Doorgedreven

Doorgedreven is a Dutch term used to describe communicative content or style that is pushed beyond what is considered reasonable or necessary. It denotes excess, exaggeration, or extreme emphasis and can apply to rhetoric, marketing, media reporting, or cultural expressions.

The term combines door- (through, via) with gedreven (driven, motivated). In contemporary Dutch it functions as an adjective and can appear in compound phrases such as doorgedreven reclame or doorgedreven emotie. It generally carries a critical or negative nuance, though it can be used playfully in informal speech.

In practice, doorgedreven framing or headlines in journalism may attract attention but risk damaging credibility. In advertising, doorgedreven emotional appeals can backfire or feel manipulative. In political discourse, doorgedreven rhetoric can mobilize supporters but also deepen polarization. The concept is commonly used in media criticism, communication studies, and cultural commentary to describe a propensity to push messages toward extremes in pursuit of impact or efficiency.

Reception of the term varies: some observers view doorgedreven messaging as a symptom of crowded attention markets and the pressure to stand out, while others argue that it reflects deliberate stylistic choice or strategic persuasion. The label signals a value judgment about moderation and proportionality, rather than a fixed technical standard, and its acceptability depends on context, genre, and audience expectations.

Related terms include overdrijving (exaggeration) and sensationalisme (sensationalism), as well as the broader concept of hyperbool or hyperbole in rhetoric.