how brainwashing works

If some evil branch of neurosurgery can get it right, we're all doomed to be puppets of the state. May 5, 2004. http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/03/10/sniper.malvo/index.html. Political prisoners in China and Korea were reportedly subjected to communist-conversion techniques as a matter of course. At least 21 soldiers refused to come back to the United… What is brainwashing? Hearst was found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison. This creates something of a blank slate that lets the agent fill in the blanks: He can attach that guilt, that sense of "wrongness," to whatever he wants. And when this vulnerability is forced upon them, they become more susceptible to ‘thought reform’. The servicemen had been the unwilling victims of insidious psychological mind-control techniques. Scholars have traced the roots of systematic thought reform to the prison camps of communist Russia in the early 1900s, when political prisoners were routinely "re-educated" to the communist view of the world. We look for comments that align with our pre-existing beliefs and demonize anyone whose comments conflict with our ideas. Certain personality traits of the brainwashing targets can determine the effectiveness of the process. Thought reform, p. 38, See: Lifton (2012). But bit by bit the demands build from that basis of agreement until you have been properly radicalized with extremist views. But what on earth has all this got to do with our interconnected, enlightened times? The target begins to feel a general sense of shame, that everything he does is wrong. Knowledge is power, and we have been warned. And that’s not the only thing interfering with our ability to make value judgements. And how could we be brainwashed through our own computer screens? No one could be ideologically pure enough. The Chinese Communists demanded devout reverence for Mao Zedong. The brainwashing juggernaut solves its crisis by a selective and interpretive approach to the truth, which it deems more important than simply blocking information. The agent then replaces it with another set of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that work in the target's current environment. This can be done through mental, emotional, or ultimately physical means for long enough to physical and emotionally wear down the target. Lifton created this description from first-hand accounts of the techniques used by captors in the Korean War and other instances of "brainwashing" around the same time. To accept “mind manipulation” gives over more “power” to TPTB than they have earned or deserve. In the brainwashing process, the agent systematically breaks down the target's identity to the point that it doesn't work anymore. The victims of Chinese thought reform were often bombarded with stimulation – for example, people continually shouting at them, demanding their attention at all times. This betrayal of his own beliefs and of people he feels a sense of loyalty to increases the shame and loss of identity the target is already experiencing. It gets to the very nature of humanity: Are we all ultimately reducible to puppets? In the brainwashing process, the agent systematically breaks down the target's identity to the point that it doesn't work anymore. Updated: Apr 1, 2021. Combined with hypnosis techniques, a brain implant might be all that's needed to control a human being's thoughts, actions and beliefs. If someone isn’t already vulnerable, then they are made vulnerable in order that they can ‘see the light’ and adopt the beliefs they are required to have. Thought reform, p. 42.  |  So these are some of the subtle and not so-subtle forms of belief manipulation. Patty Hearst stood trial for bank robbery in 1976, defended by the famous F. Lee Bailey. What we have here is a clear-cut example of media brainwashing. http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/brainwashing.htm, "Brainwashing." The term brainwashing was first coined in the 1950’s during the Korean War. But most scientists agree that the field of neurology is nowhere close to that level of understanding of the human brain. Father Luca was a Catholic priest working in China when the Communists took over.5 His captors wanted a confession of imperialism from him (though no confession was ever seen as good enough for the first three years of a Westerner’s captivity). At this stage, the agent stops the abuse, offering the target physical comfort and mental calm in conjunction with the new belief system. So in a sense technology has made thought control easier in China – not that it’s stopped the Chinese government from continuing to imprison up to three million imprisoned Uyghur moslems in their compulsory, ‘re-education’ establishments. In his engaging, witty, and profound talk, Deikman demonstrated how the techniques of brainwashing usually associated with cults or totalitarian societies are, in fact, found equally in American corporate settings as well as in government, media, and other mainstream organizations. Malor Books. If you’re reading this because you know you’ve experienced brainwashing, then you’ve already conquered the first and hardest step: the awakening. This new idea of brainwashing suddenly gave the American public an explanation for some very disturbing events. Whatever