PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO POWER, MANIPULATION, AND COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR IN GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM

Abstract

This study explores the psychological mechanisms of power, manipulation, and collective behavior in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Using a qualitative approach, 20 selected excerpts from the novel were analyzed to identify strategies of authority assertion, propaganda, fear induction, herd behavior, and historical revision. The findings show that authority is reinforced both symbolically and psychologically, propaganda shapes collective cognition, fear ensures compliance, and collective rituals strengthen group cohesion. The study bridges literary analysis and social psychology, demonstrating how Orwell’s allegory illustrates the dynamics of obedience, conformity, and ideological control. The results provide insights into the psychological underpinnings of power structures and highlight the value of literature in understanding social influence and human behavior.

Keywords :Power, Manipulation, Collective Behavior, Animal Farm, Social Psychology, Literature, Propaganda, Authority