You are “Framed”: Covid19 Diary
It is
customary nowadays to speak about Covid19. If somebody calls, the discussion
starts with the virus and consequences of the covid19. After the whole story
which everybody knows, (thanks for the social media), then we come to the
point. Few companies are trying to encash the situation to market their
products. But sometimes it is too funny when a marketing guy tries to co-relate
his/her product with a pandemic situation. Health & wellness is important
but then there are memes and videos are shared where HR is doing this too much.
Manipulation is at high level.
Initially for a few days it was relevant. Slowly people started to cope up with the situation. They are trying to understand the threat; learnt how to deal with that. Normally in any situation, human beings perceive the threat. Threats can be physical, psychological or financial. Depending upon the perceptions, there will be reactions which can be positive or negative.
But do
you know that every moment, every day you are “framed” by somebody? News on
the mainstream media, forwards on social media or advertisements are generated
and broadcasted to manipulate the people. Political leaders, some journalists,
advertisement agencies are experts in “framing” common man. Nobody checks the
authenticity of the source. Common tendency is to believe on that news without
applying common sense. Common sense is uncommon now a days. So-called
Intellectuals are pioneered in framing techniques. This is a special technique
called as Farming technique.
The
theory was first put forth by Goffman, under the title of Frame Analysis.
Framing
technique works as under:
Narrative
is generated based on the agenda. Stories are cooked and created putting some
element of benefits, happiness, sadness, fear, and some fake narration based on
the agenda of the person.
Information
is created & presented based on the narrative to influence the people. Mainly
such information is not full information but part of the information. (Political
leaders, so called intellectuals & mainstream media are expert in this
techniques)
Framing
takes this a step further in the way in which the news or information is
presented creates a frame for that information. This is
usually a conscious choice by journalists, leaders who are communicating – in
this case a frame refers to the way the media as gatekeepers organize and present
the ideas, events, and topics they cover.
Such
narration then influences the choices people. People
decide how to process that information. Frames are abstractions that work to
organize or structure message meaning.
All over the world such framing is happening. We are framed & manipulated by everybody. As far as the intention & purpose is right, then framing techniques have the positive outcome. But most of the time, it has a negative impact on society if used keeping the selfish motive behind. Today we are insecure, fragmented because of such manipulation and framing.
People
are stressful, people are perceiving the threat, this is because of different
and scary news broadcasted by the mainstream media and circulated by social
media.
But then
I realised we have already started to live with the situation. The newness of
work from home now is not there and people want to go to offices desperately.
There are few people who are still worried. However good organizations are
gearing for the new normal & giving them confidence.
As a common citizen, we need to keep our ears and eyes open and apply the logic. Understand the facts and figures, ask yourself questions, so that you are not “framed” and manipulated.
Can we
use this technique positively? Yes. If you have the story
which is based on the facts and inspires others. In such circumstances, leaders
need to understand this and design the communication and frame the message so
that people perceive the situation positively. Here literally corporate leaders
can use the “framing techniques” in a positive way.
They can
do it by understanding the issues, concern areas and setting an agenda. Once
the agenda is set, they can create stories which are inspirational. Create an
ethical frame where the message is clear, and people will not perceive
differently. It is very difficult to manage such message. It is observed that
ethical aspect is always ignored over benefits of power and money while
framing. Simple example of this ignorance of ethical aspect is employees
reporting late on duty. Most of the manufacturing companies in India had the
policy of deduction of leave in case of employee reports late 3 or more times
in a month. The reason behind this was that employees would come on time because
of fear of losing leave. But in such cases, the situation hardly improved and
employees continued to report late. Ethical aspect (being punctual) was
replaced with right (after leave deduction). While framing this ethical aspect
always should be considered and messages should be enforced accordingly.
Person can view the situation as per his perceptions, but framing should give him realty of the ground and hopes that he can survive from the situation. During such pandemic, our Prime Minister and even Chief Minister are giving hopes, but unfortunately, few people are trying to manipulate us by just creating a narrative which has their own agenda and selfish motive.
Let’s
take an example of Covid19.
With a
lot of information about infections and death, everybody is scared. The mental
frame is strong with the assumption that if we go out, we will die.
The frame
is created as under:
Pandemic
situation is because of a deadly virus, people are dying globally, there is no
medicine and vaccine. If I get infected, society will view me differently, I
will suffer, and my family will suffer. We will have a social stigma. I will
also die, and I don’t know what will happen to my family.
This can
be framed positively as under:
Pandemic
situation is because of a deadly virus but people don’t die because of the
virus. It is because of respiratory failure and if the infection is reported
early, take a treatment, life can be saved very easily. People are infecting
and dying but survival rate more than death and death cases are because of late
reporting or people having some type of illness. However, I need to take care
of me and my family and follow social distancing, wear a mask, keep personal
hygiene and if I have symptoms, I should go immediately to the doctor. There
are a lot of people who are fully cured and discharged.
You can also use facts & data while using the framing technique to make it more authentic.
As a
common man, we just can do one thing and that is use our brain. While watching
any news, reading any social media post, use the lens of common sense. Best way
is to ignore all news channel and social media post.
(Ref:
Frame analysis by Goffman, Framing techniques per Fairhurst and Sarr)
(Opinions are purely personal & does not
represent my organization)
Please
read the print replica of my latest book written for leaders on amazon kindle; Vitality in Human Resource
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