BRAINWASHING+2

Brainwashing

=== “I offer images- I conjure memories of freedom that can still be reached- like the Doors, right? But we can only open the doors, we can't drag people through. I can't free them unless they want to be free. Maybe primitive people have less bullshit to let go of, to give up. A person has to be willing to give up everything- not just wealth. All the bullshit that he's been taught- all society's brainwashing. You have to let go of all that to get to the other side. Most people aren't willing to do that.” ===

- Jim Morrison of The Doors

 * What is it?:**

Brainwashing is an attempt to reform ones thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior. Methods for brainwashing can be divided up into three categories: **compliance,** **persuasion**, and **education**. **Compliance** aims to change a person’s behavior, but not his or her beliefs or attitude. It’s basically the “Just do it” method. **Persuasion** is the approach that attempts at convincing the other person to do something because of the outcomes. Persuasion in simple terms is “Do it because it will be good for you.” **Educational** brainwashing tries to socially influence the person, attempting to change the person’s beliefs. The education method can also be known as propaganda. Often times the **agent** (brainwasher) will use a combination of these techniques to make sure the **target** (brainwashee) conforms to a significant social change. (Layton)


 * Examples:**


 * The Communist Party of China used the phrase "xǐ nǎo" ("wash brain") as a method of getting citizens to conform to their Communist ideals. (Lustig 09)
 * Hitler used state-sponsored propaganda to brainwash citizens into thinking the Jews were responsible for the desolate state of Germany in the 1940's. (Lustig 09)
 * Not all brainwashing is used with malicious intent. Current President Barack Obama is using propaganda (brainwashing technique) with slogans like "Hope you can believe in" or "Change for America" to stimulate and inspire the American people. (Lustig 09)


 * Connection to Brave New World:**

The topic Brainwashing is a major theme in the novel //Brave New World // , where author Aldous Huxley, uses the empowering idea of brainwashing against vulnerable and unhappy people as a way to control their minds. This subject is also seen in real life, where media, advertising, and other propaganda try to manipulate people’s thoughts and actions by making them adopt different beliefs (Klemt 09).

This article from the New York Times discusses the history of brainwashing. This article from the Washington Post is about Lee Boyd Malvo's claims that he was brainwashed to commit the Beltway Sniper Attacks. This is an excerpt from the American Almanac about how the British used the media during times of war. This site raises question to the idea that brainwashing could be behind terrorism. This article explains how the idea of brainwashing started and techniques used to brainwash people, along with how it developed. This recent article shows how in our society today, the state could be trying to brainwash children in effort to go "green."
 * Links:**
 * **http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/weekinreview/06weiner.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=brainwashing&st=cse**
 * **http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=106&sid=904949b7-e013-461e-b606-c8e5d86c8eb8%40sessionmgr108&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=nfh&AN=WPT086163653103**
 * **http://american_almanac.tripod.com/warfare.htm**
 * [|Americans Target of Largest Media Brainwashing Campaign in History]
 * [|How Brainwashing Came to Life and Thrived]
 * [|State Brainwashing Children To “Re-Educate” Their Parents For Green Dictatorship]
 * [|Fox Admits To Planting Political Brainwashing In Popular TV Shows]


 * RSS Feeds:**

rss url="feed://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/p/propaganda/index.html?rss=1" link="true" number="10" date="true" author="true" enclosure="true"

rss url="http://globalnewsblog.com/wp/category/issues/media/propaganda/feed/" link="true" number="10" date="true" author="true" enclosure="true"


 * Media:**



This clip is about the cultural revolution of China from 1966-1976. It talks about how the Chinese government mass brainwashed the entire nation.

media type="file" key="The_Cultural_Revolution_of_China__1966_1976_.mov"


 * Questions to ponder:**
 * Can you name any specific instances throughout history that utilized brainwashing to achieve results?
 * Is there any defense against brainwashing?
 * Do you think there is brainwashing occurring in the world around you today?