To believe anything so strongly that you're unwilling to hear any opinion that contradicts it. You believe and have complete faith in something because that's what you were told to believe.
by Blue shirt guy July 21, 2022
Get the Brain washed mug.(adj.; n. brainwashing)
Coerced or manipulated by any number of social, intellectual, and psycho-emotional methods, to do or accept things you wouldn't have otherwise. It is often an extension of common, everyday persuasion, but goes beyond it to control the way a person thinks and responds in general to limit critical thinking itself, not simply selling a single idea or decision based on presenting information and choice.
The goal of brainwashing is the internalization of the (unrealized or unrecognized) abusive control to where you believe and feel it necessary to enforce someone else's will as your own, unaware of your lack of free will, and usually with an illusion of stronger free will.
It goes beyond Stockholm Syndrome by having fear or doubt with regards to criticism about the authority (person, group and/or system of belief). Rationalizations are given to you to explain away anything contradictory.
The common use of the term implies a blind spot where you cannot see an opposing point of view because of some control or conditioning. Contradictory facts cannot be processed (mental scotomization), or are warped to fit into a form that no longer contradicts (cognitive dissonance).
Unlike simple indoctrination into many religions or philosophies, brainwashing goes beyond education to include reasons and/or phobias why questioning or turning away from it is wrong and people who do not agree are deceived, evil, or just wrong. Some religious and other groups cross the line; many do not.
People can brainwash themselves by being closed-minded, but can be brainwashed intentionally or unintentionally in any abusive relationship, such as a totally dominating partner, parent, or even a company or organization.
This is the primary common use of the word to describe the control process of a cult. However, brainwashing takes diverse forms in terms of tools and degrees of different kinds of control, so saying a group doesn't do brainwashing because of dissimilarities with another group (dressing all the same, or chanting for hours, for example) is invalid -- and a typical defense by people in a cult.
In fact, brainwashing can mean closing the mind when it comes to specific things and not others. Some cults disguise their control by encouraging you to believe anything you want, including staying in your current religion, so long as it does not interfere and you do not question and commit to the group's agenda.
The problem is that the word can be meant or taken as an insult instead of a particular psychological phenomenon. It may be an excuse to explain why someone cannot see your own point of view. Therefore, people who are brainwashed are likely to accuse others and even the whole surrounding society of being brainwashed.
Brainwashing is also a term that cults use to attack religions in general (many of which may have cult characteristics in varying degrees as a natural development tendency of any social group), or religions that are different in basic dogma from their own. Some anti-cult organizations have a cultic mentality themselves and therefore have made it difficult for other groups to advocate and educate about the real psychopathology of brainwashing. In other words, people fall back on the archaic denotation of the word "cult" as "religious sect" and associate brainwashing in terms of belief and not manipulation and control, or blur the distinction between brainwashing and educative indoctrination.
In the end things get really sticky, as modern cults have perfected various techniques and tactics, the most ironic of which is to play the role of an organization promoting free will and fighting against what they conveniently define as brainwashing to not include their own mind control. A common variation of this tactic is declaring the term brainwashing meaningless or even an offensive form of bigotry against religious freedom -- the ultimate and "politically correct" way to silence critics by putting themselves in the role of victim instead of the society they are themselves victimizing.
Coerced or manipulated by any number of social, intellectual, and psycho-emotional methods, to do or accept things you wouldn't have otherwise. It is often an extension of common, everyday persuasion, but goes beyond it to control the way a person thinks and responds in general to limit critical thinking itself, not simply selling a single idea or decision based on presenting information and choice.
The goal of brainwashing is the internalization of the (unrealized or unrecognized) abusive control to where you believe and feel it necessary to enforce someone else's will as your own, unaware of your lack of free will, and usually with an illusion of stronger free will.
It goes beyond Stockholm Syndrome by having fear or doubt with regards to criticism about the authority (person, group and/or system of belief). Rationalizations are given to you to explain away anything contradictory.
The common use of the term implies a blind spot where you cannot see an opposing point of view because of some control or conditioning. Contradictory facts cannot be processed (mental scotomization), or are warped to fit into a form that no longer contradicts (cognitive dissonance).
Unlike simple indoctrination into many religions or philosophies, brainwashing goes beyond education to include reasons and/or phobias why questioning or turning away from it is wrong and people who do not agree are deceived, evil, or just wrong. Some religious and other groups cross the line; many do not.
People can brainwash themselves by being closed-minded, but can be brainwashed intentionally or unintentionally in any abusive relationship, such as a totally dominating partner, parent, or even a company or organization.
