PSYCHOLOGY OF POST-TRUTH AS A METHOD OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN CRISIS (CONFLICT) SITUATIONS

Burikova I. S., Konovalova M. A., Pushkina M. A.

the modern information environment has declined due to the influence of globalization. The main changes are related to the fact that the volume of information has become too vast and the human being is not able to treat all the informational flows and becomes, literally, flooded by information, which deprives him from the possibility to make a difference between the truth and the fantasy. The effects of the post-truth: and individual doesn’t check the credibility of the information and aligns with the concordance of the information with affirmations that have already been formed; the public narrative is mainly shaped by the recurrence to emotions; the same justifications are constantly repeated each time; the existing reality has no importance, the border between truth and fantasy washes away. Community outreach requires from specialists to have knowledge of the new informational realities and the skills to use this knowledge in practice. In potentially conflict situations the representatives of authorities have to apply to the following rules: provide information with a constant high level of credibility and responsiveness; create a system of feedback from the public; chose a necessary and sufficient level of emotional density of the delivered information (relevant emotional level); not using manipulative technologies when working with the public, as there is a high chance of provoking the raise of social tension; engage trained people: moderators who have the knowledge of working in situations of deteriorated informational environment; cooperate with security structures to decrease the damage of provocateurs, who use the effect of post-truth to achieve their goals.

Keywords:psychology of globalization, deterioration of the informational environment, psychology of post-truth, behavior psychology of individuals in crisis situations, psychology of emotions, public narrative, primary attitude.