DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF MANIPULATIVE CONTENT, CREATED BY CRIMINAL LEADERS OF TOTALITARIAN PSEUDO-RELIGIOUS CULTS WITH MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: The analysis characteristics of the manipulative content, created by members of the totalitarian pseudo-religious groups, as well as the consideration of the manipulative techniques, which the criminals use to destructively influence both individual and social consciousness in pursuit of achieving their goals, constitutes the purpose of this study. Methodology: The materialistic theory of knowledge, as well as the fundamental principles of philosophy and the legal theory, formed the methodological frameworks of this work. The theoretical principles of psychological and sociological knowledge were based on the concept of a systematic (holistic) study of a personality from the holistic (gestalt) standpoint. Main Findings: The manipulative content, which the members of the totalitarian pseudo-religious groups post on social networks, evidently shows all signs of the hidden psychological impacts aimed at both conscious and unconscious components of the human psyche. Those who create such content actively use the resources of the well-known search engines, adapting them to their specific needs. When rites and ceremonies are performed, manipulative in-fluences are mixed in nature (being verbal, visual, and kinesthetic) and are deeply traumatic for the participants’ psyche. Applications of this Study: The results can be useful for the classes on Information security. With all cultural and linguistic, legal, and general social context of communications, our findings have practical importance for assessing the hidden content of the religion-related topics. Novelty of this study: The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the author analyzed the methods, which the criminal leaders of pseudo-religious groups and movements use for creating and disseminating their manipulative messages. Moreover, the author formulated his proposals regarding the prevention of crimes committed with information technologies in the sphere of religious relations.