The Emotional Manipulation of Propaganda

How Fear, Anger, and Guilt Are Used to Shape Beliefs

I’m an Author and somatic movement educator, my clients call me “the nervous system whisperer." I specialise in burnout, anxiety, and trauma-related issues with The Soothe Programme.

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Hello, how are you? I’ve been on the road the past few weeks, my day retreat in London, a book talk and workshop at The Yard in Hampshire, and about to head off to LA and New York to promote the US edition of my book. You have to keep making things happen, don’t you?

On a recent long train ride home, I picked up a fashion magazine, thinking it would be a nice break from teaching and holding space for others. I came across an article on a supermodel whose face hasn’t changed in 30 years. The piece talked all about her wellness routine, yet somehow both the model and the journalist conveniently left out the fact she’s had a facelift.

After years of avoiding magazines, I found myself baffled by the suspension of reality required to read them. Let’s be honest, we’re fed the most absurd information. Models and actresses claiming their wrinkle-free, plumped-up faces are thanks to nothing more than a daily green juice and "good genes." As Cher once said, “If I want to put my tits on my back, it’s nobody’s business.” I agree—do whatever you like! But let’s stop pretending it’s all natural.

I also read about a wellness influencer who once preached the benefits of clean eating in her book, only to later reveal she was struggling with anorexia at the time. Her new book chronicles her recovery and encourages women to lift weights. I don’t begrudge her journey—she’s learned a lot—but should her publisher really have put out that first book without ensuring its integrity? Should the magazines who put her on the front cover have delved more deeply into her claims? The clean eating craze was wildly influential, particularly among young women hiding eating disorders.

It’s a fine line between marketing and manipulation, isn’t it? We’re sold the idea we need new clothes for every occasion, as if we all live like celebrities, only to end up with garments that fall apart, exploit the garment makers, and pollute our planet. We’re sold miracle health solutions that do nothing. And if you perpetuate a lie long enough, you can even convince people others deserve to die - just by painting them as the enemy.

How does a lifetime of receiving half-truths and lies meet absolute lies meet your nervous system? Let’s find out.

Propaganda is a potent tool designed to manipulate human perception, often through methods that make people doubt their own feelings, instincts, and beliefs. It subtly works to disconnect you from your innate understanding of reality, shaping how you interpret the world. By distorting truth or presenting skewed versions of events, propaganda sows mistrust not only in information but in a person's ability to perceive and judge it accurately.

At its core, propaganda preys on the emotional landscape of human beings. Whether through fear, guilt, or peer pressure, it carefully crafts messages designed to elicit strong reactions. The brain, particularly the amygdala, plays a critical role in processing emotions like fear and anxiety. Propaganda, with its tactics like scare-mongering and loaded language, triggers these primal emotional responses, clouding rational judgment. When we are overwhelmed with feelings, especially those of fear or anger, our ability to reason falters. This is the first step in programming people to mistrust their feelings: turning instinct into a battlefield of emotions manipulated from the outside.

A critical feature of propaganda is its repetitive nature. Just as dishonesty becomes easier for the brain over time due to desensitisation, propaganda numbs the critical faculties of its audience through constant exposure. If we encounter certain ideas or narratives frequently enough, even if they are misleading, our minds may start to accept them as truth. In essence, repetition dulls emotional resistance, making us less skeptical and more willing to embrace what we are told. Our instinctual responses to question or resist become compromised, and we begin to rely on external messaging instead of trusting our own feelings.

The propagandist’s ultimate goal is to create a sense of reliance on the narrative they present, severing the bond between the person and their intuition. For example, in political propaganda, a message may repeatedly present an opponent as untrustworthy or even dangerous. Over time, this manipulation makes it harder for people to rely on their own sense of discernment. Instead of relying on their instincts to evaluate a politician, they may be swayed by the fear, anger, or suspicion planted by propaganda. In war, propagandists go even further, using derogatory terms or dehumanising language to make people view entire groups as subhuman or threatening. This is a powerful example of how propaganda can not only alter public opinion but also reshape our natural emotional responses to other people.

The more propaganda someone consumes, the more they are forced to ignore or suppress their own thoughts, feelings, and questions. In doing so, they may be left feeling uncertain, anxious, or even disconnected from themselves. This internal dissonance is the very effect propagandists aim for, because it makes people more likely to conform to the external message. People in conflict with their own emotions become easier to control, as they lose the ability to fully trust their judgment. This cycle, where emotion is first exploited and then muted, creates a sense of dependency on the propaganda for direction, robbing people of the ability to act on their authentic beliefs.

Overcoming this psychological conditioning requires critical thinking, a recognition of emotional manipulation, and an intentional effort to reconnect with your instincts and feelings. Understanding how propaganda operates is the first step toward breaking its spell. By questioning the tactics, identifying the emotional appeals, and seeking out diverse perspectives, you can regain trust in your inner compass. This reestablishes a connection to your emotions, reinforcing the idea that feelings, when coupled with reason, are not weaknesses but strengths that protect you from external manipulation.

You can also learn to listen to the signals from your body. To give yourself the space to interpret them and from there, then take appropiate action. If you don’t gate-keep your nervous system, who will?

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Check out the lessons in my book to help you to ground.

I am teaching a class in Williamsburg, New York on 8th October, come to let go of tension in your body and mind, leave with a copy of my book. Book here.

The next Soothe Day retreat in London is on 18th January, the early bird price runs to the end of October. Book here.

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For paid subscribers, a lesson for when your heart doesn’t trust what your brain receives, try this lesson to get embodied You will need a bolster, cushions, and a blanket.

Thank you for reading.

Stay human,

Nahid x