Social and psychological aspects of information psychological impact in the conditions of the modern election campaign

For a long period of time the preparation and conducting of an election campaign is accompanied by information psychological pressure on potential voters, exerted in order to create a positive attitude towards a particular candidate. It should be stated that such an incitement of citizens during the election campaign is carried out not by the application of humane means, but by hidden manipulative influence made mainly through the mass media (the most effective media in this respect are print, television, internet). To influence large numbers of people there used two main methods of psychological impact: persuasion (appeal to reason) and suggestion (appeal to emotions). In a situation of information overload, which inevitably occurs as a result of intensive information impact, many voters get a defense reflex, rejecting attempts to be enlisted to the side of any candidate. The study of public opinion in the Penza region reveales that the majority of respondents feel the need for the information psychological security during the election campaigns because of the constant pressure from the candidates. The research result underlines again the importance of studying the problem of formation of socio-psychological factors of resistance to information psychological influence.