“Brainwashed” Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

[Arnox]

Wayyyy too often I'll see this argument, and it infuriates me as it's not just an inaccurate use of the term, but a wildly inaccurate use, and it's cringey. Real brainwashing entails using extreme (as in, almost or actually to the point of driving the victim insane or in a half-dead state) conditions in an attempt to force them to believe something. Most often seen used on POWs. And even in such extreme conditions, brainwashing is not guaranteed to work there either. So no, the kids who believe in anarchic communism aren't "brainwashed." The next-door neighbor who voted for Trump isn't "brainwashed." Seriously, everyone who uses that word wrong sounds like an idiot. Don't be an idiot.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

A cult member would say that..

I think brainwashing is used as a catch-all phrase for the many ways in which mental manipulation occurs, instead of arguing about which is which. Like "Abusive power and control, Behavior modification, Hypnosis, Indoctrination, Political abuse of psychiatry, Manipulation (psychology), Psychological warfare, Reality distortion field, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, Unethical human experimentation in the United States, Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education)" Not to mention Mass formation psychosis, media filter bubbles, politically incorrect, cancel culture, etc etc.

So, it's not wrong, just a matter of degree.

 

[Houseman]

I agree with Vendor.

Raise your hands if you know any of these POWs who were "actually brainwashed" according to Arnox's definition? See, nobody raised their hand.

What you're talking about is, for all practical purposes, a fantasy, like people suddenly bursting into flames, or "being trans". The number of known individuals alive today that have been properly brainwashed is probably fewer than a hundred. It's not worth nitpicking about and it's not worth anyone changing their language. It doesn't "devalue" the word and take away from "real victims" because there are too few "real victims" to matter.

 

[Arnox]

A cult member would say that..

I think brainwashing is used as a catch-all phrase for the many ways in which mental manipulation occurs, instead of arguing about which is which. Like "Abusive power and control, Behavior modification, Hypnosis, Indoctrination, Political abuse of psychiatry, Manipulation (psychology), Psychological warfare, Reality distortion field, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, Unethical human experimentation in the United States, Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education)" Not to mention Mass formation psychosis, media filter bubbles, politically incorrect, cancel culture, etc etc.

So, it's not wrong, just a matter of degree.

But it's more often than not used to greatly exaggerate and demonize someone or a group. It's also used as a stupid excuse to not have a conversation with someone. Can the general use of the word indicate a wide variety of degrees? Sure. But is that how it's used commonly today? I don't think so.

 

[Signa]

I see it used more as a dismissal of someone's opinion more than anything else.

Most often, I see it come from cults, media, and algorithms. In every case, the information provided to a person is "cleaned and sanitized" before they are allowed to receive it, and therefore they get a singular view of the world and the people around them.

What your talking about, Arnox, is more of a mental breakdown and abuse. Manchurian candidate stuff. It has a lot more in common with hypnosis than cleaning the brain/information.

 

[Gauche]

I too reference dictionaries published by acclaimed institutes of knowledge when using words

Monkey read, monkey write

 

[gaijinkaiju]

Gotta agree with signa on this one, I think you're looking at it through too literal of a view.

Real brainwashing entails using extreme (as in, almost or actually to the point of driving the victim insane or in a half-dead state) conditions in an attempt to force them to believe something.

One could argue hypnotists are brainwashing people and they come out, maybe a little bit embarrassed, but otherwise perfectly fine.

Most often seen used on POWs.

Can't say i've ever seen or heard of that happening