This is the primary common use of the word to describe the control process of a cult. However, brainwashing takes diverse forms in terms of tools and degrees of different kinds of control, so saying a group doesn't do brainwashing because of dissimilarities with another group (dressing all the same, or chanting for hours, for example) is invalid -- and a typical defense by people in a cult.
In fact, brainwashing can mean closing the mind when it comes to specific things and not others. Some cults disguise their control by encouraging you to believe anything you want, including staying in your current religion, so long as it does not interfere and you do not question and commit to the group's agenda.
The problem is that the word can be meant or taken as an insult instead of a particular psychological phenomenon. It may be an excuse to explain why someone cannot see your own point of view. Therefore, people who are brainwashed are likely to accuse others and even the whole surrounding society of being brainwashed.
Brainwashing is also a term that cults use to attack religions in general (many of which may have cult characteristics in varying degrees as a natural development tendency of any social group), or religions that are different in basic dogma from their own. Some anti-cult organizations have a cultic mentality themselves and therefore have made it difficult for other groups to advocate and educate about the real psychopathology of brainwashing. In other words, people fall back on the archaic denotation of the word "cult" as "religious sect" and associate brainwashing in terms of belief and not manipulation and control, or blur the distinction between brainwashing and educative indoctrination.
In the end things get really sticky, as modern cults have perfected various techniques and tactics, the most ironic of which is to play the role of an organization promoting free will and fighting against what they conveniently define as brainwashing to not include their own mind control. A common variation of this tactic is declaring the term brainwashing meaningless or even an offensive form of bigotry against religious freedom -- the ultimate and "politically correct" way to silence critics by putting themselves in the role of victim instead of the society they are themselves victimizing.
How can you defend him after the way he controls your life? You must be brainwashed.
You must be pretty brainwashed to take out a second mortgage to attend those "self-help" courses.
You only talk about the group you belong to and stopped doing the things you love and spending time with your friends. I know you seem very happy, but we're concerned that you might be brainwashed. Me miss the you that we know.
If you knew you were brainwashed, you wouldn't have been brainwashed very well, right? Trust those who care about you that something is wrong.
I'm not brainwashed! You just don't know the group like I do! They are the most loving, sane, spiritual people I will ever meet and all they want is to save the world! We know things that humanity will only some day understand like we do.
You're the ones who are brainwashed, so I'm not allowed to talk to you anymore because you are interfering with my life progress! ... I mean it's MY choice and it's for my own good since you wont support me in this. Besides, I have to get ready for a mandatory cool aid party next week when the comet comes by. Have any clean pruning shears and a band-aid?
You must be pretty brainwashed to take out a second mortgage to attend those "self-help" courses.
You only talk about the group you belong to and stopped doing the things you love and spending time with your friends. I know you seem very happy, but we're concerned that you might be brainwashed. Me miss the you that we know.
If you knew you were brainwashed, you wouldn't have been brainwashed very well, right? Trust those who care about you that something is wrong.
I'm not brainwashed! You just don't know the group like I do! They are the most loving, sane, spiritual people I will ever meet and all they want is to save the world! We know things that humanity will only some day understand like we do.
You're the ones who are brainwashed, so I'm not allowed to talk to you anymore because you are interfering with my life progress! ... I mean it's MY choice and it's for my own good since you wont support me in this. Besides, I have to get ready for a mandatory cool aid party next week when the comet comes by. Have any clean pruning shears and a band-aid?
by Ken JP Stuczynski January 16, 2008
Get the brainwashed mug.Controlling a person mentally, they believe everything you tell them. Telling them things they like to hear or doing things they like.
by Kai Marie May 21, 2022
Get the Brainwashed mug.by may May 29, 2004
Get the brainwashed mug.“Bro you hear about that new brand Brainwashed Youth? I see their stickers everywhere”
“Yeah man, shit sucks ass. Such a rip off”
“Yeah man, shit sucks ass. Such a rip off”
by Disgustingbaby420 May 14, 2021
Get the Brainwashed Youth mug.The brainwashed ones are people who have fallen victim to the brainwashing techniques of the curlews.
Currently the only way of recognising a brainwashed one is by looking into their eyes. If you look at a brainwashed ones eyes, you will notices something unexplainable but definitely different to that of a person yet to fall victim
by Pchest&Mole Revolt May 5, 2004
Get the brainwashed ones mug.What everyoe is. You will never be "unbrainwashed". When you think you are doing something opposite and against the system you are brainwashed into believing that what you are doing is against it. So stop your bitching and get used to it.
"I what to spraypaint anarchy symbols on the wall 'cuz I hate the system."
"No you want to do it because yu brainwashed yourself into believing that. Retard."
"No you want to do it because yu brainwashed yourself into believing that. Retard."
by RPtheFP June 3, 2005
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