Formes et pratiques de la manipulation discursive

Abstract

The article begins with a short historical perspective of "manipulation" in French culture, at formal, notional and practical levels. On the same occasion, we have distinguished between cognitive manipulation and affective one, as well as between manipulation and self-manipulation. The last distinction proves to be useful, the hidden action of the self-manipulation facilitating frequently the success of the manipulation. The analysis continues with the presentation of some manipulative forms and practices (especially flattery and seduction), which nowadays cover various areas (media, politics, organizations, business, etc.). The notional network, which is (re)built from this theoretical way, will be later used for interpreting Rameau's Nephew (Diderot), within an approach in accordance with the double view of manipulation: one inter-subjective, and other, intra-subjective.