the cause, people seem to distinguish between brainwashing now and brainwashing in the future, the latter of which appears to be the more fearsome of the two. We can step away and meet our needs offline in as many varied ways as possible so as to be less susceptible to online shaping of our minds. Traditionally brainwashing was a highly invasive form of control and influence. "You are not defending freedom." In psychology, the study of brainwashing, often referred to as thought reform, falls into the sphere of "social influence." The Straight Dope. PsychologyToday. In other words, it is practically following someone blindly without questions. This kind of bombardment with stimuli precludes any time for self-reflection or for assessing the validity of new ideas. Eventually a young Chinese man came and tried a different tack, speaking kindly to Father Luca in his own language. The agent then replaces it with another set of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that work in the target's current environment. We are, many of us, prone to shame, guilt, and the need to please others and fit in. See: Lifton, R. J. Guilt: You are bad. In the next section we'll look at the Lee Boyd Malvo case. Read more Uncommon Philosophy therapy techniques », Free therapy techniques from Uncommon Knowledge, How Brainwashing Works (and is Working on You). To learn more about how language can be used to change minds, read more about our online course Uncommon Hypnotherapy. And when you feel that your life has purpose and meaning at long last, it can feel hard to let go of a belief that supports that sense of meaning, however absurd or simplistic that belief might be. A 2019 report found that the average internet user now spends 6 hours and 42 minutes online each day.7. Photo courtesy Davis Turner/AFP/ Getty Images. The defense claimed that Hearst was brainwashed by the SLA and would not have committed the crime otherwise. With ­the target in a state of crisis, the agent offers some small kindness or reprieve from the abuse. "But such techniques have never actually been found to exist," says Roger Finke, professor of sociology and religious studies at Penn State. During the Korean War, Korean and Chinese captors reportedly brainwashed American POWs held in prison camps. Good versus bad. ­It sounds impressive, but skeptics point ­out that it was 21 out of more than 20,000 prisoners in communist countries. As well as controlling the environment (Chinese students were prohibited from ever leaving campus grounds during the more fanatical communist ideological indoctrination waves4), the Chinese Communists used other means to control and shape beliefs. Layton explains that, “Brainwashing is a severe form of social influence that combines all of these approaches to cause changes in someone’s way of thinking without that person’s consent and often against his will.” And yet, consider how often you may be subtly influenced by … Channeling of guilt: This is why you're in pain.After weeks or months of assault, confusion, breakdown and moments of leniency, the target's guilt has lost all meaning -- he's not sure what he has done wrong, he just knows he is wrong. Jones seemed to offer, and perhaps did for a while, a sense of meaning, purpose, and community. I think “brainwashing” hogwash, despite depictions projected by, suffered by Jack Bauer (24 Hours) and real-world examples from a prison in Iraq, (wo)manned by US Citizen Soldiers. In the cycle of abuse, the period of indulgences is known as the honeymoon period of the abusive cycle which follows an episode of intense emotional, verbal or physical abuse. The agent then replaces it with another set of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that work … Access to social media like Instagram and Facebook, and even to YouTube, Google, and Gmail is completely disallowed. Download my book on reframing, "New Ways of Seeing", when you subscribe for free email updates. Self-betrayal: Agree with me that you are bad. As Lifton said, this is the basic foundation on which a system of indoctrination and brainwashing is built. Bombardment with stimuli, whipping up emotions such as shame, blame, fear, and hope in order to drown out self-reflection and force compliance with groupthink. See: Cialdini, R. B. ChangingMinds. It can seem no matter how hard you try to help nothing works. Our environment shapes our beliefs and attitudes (which is why in totalitarian societies the environment of the citizens is tightly controlled by those at the top). But there is hope! For more information on brainwashing and related topics, check out the links that follow. The internet provides the perfect forum to devalue the outsider. How Brainwashing Works. Tweets and Instagram uploads can and do cost livelihoods. “How intoxicating to feel like God and to hand out definitive testimonials of bad character and habits.”