Emotional Intelligence in Resisting Linguistic Manipulation during Covid-19 Pandemic in Italy and Ukraine

Abstract

This paper reveals the impact of linguistic manipulations on the psychological well-being and behavior of people during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and Ukraine. An online survey discovered uncritical information perception and intense, irrational fears among the Italians. Ukrainians appeared to be more calm, balanced, and rational. An explanation may originate in the epidemic proportions and the news tonality. Italy chose the intimidation rhetoric based on the negative stimulus words ‘death’, ‘new cases’, and ‘pandemic chronicle’. Ukrainian media avoided emotional pressure through panic and focused more on rational arguments. The coronavirus pandemic has shown that people are not prepared to bear emotional manipulation by mass media and politicians. The only way is to develop emotional intelligence as a critical thinking tool in the world of global linguistic manipulation.