Typology of Informational Control Mechanisms
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The note brings six mechanisms of informational control described in works of the MBM series into a single typology. Five mechanisms — parasitoid control, propaganda, advertising, algorithms, gaslighting — are described in "Informational Control: From Parasitoids to Propaganda" v1.6. The sixth — control through form — was introduced in "Control Through Form" v1.1. The note does not introduce new mechanisms; it builds a map of what has already been described. Six mechanisms are brought into a single table according to four parameters. Parameter 0 — level of matter: parasitoid control acts at F2 (biological matter); the other five — at F3 (civilizational matter). Parameter 1 — what the mechanism works with: behavioral program (parasitoid control), content (propaganda, advertising, algorithms, gaslighting), form (control through form). Parameter 2 — type of influence: overwriting, replacement, formation, selection, destruction, narrowing. Parameter 3 — visibility: invisible to the host, visible, partially visible, hidden, invisible. It is shown that the parameters are not orthogonal: they correlate and describe a single structure — the depth of influence. The lower the visibility, the deeper the influence: from overwriting a biological program (parasitoid control, F2) through replacement of content (visible propaganda, F3) to narrowing the field of the possible (invisible control through form, F3). A connection is established with the metrics of the series: SQ, HII, IDC, disinformology. The five mechanisms of F3 are partially covered; parasitoid control (F2) is connected to them more weakly; control through form is not covered by any. This is a gap. Open questions are formulated: is a seventh mechanism possible, is a unified metric needed, how to analyze combinations, are transitions between levels possible. The typology does not claim completeness. Version 1.4. License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7222901670
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