How Brainwashing Works

[Fweethawt]

This is an interesting 6 page article explaining the steps to brainwashing and some examples of where and how they were/are used.

 

See if you can spot any parallels between brainwashing techniques and indoctrination.

 

*Spoiler alert!* You WILL see the parallels.

 

 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brainwashing.htm

[Geezer]

Brainwashing/Indoctrination is a commonly used & effective tactic that is used successfully throughout the world in every culture for a whole host of reasons. Religion & politics being two of the most obvious. Even though this tactic is well know & generally easily recognized it is still widely used because it continues to be very effective.

[rjn]

I'd say media and advertisement works in much the same way.

"Are you really sure you're happy? Are you not too fat/ugly/whatever? You kinda suck don't you? Well, don't worry, because this product will transform you into a wholesome happy person!".

 

Creating self-doubt, anxiety and then offering a solution.

[ironhorse]

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

[rjn]

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

Semantics really. IMHO, Indoctrination is just the milder form that takes place in regular social conditioning, whereas Brainwashing involves elements of coercion. The end result is very much the same in the end.

[mymistake]

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

 

Uh, no.  Indoctrination is the process of planting doctrine into people's minds.  That is not the same thing as education because knowledge is not doctrine.

[ironhorse]

 

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

Semantics really. IMHO, Indoctrination is just the milder form that takes place in regular social conditioning, whereas Brainwashing involves elements of coercion. The end result is very much the same in the end.

 

 

 

Did you read the link I posted?

 

If you did and you read the "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform” how can you say the results

on the individual and their final thought process are the same?

[rjn]

 

 

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

Semantics really. IMHO, Indoctrination is just the milder form that takes place in regular social conditioning, whereas Brainwashing involves elements of coercion. The end result is very much the same in the end.

 

 

 

Did you read the link I posted?

 

If you did and you read the "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform” how can you say the results

on the individual and their final thought process are the same?

 

 

I did, though I admit to having skimmed through it rather briefly at first. In any case, let's say a deeply devout family wants to raise their kids to be all good and pious:

 

Milieu Control — The control of information and communication, resulting in extreme isolation from the outside world.

 

I can see this happening to a certain extent in an ordinary religious setting yes, at least among fundamentalists.

 

Mystical Manipulation — Experiences that appears spontaneous but are actually planned and orchestrated to demonstrate divine authority, spiritual advancement, or other insight.

 

Maybe not deceptively planned acts, but deeply religious folks sometimes attribute certain events to the Supernatural, so the psychological effect would be very much the same on an impressionable child.

 

Demand for Purity — The requirement to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. Guilt and shame are often employed.

 

Without a doubt.

 

Confession — Ways to monitor the personal thoughts (“sins”) of individual members — which are then discussed and exploited by group leaders.

 

Yes, this sort of guilt-tripping follows #3 as a natural consequence.

 

Sacred Science — The idea that the group’s ideology is beyond questioning or dispute.

 

Yeah. It's called Biblical literalism.

 

Loading the Language — The use of jargon and terminology that the outside world does not understand as a means of gaining thought-control and conformity.

 

This is more in the vein of pure Brainwashing, so probably not. All groups exist in a bubble of sorts though. Terms such as "Hell" and "Salvation" means a lot more to the indoctrinated child than it does to the secular outsider

 

Doctrine over Person — Subordinating all personal experiences to the ideology of the group.

 

Yeah, especially among fundies.

 

Dispensing of Existence — In order to be saved or enlightened, individuals must convert to the group’s ideology. If they are critical of the group, or decide to leave the group, they are rejected by all members.

 

This is pretty much every single cult ever, so religious communites with cult-like characteristics will apply.

 

The source for the bold text is the article IH posted:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

[bornagainathiest]

How's that skeptical appraisal of your faith coming along, Ironhorse?

 

I ask because you seem to have had the time to thoroughly read and digest both the HowStuffWorks and Patheos articles and also to contribute to this thread.

 

Please keep us up to date on your progress.

 

Thanks,

 

BAA.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

p.s.

 

I was, of course, referring to the new skeptical appraisal of your faith that you're currently working on.

 

Not the old one that you referred to many months ago.

 

Which you said you've taken years to compile.

 

But which you don't talk about any more.

 

And which is only referred to by me.

 

In posts like this one.

 

 

Which you don't...

 

 

 

reply to for...

 

 

 

 

some...

 

 

 

 

 

reason?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[miamia]

Maybe brainwashing plays a huge role in unity. Without some sort of brainwashing, do you think it would be possible for such a huge mass of individuals to get along and form a functional country? Can humans get along if left to develop without external coercion and behavioral "correction" to encourage them to cooperate with each other instead of warring for their own ends?( real questions very sincere, I don't know for myself) I'm not arguing whether it is good or bad, It just seems that brainwashing is present in all levels of society, in every society, and I think it's a natural behavior and can be beneficial or not.   idk maybe I am wrong. life is weird.  I think i'm a nihilist. 

