There is no such thing as brainwashing.

[David Young]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don't know about brainwashing, but as for poisoning of the mind, I think that's a real phenomenon. Much of humanity seems to be suffering from a soul sickness, a disease of intolerance, rage, self pity and despair. Perhaps it's always been this way, perhaps it's the human condition, but exposure to social media seems to be playing it's part in spreading these poisons. Everyone seems so angry, and so eager to point the finger of blame, at anyone but themselves.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

"Brainwashing," as in completely altering someone's mind, I imagine could be possible through drugs and/or torture. Trauma clearly rewires the brain to change how it responds to stimuli.

I do think psychological techniques can be used to control a person's decisions. For instance, cults may target specific individuals seeking meaning and community using certain messaging. Or to sell a certain product, a company may produce ads with imagery that evokes particular feelings in a targeted group.

Behavioral psychology could be said to be a type of brainwashing, where postive and negative stimuli are used to train behavior.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

Convincing people to believe in the most insane and unbelievable things certainly takes a good amount of brainwashing.

Brainwashing exists. All throughout religious and political spectrums its prevalent for sure.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I don't know about brainwashing, but as for poisoning of the mind, I think that's a real phenomenon. Much of humanity seems to be suffering from a soul sickness, a disease of intolerance, rage, self pity and despair. Perhaps it's always been this way, perhaps it's the human condition, but exposure to social media seems to be playing it's part in spreading these poisons. Everyone seems so angry, and so eager to point the finger of blame, at anyone but themselves.

Yeah, I mean we even have some posters and that sometimes includes me, who think that to win an argument on this forum actually matters beyond the egos involved.
Ans some including me will spoil for a fight, because winning is what matters. Now as a grunt in the broad sense, I might have somewhat of an excuse because I was conditioned and in effect brainwashed to fight. But for the civilians, what is that about?
I mean for the final push against the last line of defense this is sometimes the enemy:

Spoiler: NSFW or similar

So yes, winning is not all that it is cranked up to be. Those 2 are humans like the rest of us.
Yet it is about winning.

 

[RestlessSoul]

"Brainwashing," as in completely altering someone's mind, I imagine could be possible through drugs and/or torture. Trauma clearly rewires the brain to change how it responds to stimuli.

I do think psychological techniques can be used to control a person's decisions. For instance, cults may target specific individuals seeking meaning and community using certain messaging. Or to sell a certain product, a company may produce ads with imagery that evokes particular feelings in a targeted group.

Behavioral psychology could be said to be a type of brainwashing, where postive and negative stimuli are used to train behavior.

There's no doubt that the advertising industry is brilliant at manipulating the psychological responses of it's target markets. And given that politics, advertising and show business are increasingly interchangeable, especially in the USA but also elsewhere, it doesn't stop with selling you a new diet.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

There's no doubt that the advertising industry is brilliant at manipulating the psychological responses of it's target markets. And given that politics, advertising and show business are increasingly interchangeable, especially in the USA but also elsewhere, it doesn't stop with selling you a new diet.

Well, in an absurd sense all culture is to a degree as how we conditioning each other to act a form of brainwashing. But off course not me and my "in-group". We are special.

 

[syo]

Brainwashing and poisoning are true.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Well, in an absurd sense all culture is to a degree as how we conditioning each other to act a form of brainwashing. But off course me and my "in-group". We are special.

Well yes, but a distinction has to be drawn I think, between peer group pressure, and pressure or deliberate manipulation from above. We all feel the need to belong to something, which often entails behaving in a way we think will win us approval from the group. But there are also those whose desire is to impose their will on the rest of the group, and bend it to their own purposes.

 

[Estro Felino]

Kant used to say it does not exist.
Because when je used to say Have the courage yo use your own intellect , he meant that man is capable of using thrir own free will to judge something.
It has nothing to do with knowledge.
Reason is something everyone has.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Kant used to say it does not exist.
Because when je used to say Have the courage yo use your own intellect , he meant that man is capable of using thrir own free will to judge something.
It has nothing to do with knowledge.
Reason is something everyone has.

No, not quite. It is never that simple.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

Do you not think that educating children as to some particular religious belief isn't such (brainwashing) - because it usually depends upon in which country they are born more than anything else. And this being something they are often taught before they have the capacity to dispute such. Some can think independently and resolve such later in life but many won't.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

It is likely not that simple a matter.

“Brainwashing” is/was a term including the concepts of unhealthy attachments and coercive behaviour; a psychologically complex combo that affects one’s thinking in significant ways.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

Okay, you are a none. So am I, so we both know how to check the word "God". So have you ever checked the word "reality" or don't you doubt that word?

 

[blü 2]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

If you don't wash your brain you'll have dirty thoughts. Or something like that.

But have no doubt that modern psychological torture is for real, and can cause great damage, just as physical torture can.

Whether torture actually works is a separate question.

 

[anna.]

Kant used to say it does not exist.
Because when je used to say Have the courage yo use your own intellect , he meant that man is capable of using thrir own free will to judge something.
It has nothing to do with knowledge.
Reason is something everyone has.

Emotions are something everyone has also, and emotion that's manipulated.

And Kant never knew the power of TV then internet.

 

[anna.]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

What led you to the conclusion it's a myth?

 

[Brickjectivity]

Brainwashing is a myth, along with 'poisoning of the mind'. The reality is that people simply have different levels of enthusiasm toward questioning different ideas.

Or is this not the case? Any thoughts?

Not through hypnotism but by making a person doubt the veracity of their own mind and ability to make moral choices you can brainwash them. They become beaten dogs questioning their own worth. A brainwashed person is a miserable being that doesn't trust itself.

This is how reeducation camps work. It also has to do with what Guitar's Cry said about behavioral psychology and stimuli. Beating may be involved in making a person doubt themselves. Guilt. Things like that.

 

[Sirona]

Kant used to say it does not exist.
Because when je used to say Have the courage yo use your own intellect , he meant that man is capable of using thrir own free will to judge something.
It has nothing to do with knowledge.
Reason is something everyone has.

Kant worshiped reason as a replacement for God during the "Age of Enlightenment". People went quickly past that, such as in the age of romanticism. In our age it has become obvious that people primarily respond to emotions. Some may rationalize their emotional responses afterwards.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Kant worshiped reason as a replacement for God during the "Age of Enlightenment". People went quickly past that, such as in the age of romanticism. In our age it has become obvious that people primarily respond to emotions. Some may rationalize their emotional responses afterwards.

Well, Kant was also a skeptic when it came to some aspects of reason, but yes, he also overdid reason some times.