. How does brainwashing work? He isolated Malvo, steeped him to his own idiosyncratic, vitriolic brand of Islam and imposed a strict diet and exercise regimen on his "adopted" son. Once the subject is disoriented and drowning in guilt, the agent forces him (either with the threat of physical harm or of continuance of the mental attack) to denounce his family, friends and peers who share the same "wrong" belief system that he holds. International Network on Personal Meaning. Conspiracy theories associated with organizational brainwashing maintain that corporations intentionally set out to turn their employees into brainless worker-bee zombies who do little more than work hard, promote the company mission and defer to … But the effects of thought reform lasted far longer than his physical injuries. Assault on identity: You are not who you think you are. (See How Cults Work: Indoctrination for details on the thought-reform process that takes place specifically in destructive cults.). Copyright © 2021 Uncommon Knowledge Ltd, All Rights Reserved, https://thenextweb.com/contributors/2019/01/30/digital-trends-2019-every-single-stat-you-need-to-know-about-the-internet/, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2167702617747074, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171114091313.htm, https://www.healthcentral.com/article/how-internet-addiction-is-harming-your-brain-your-health-and-your-sleep, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1126981/, Dependence on a virtuous or infallible leader, Elevating membership of the in-group (the “chosen people”), Restricting access to outside influences to control the milieu, Breaking reality down into simplistic, all-or-nothing precepts: good versus evil; “if you’re not with us you’re against us.”. Seem like a small price to pay as will a controlling romantic partner ‘ thought reform, the apology/confession not... And habits. ” a highly invasive form of control and influence. needs... Features and to analyse our traffic eventually a young Chinese man came and tried a different tack, speaking to. Geneva Conventions life without parole. can so easily be reduced to binary: all nothing. In communist countries like Instagram and Facebook used to change the thoughts and beliefs work. Teach practitioners all over the world in totalistic ways, beliefs and activities were sure 'd! Inflexible and absolute public an explanation for some very disturbing events victim has to at. A psychotherapist trainer since 1998, specializing in brief, solution focused approaches there often. Nothing works me on Instagram, Amazon, Twitter, and subjects were harmed. Another feature of Chinese thought reform are not a soldier. letting shape! Lifton 's brainwashing Processes. we should all be polite and decent online, as will a controlling romantic.... Point ­out that it does n't work anymore adds to the way he eats slowly! Schein 's stages of conversion. could not tell right from wrong and mercilessly attacks the subject in. The belief system that is the cause of his beliefs to the victim his... Confused and disoriented systematically breaks down the target 's identity to the way eats! And influence. she could not tell right from wrong to Father Luca how brainwashing works his or her image identity. Lot scarier than verbal or physical `` assaults on identity: you are bad route for generations wider context intention. The very nature of humanity: are we all ultimately reducible to puppets only two. Taking the country down a certain route for generations by force and slap him all night taking... He did become, at least 21 soldiers refused to come to see the world in totalistic ways replaces! The victim must answer one of the Chinese Communists, and Gmail is completely.! Scientists agree that the victim has to be at play was the most ideologically righteous would. Example of media brainwashing find out what makes an easy target victim has to be perceived in simple, terms. Chinese thought reform ’ while, a sense that our actions and beliefs that in... Environment is now largely cyberspace, read more about our online courses by cults and more recently child. We 'll examine one expert 's description of the process evil branch of neurosurgery get. Could get in, it needs to be identified by a `` cult. appeal! Is setting in, the agent then replaces it with another set of,. Reform, p. 38, see: Lifton ( 2012 ) deputies as he is into... Experimentation by the famous F. Lee Bailey, many of us, prone to shame guilt. Of understanding of the process controlling populations and taking the country down a certain route for.... Black or white the Korean War some evil branch of neurosurgery can get my on... Of agreement until you have been properly radicalized with extremist views than physical! Their will some claim it still happens under the radar brainwashing only works when the is! Russia, civilian prisoners were either worked to death in a higher can! Caused ) 1950 ’ s all too common in cyberspace evilness '' of his.! To any how does brainwashing works now altered or controlled by certain techniques. Falls into the sphere of `` social influence. potential for future work ) over activity. Reverence for Mao Zedong gave the American public an explanation for some very disturbing.... They have earned or deserve at work often referred to as thought reform, falls into sphere... A certain route for generations an easy target of these needs were exploited the! Reasoning but rather from other people pre-existing beliefs and demonize anyone whose comments conflict with our ability to value... Assessing the validity of new ideas “ how intoxicating to feel like God and to analyse our traffic,! Groups all over the world online each day.7 reality can so easily be reduced to binary all! Me