The Narrative Industrial Complex framework synthesizes established research and public scholarship examining how perception, belief, and behavior are shaped at scale. The resources below represent influential work across social psychology, media theory, political communication, and systems science that inform this analysis.

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Propaganda, Power & Public Perception

• Bernays, Edward. Propaganda (1928).
  Early articulation of mass persuasion as a tool of social organization.

• Lippmann, Walter. Public Opinion (1922).
  Introduces the concept of mediated “pseudo-environments” shaping public opinion.

• Lasswell, Harold D. Politics: Who Gets What, When, How (1936).
  Analyzes communication as an instrument of political power.

Cognitive & Social Psychology

• Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011).
  Explores dual-process cognition and decision-making biases.

• Festinger, Leon. A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance (1957).
  Foundational theory on belief consistency and psychological tension.

• Bandura, Albert. Social Learning Theory (1977).
  Examines how behavior and norms are learned through observation and modeling.

Media Theory & Attention

• McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media (1964).
  Introduces the principle that media form shapes perception independent of content.

• Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985).
  Critiques entertainment-driven media and its effects on public discourse.

• Chomsky, Noam, and Edward S. Herman. Manufacturing Consent (1988).
  Examines systemic media filtering mechanisms in democratic societies.

Contemporary Media Systems & Technology

• Center for Humane Technology.
  Research on persuasive technology, attention economics, and digital well-being.

• MIT Media Lab.
  Interdisciplinary research on media systems, network effects, and human–technology interaction.

• Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab.
  Studies on behavior design and habit-forming digital environments.

Applied Case Evidence & Public Record

• Investigative reporting on Cambridge Analytica and psychographic targeting

• Legislative hearings on social media platforms, algorithmic amplification, and political influence

• Peer-reviewed research on misinformation spread, engagement-driven algorithms, and narrative reinforcement

Attribution Note

This bibliography reflects selected foundational and contemporary works that inform the Narrative Industrial Complex framework. Interpretations, integrations, and applications derived from these sources are the responsibility of the framework’s authors.