Discrediting tactic

As discrediting (Latin dis " divisive " credere "trust" ) is defined as the deliberate undermining of the set in a person or thing trust in public. Often, to achieve the personal goals, the means of falsehood is used.

Means of discrediting are libel, indiscretions or the spreading of rumors.

In politics the means of discrediting is used to harm enemies by reduced by the loss of confidence in their powers of persuasion and ( in democracies ) their chances of electoral success or they are forced to resign. The political discrediting part of the instruments of various intelligence agencies and is particularly frequently used in authoritarian or dictatorial states ( cf. the State Security Service of the GDR ).

In business, the discrediting is used to bring products from competitors at the customer into disrepute. For example, can be generated by launch of takeover rumors or product announcements sent time terminated the public perception that a competing product without future would be.

Under celebrities and artists can be specifically terminated or at least more difficult with the help of discrediting their career. We speak metaphorically of character assassination.

Examples

The accusation was to strive for world domination and is a common means to discredit a group or system of thought. This was assumed, among other

• The Roman Catholic Church in the culture war;
• The Jews - with the known forgery of an alleged roadmap to world domination, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The concept of world Jewry implies this assumption;
• Real socialism and the Soviet Union;
• The United States or groups who would secretly control ( see, eg, Zionist Occupied Government) is assumed in various conspiracy theories, to strive for a new world order.