People throw around the world ‘brainwashing’ a lot but I still don’t know what it means. Is it a ‘repeated truth’? Is it certain mind tricks? Is it some kind of chemical thing?
Disclaimer: not looking to brainwash anyone but there’s a cult in my area that apparently ‘brainwashes’ people
In: Biology
It should be noted that real brainwashing does not worth on anyone. It only works on certain types of people, who are, not coincidentally, the types of people that cults go after. Weak willed or vulnerable people generally. The majority of people can resist and it won’t work.
The basic process is to convince them that their way of thinking or live is wrong, then convince them that their only hope is to embrace whatever the brainwasher wants to teach them. It can involve torture, but doesn’t have to.
Stuff You Should know podcast did an episode breaking down the whole process, and another one on how cults recruit people that is also relevant.
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