Brainwashing Techniques

Brainwashing is a technique used in the reformation or alteration of an individual's thought process and beliefs. The motive or purpose behind brainwashing a person is mostly evil or antisocial. The person who brainwashes someone generally resorts to harassing the victim, both physically and mentally.

Robert Jay Lifton, a psychiatrist from the United States, studied brainwashing techniques implemented in Chinese war camps. These techniques were used to brainwash American prisoners of war (POWs). According to him, the process of brainwashing involves various techniques, grouped under the following steps.

Breaking the Self-belief: This is the first step of brainwashing. It involves breaking down a person's morale and the present beliefs, by means of physical and mental torture. The techniques used in the process are enlisted below.

• Attack on the Identity: In this technique, the identity of the person to be brainwashed is attacked. It creates a dent on the self-esteem of the person. The process may continue from a few days to several months, till the person becomes exhausted, disoriented and loses control over his mind.
• Guilt: The victim is constantly humiliated, so that he feels guilty about simple mistakes and the beliefs he holds. Eventually, a sense of shame develops in the victim and he begins to lose confidence.
• Self-betrayal: In this technique, the victim is coerced to give up or denounce his beliefs and also the social system he comes from. It creates a kind of an identity crisis in the mind of the victim.
• Nervous Breakdown: The victim who is already completely exhausted and disoriented, may suffer from a nervous breakdown. He becomes prone to several psychological disorders.

Possibility of Salvation: In this stage, the person who brainwashes the victim, doesn't need to torture the victim or use coercive techniques. He uses the following methods to bring the victim under his control.

• Leniency: After bearing the harassment for a long time, the victim is shattered, both physically and mentally. At this point of time, the person or agent carrying out the brainwashing shows some leniency towards him. It comes as a pleasant shock to the victim.
• Confession: The leniency shown by the agent comes as a relief for the victim. He may express his gratitude for the kind treatment offered by the agent. At this point time, an option of confessing the past mistakes is offered to the victim.
• Channelizing and Releasing the Guilt: The entire process creates a void in the mind of the victim. Now comes the time for the agent to fill this void. At this crucial juncture, he has every opportunity to manipulate or control the victim's mind. All the past sufferings of the victim are attributed to the 'wrong' belief system that he followed in the past. Now, the victim gets the 'freedom' to blame his past and not himself for the agony he underwent. It frees him from the blemishes of the past.

Rebuilding a New Belief System: In this stage, the agent treats the victim in a friendly manner. He persuades the victim to choose a completely new belief system. There is no need to force or compel the victim, since he is already on the path towards believing a new concept. The agent just gives him a mental 'push'. The victim starts thinking about the new principles and fundamentals consciously. The fact that he is treated well, attracts the victim towards the new thoughts and 'teachings'. After the victim is under the total control of the agent, a ritual is conducted to 'stamp' the new belief system on his mind. This, kind of binds the victim and forces him to remain loyal to the new world he has entered. It can be termed as a 'rebirth' and a new beginning in the life of the victim.

Brainwashing techniques are harmful for those who are at the receiving end. The process of brainwashing is mostly carried out in prisons, war camps, etc. These techniques have not been studied extensively till date, as they induce harmful effects on the target. Brainwashing is a destructive technique and can reduce a healthy, happy person to a mere puppet and in some cases, also prove fatal.