How Propaganda Produces Stereotypes that Justify Violence

1. We may be portrayed as having violence in our past, but it’s in our past and not representative of our group’s behavior as a whole. They are portrayed as having violence in their past, and it’s a sign of their essentially violent nature.
2. We are portrayed as primarily having good people on our side. They are portrayed as either primarily having bad people on their side or stupid people who permit the bad people to rule them.
3. We are portrayed as primarily having benevolent motives. They are portrayed as primarily having malevolent, selfish, or insane motives.
4. When we produce “collateral damage,” it is portrayed as in the pursuit of praiseworthy ends. When they kill innocent people, it is portrayed as never justifiable and always in the pursuit of malevolent, selfish, or insane ends.