In the persuasion-filter, brainwashing is not a cinematic trope involving secret laboratories; it is the systematic application of persuasion techniques—usually through repetition, social proof, and fear—to rewrite an individual’s perception of reality. Scott Adams describes it as a state where a person’s “mental operating system” has been hijacked by a specific narrative, often to the point where they cannot distinguish between the programming and objective truth.
The Nature of Modern Brainwashing
Adams notes that “it’s mind-boggling how brainwashed” people can become through media saturation and institutional influence. A hallmark of this state is the inability to recognize the influence while under it. As Adams recounts from his own experiences with media narratives, a person can be “legitimately brainwashed into thinking there was something they needed to fix” as a matter of duty or patriotism, only to realize later that the premise was entirely manufactured.
When brainwashing is successful, the subject views their conclusions as “completely reasonable.” This makes it “stark” when viewed from the outside, but invisible from the inside. Historical examples, such as the young men who thought joining the army for World War I would be “fun and easy,” demonstrate how institutions can override basic survival instincts using consistent, high-level persuasion.
Positive Brainwashing
Contrary to the purely negative connotation, Adams argues that “there are forms of persuasion/brainwashing that are totally positive.” This involves intentional self-programming. If an individual recognizes that their brain is a “moist computer,” they can choose to “brainwash” themselves into a more effective state. By curated exposure to specific ideas and goals, you can “change your brain into a more effective creature.”
Indicators of Brainwashing
- Logical Gaps: The subject will defend a position even when “nobody has ever made that claim” or when the logic “doesn’t make sense” to a detached observer.
- Narrative Consistency: The subject ignores all data points that fall outside their programmed narratives.
- Certainty: A total lack of doubt regarding complex, multi-variable issues.