Influence, Persuasion, and Manipulation Online

Catalog description

This course will introduce the fundamental behavioral science of influence, persuasion, and manipulation, and the application of these scientific principles to online campaigns to influence attitudes and behavior. In particular, we will discuss the psychology of persuasion, nudging, social influence, bias, persuasive design, and the ethics of persuasion. Against this background, we will analyze case studies drawn from recent, high profile events such as election campaigns, targeted advertising, sowing political division, memes and virality, impact of social media, and propagation of "fake news." Countermeasures to these tactics will be explored, including personal measures, technologies, and policy.