be used during spacewalks.// These engines can be used on nano-satellites. In this case the weight of the engines can be reduced to just several grams. The engine is ecologically pure, so it can be used on Earth too, for air and surface transport.
- ↑ http://solidarnost-lj.livejournal.com/2415390.html videocontroler. Сбылось предсказание Оруэлла из 1984 Людей задерживают за лицепреступление (не радовались победе). 2012-05-22 11:53:00.
- ↑ http://iopscience.iop.org/0954-8998/4/4/003/ D.Yu.Kouznetsov. Quantum fluctuations do not annihilate the optical soliton. -- Quantum Optics, 1992, v.4, p.221-227.
- ↑ http://www.jetpletters.ac.ru/ps/1266/article_19153.pdf D. Yu. Kuznetsov. Quantum fluctuations do not destroy an optical soliton. Russian version: Pic'ma Exp.Teor.Phys., 1991, v.54, N.10, p.566-568. English version: J.E.T.P. Lett., 1991, v.54, N.10, p.568-570.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh3Yz3PiXZw Alternative Math | Short Film Sep 19, 2017 A well meaning math teacher finds herself trumped by a post-fact America.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=squvn7Jsn8k 'We are defending ourselves,' says Iran's ambassador to the UK Sky News Jun 25, 2025 #yaldahakim #israel #iran Sky's Yalda Hakim spoke to Iran's ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi.
- ↑ https://dokumen.pub/less-than-human-why-we-demean-enslave-and-exterminate-others-1nbsped-2010040196-9780312532727.html Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others [1 ed.] 2010040196, 9780312532727 English Pages [336] Year 2011 David Livingstone Smith // ST. MARTIN’S PRESS NEW YORK
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/transcripts/134956180 'Less Than Human': The Psychology Of Cruelty MARCH 29, 2011 1:00 PM ET NEAL CONAN, host: This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan, in Washington. //.. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. // Copyright © 2011 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. // Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
- ↑ https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/25440/ A small victorious war: domestic revolution and international conflict Libman, Alexander (2010): A small victorious war: domestic revolution and international conflict.
- ↑ https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/126082/Wood%20Small%20Victorious%20War%20final.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y A Small Victorious War? The Symbolic Politics of Vladimir Putin// Citation: Wood, Elizabeth A. "A Small Victorious War? The Symbolic Politics of Vladimir Putin." Roots of Russia's War in Ukraine edited by Maxim Trudolyubov, Elizabeth A. Wood, William E. Pomeranz and E. Wayne Merry, Columbia University Press, 2015, 97-130.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_warfare
2020.03.10. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00243/full Front. Psychol., 10 March 2020 Sec. Health Psychology Volume 11 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00243 The Impacts of Uncertainty Stress on Mental Disorders of Chinese College Students: Evidence From a Nationwide Study
Keywords
«Appeasing aggression», «Bilingual Hymn», «Cognitive dissonance», «Conference Emulation by ChatGPT», «Duration», «Fascism», «Female logic», «Independencia de Texas», «Information warfare», «Informational war», «Motivated reasoning», «Newspeak», «Orwell1984», «Payback», «Propaganda», «Rule of Newspeak», «Russki mir», «SimonianZa2», «TORI axioms», «WhatFor»
«А нас то за что», «Заметки о женской логике», «Как писать фейки», «Маленькая победоносная война», «Правило новояза», «Пропаганда», «Русский мир», «Фашизм»,