 

Anyway I think that in the case of religion, part of the reason it is so effective despite outside influence is that you are pretty much taught to psychologically detach from any outside influence, effectively replacing the need for isolation and creating absolute dependence. So the last few lines of that article, for that reason, I would have to contend with. it is indeed possible on a large scale, especially when there are children involved. It's easier when they grow up in that environment and there is no belief system to replace.Metaphorically,  It's impossible to make a round watermelon square without breaking it but if it grows up in a square box that will never become an issue. The watermelon will grow to fit it's square container and may never even realize it's supposed to be round.

[ironhorse]

 

 

 

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I think there is a difference between indoctrination and brainwashing. 

Here’s why:

 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

Semantics really. IMHO, Indoctrination is just the milder form that takes place in regular social conditioning, whereas Brainwashing involves elements of coercion. The end result is very much the same in the end.

 

 

 

Did you read the link I posted?

 

If you did and you read the "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform” how can you say the results

on the individual and their final thought process are the same?

 

 

I did, though I admit to having skimmed through it rather briefly at first. In any case, let's say a deeply devout family wants to raise their kids to be all good and pious:

 

Milieu Control — The control of information and communication, resulting in extreme isolation from the outside world.

 

I can see this happening to a certain extent in an ordinary religious setting yes, at least among fundamentalists.

 

Mystical Manipulation — Experiences that appears spontaneous but are actually planned and orchestrated to demonstrate divine authority, spiritual advancement, or other insight.

 

Maybe not deceptively planned acts, but deeply religious folks sometimes attribute certain events to the Supernatural, so the psychological effect would be very much the same on an impressionable child.

 

Demand for Purity — The requirement to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. Guilt and shame are often employed.

 

Without a doubt.

 

Confession — Ways to monitor the personal thoughts (“sins”) of individual members — which are then discussed and exploited by group leaders.

 

Yes, this sort of guilt-tripping follows #3 as a natural consequence.

 

Sacred Science — The idea that the group’s ideology is beyond questioning or dispute.

 

Yeah. It's called Biblical literalism.

 

Loading the Language — The use of jargon and terminology that the outside world does not understand as a means of gaining thought-control and conformity.

 

This is more in the vein of pure Brainwashing, so probably not. All groups exist in a bubble of sorts though. Terms such as "Hell" and "Salvation" means a lot more to the indoctrinated child than it does to the secular outsider

 

Doctrine over Person — Subordinating all personal experiences to the ideology of the group.

 

Yeah, especially among fundies.

 

Dispensing of Existence — In order to be saved or enlightened, individuals must convert to the group’s ideology. If they are critical of the group, or decide to leave the group, they are rejected by all members.

 

This is pretty much every single cult ever, so religious communites with cult-like characteristics will apply.

 

The source for the bold text is the article IH posted:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturalwonderers/measuring-the-space-between-indoctrination-brainwashing/

 

 

 

I agree with your analysis rjn. 

 

I agree brainwashing does occur in religious communities with cult-like characteristics.

And it has done untold damage and hurt to many people.

 

My view is that it is incorrect to assume all Christians have been brainwashed.  

[rjn]

 

My view is that it is incorrect to assume all Christians have been brainwashed.

 

Never even implied that this was the case.

[florduh]

Most religious brainwashing is subtle, but not always. Christianity relies on its followers viewing themselves as imperfect, problematic, in jeopardy and desperately in need of what the religion is selling. Once the initial indoctrination on the specific beliefs and doctrines of the sect has been accepted as the solution to the supposed problem, the real brainwashing begins.

[Guest Furball]

Indoctrination is just a fancy word for brainwashing. You can unlearn false beliefs, you can't unlearn 2+2 = 4.

[ironhorse]

What I said:

It is my view that it is incorrect to assume that all Christians have been brainwashed.

 

"Never even implied that was the case." ~rjn

 

My apology, I know you didn't. I worded the sentence wrong.

[rjn]

What I said:

It is my view that it is incorrect to assume that all Christians have been brainwashed.

 

"Never even implied that was the case." ~rjn

 

My apology, I know you didn't. I worded the sentence wrong.

 

No biggie, we're cool. The only reason I even used Christianity as an example was because, well... this is ex-Christian after all

 

I could have used just about any example though: other religions, political fringe-groups and so on.

[disillusioned]

"Indoctrination" is just an old word for education.

We rarely use it today unless we are referring to teaching we disagree with.

I've been indoctrinated and I've been educated, and I can assure you that they are not the same thing. They are, in fact, basically opposites.

[Fweethawt]

brainwashing & mind control techniques -- http://www.phinnweb.org/neuro/brainwash/

[BarbarousBill]

There's brainwashing... then there's brain washing.... I like brain washing with Lucretius, although I know a lot of folks on here probably get sudsy with Dawkins.