Brainwashing: The science of thought control (Oxford Landmark Science) [4/23/2017] Kathleen Taylor

by Unknown Author

Paperback

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Reviews

[Stacy-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating exploration of how human thought can be manipulated through psychological and social pressures, from Cold War propaganda to modern-day cults and political rhetoric. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and history, Taylor explains the mechanisms of coercive persuasion such as isolation, repetition, fear, and ideological polarisation while also highlighting the brain’s plasticity that makes such influence possible. Her writing is accessible and thought-provoking, though some sections on neuroscience may feel dense and her practical solutions for resisting manipulation are limited. Nevertheless, the book is timely and relevant, offering a compelling reminder that brainwashing is not just an extreme phenomenon of dictatorships but a subtle and ongoing risk in everyday society, making it essential reading for anyone interested in psychology, politics, or the defence of free thought.

“Brainwashing is more ambitious, and more coercive, than simple persuasion, and unlike older cognates such as indoctrination, it has become closely associated with modern, mechanistic technology. It is a systematic processing of non-compliant human beings which, if successful, refashions their very identities.”