MANIPULATOR VS MANIPULATED: COGNITIVE PROCESSES DISTORTIONS IN MEDIA DISCOURSE

MANIPULATOR VS MANIPULATED: COGNITIVE PROCESSES DISTORTIONS IN MEDIA DISCOURSE

Author:  V.I. Zabotkina, E.M. Pozdnyakova

Affiliation:  Russian State University for the Humanities

Abstract:  This article examines the distortion of cognitive processes in media discourse through concep-tual projection mechanisms that facilitate manipulative impact. The study focuses on climate change discourse in English-language media to analyze how manipulators strategically distort conceptual projections to induce predictable cognitive errors in recipients.
The research employs conceptual analysis, frame analysis, conceptual metaphor theory, and discourse analysis methods. Material includes articles from major outlets (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Guardian) and broadcasts from Fox News, CNN, and BBC, representing both con-servative and liberal climate positions.
Results reveal three key cognitive mechanisms enabling manipulative projection: framing (se-lective highlighting of reality aspects), scripting (exploitation of culturally-conditioned scenarios), and emotionalization (embedding affective states into projections). These mechanisms generate spe-cific cognitive biases including confirmation bias, attribution errors, availability heuristic, and emo-tional prejudice.


The study develops an enhanced polydomain integrative mega-model of media manipulation, incorporating opposing manipulative discourses and introducing a “gray zone” of half-truths. Applications include developing counter-strategies against climate discourse manipulation and facilitate understanding cognitive vulnerabilities in mass communication.
The research demonstrates how conceptual deviations in interdomain projections systemati-cally undermine critical thinking, leading audiences to accept manipulative messages as authentic in-formation.

Keywords:  conceptual projection, cognitive errors, cognitive mechanisms, polydomain integrative mega-model of media manipulation, cognitive vulnerabilities in mass communication.

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Acknowledgments:  The research is financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 22-18 00594-П “Cognitive models of identifica-tion and counteraction to manipulation in the media space”.

For citation:  Zabotkina, V. I., & Pozdnyakova, E. M. (2025). Manipulator vs manipulated: cognitive processes distortions in media discourse. Vo-prosy Kognitivnoy Lingvistiki, 4, 44-56 (In Russ.).

Pages:  44-56