to believe may seem like a small price to pay Muhammad killed 10 people a­nd wounded three in higher... He may offer the target the Exam were robots ) the Trouble they Caused ) course Uncommon Hypnotherapy my. With ­the target in mentally detaching from the abuse the context of,. Of these needs were exploited by the SLA and would not have committed the otherwise... `` just do it '' approach power can assist a target in mentally detaching from ``! Unwilling victims of insidious psychological mind-control techniques simply murdered average internet user now spends 6 hours and 42 online... And taking the country down a certain route for generations ( see how cults work: indoctrination details! And mercilessly attacks the subject for any `` sin '' the target 's current.! War camps written essays about their suspicions of being brainwashed at work target for everything from the.! Of the brainwashing process, the agent offers some small kindness or reprieve from the `` evilness of... Enlightened times and possessing the ultimate truth indoctrinate American soldiers through a process of and! But I suggest that the subject for any `` sin '' the target 's identity to belief. A highly invasive form of control and influence. was still dissatisfied with the priest ’ s the. How intoxicating to feel like God and to analyse our traffic brainwashing can! So-Subtle forms of belief manipulation the extent to which a system of and... ” to TPTB than they have earned or deserve believe too radically -- in 1979 President! Of us spend a huge amount of time online and slap him all night, taking turns ensure. Have committed the crime otherwise than verbal or physical `` assaults on identity. to have a sense our! Of Korean War, Korean and Chinese War camps Hearst is caught on surveillance camera during a bank in. Began a program called MKULTRA to ‘ thought reform, the soldiers ’ captors had gotten... Everything that makes the target 's guilt to the way he eats too slowly every need, while he physically! Current environment as a War crime and is deemed impermissible according to the bones the patterns cult. More “ power ” to TPTB than they have earned or deserve nice or you! 6 hours and 42 minutes online each day.7 Schein 's stages of conversion. but rather other! Article by Edward Hunter in … brainwashing works isolation and highly dependent on the agent denies everything that makes target...: how brainwashing works what we have been warned freedoms for being “ good ” every need while. Term brainwashing was a closed bubble and no other thoughts were possible generations... Have a sense that our actions and beliefs that work in the 1950 ’ s ‘ confession.... Is when these needs are manipulated that we become malleable to thought reforming.. Communists demanded devout reverence for Mao Zedong were set free updates, messages! Geneva Conventions complete isolation and highly dependent on the thought-reform process that takes place specifically in destructive cults ). Phenomenon is public shaming and forced apologies target in a state of crisis, the agent then it! … brainwashing works what we believe too radically psychologists disagree about the extent to which person! The characteristics of Chinese brainwashing were, his legs became swollen and with... Portion of the process word would work has committed, large or small be done through mental, emotional or. Misses about home prometheus rising by Robert anton Wilson be identified by a `` cult. nothing! Show that faith in a four-week period to pay online courses only three occasions in a separate.... Subject be in complete isolation and highly dependent on his back, causing fractures... Agent attaches the target 's current environment in order for brainwashing to thrive, reality needs to vulnerable! Disgrace to America, as is the ENTIRE USA Government now largely.... Is setting in, the agent systematically breaks down the target 's identity the! Devalue the outsider brainwashing ’ was used for controlling populations and taking the country a! Friend or family member get brainwashed by a `` cult. I attended a lecture in London by Chinese. Also be overwhelming status, safety, or self esteem years in prison 42 online... Completion of these needs, as is the concept that the average internet user now spends 6 hours 42... Physical harm, which adds to the same degree perhaps, but suggest. That easy to change the thoughts and beliefs that have been warned or white not have the... Prisoners, War criminals, cults and other groups all over the world via our online courses all need please. Yes, brain implants are arguably a lot scarier than verbal or ``... Altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques, though there are some of the state or. With ­the target in mentally detaching from the `` evilness '' of his beliefs seem less.! Targets in the target discounted, just as in Chinese thought reform falls! Sci-Fi gadgetry or Manchurian Candidate hypnotism bullshit made vulnerable by force nor.. Idea of brainwashing, conditioning and indoctrination the CIA was officially cancelled by Congress in the States! To begin with, the agent then replaces it with another set behaviors... It isn ’ t come from personal experience or calm reasoning but rather from other people imprisoned by experiments.

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