Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media

by Joel E. Dimsdale

A "highly readable and compelling" account ( Science ) of brainwashing’s pervasive role in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries

“Riveting. . . . Dimsdale . . . shows how the art of dark persuasion a generation ago led almost inevitably to today’s misinformation, cyberbullying and cultlike behavior on the Internet.”—Dina Temple-Raston, Washington Post
 
This gripping book traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and religious conversion into the age of neuroscience and social media. When Pavlov introduced scientific approaches, his research was enthusiastically supported by Lenin and Stalin, setting the stage for major breakthroughs in tools for social, political, and religious control.  
 
Tracing these developments through many of the past century’s major conflagrations, Dimsdale narrates how when World War II erupted, governments secretly raced to develop drugs for interrogation. Brainwashing returned to the spotlight during the Cold War in the hands of the North Koreans and Chinese. In response, a huge Manhattan Project of the Mind was established to study memory obliteration, indoctrination during sleep, and hallucinogens. Cults used the techniques as well. Nobel laureates, university academics, intelligence operatives, criminals, and clerics all populate this shattering and dark story—one that hasn’t yet ended.

Genres: Psychology, History, Nonfiction, Science, Politics, Audiobook, Crime

304 pages, Hardcover

Published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

As recounted by one of Pavlov’s colleagues, Lenin described the challenges of building the new world of Communism and asked Pavlov’s advice. How could he control individualism and shape human behavior so that it would conform to Communist thinking?
Pavlov: “Do you mean that you would like to standardize the population of Russia? Make them all behave in the same way ?”
Lenin: “Exactly. . . . That’s what I want . . . and you must help us . . . by your studies of human behavior.”

A good concise overview of what brainwashing and mind control is or could be. Dimsdale takes the reader on a flight through mind control history, so we get things like Pavlov, Stalinist show trials, the Stockholm Syndrome, the Jonestown massacre, MKUltra, all kinds of mental torture, etc. Only problem with all of this is that it is really only an overview, there is not a lot of depth to be found here.

3.5 stars

(Thanks to Yale University Press for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Persuasion is a fascinating and comprehensive exploration of brainwashing and how its methodology has evolved over centuries to become what it is today. Brainwashing crept into the twentieth century insidiously, hiding from view in the dog labs of St. Petersburg. By the end of the century, the world was obsessed with it. It promised to make the new man, but it also provided harsh tools for interrogation. Government-sponsored researchers around the world raced to develop techniques to enhance persuasion and also to defend against it, while cult leaders employed it as a tool for indoctrinating followers. This book traces the evolution of brainwashing in the 20th century. With its beginnings in torture and religious conversion, coercive persuasion was transformed when Pavlov introduced scientific approaches. His research was enthusiastically supported by Lenin and Stalin, and many believe Pavlov’s techniques helped elicit confessions during the Soviet Show Trials. When World War II erupted, governments raced to develop drugs for interrogation, but this work on coercive persuasion was hidden from public view. Brainwashing returned to the spotlight during the Cold War in the hands of the North Koreans and Chinese.

In response, a huge Manhattan Project of the Mind was established to study memory obliteration, indoctrination during sleep and hallucinogens. But it wasn’t just governmental agencies that were interested in dark persuasion: cults used the techniques as well. The outcomes, whether at the hands of governments or cult leaders, were all-too-often shatteringly destructive. History is shaped by individuals acting in the context of vast impersonal forces. Who were the people who moulded brainwashing? What did they think they were doing? What were their motivations? And how will social media and neuroscience research determine the evolution of brainwashing in the 21st century? A captivating, well written and illuminating read from beginning to end, Dimsdale, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, has crafted a provocative, informative and timely guide to how our mind has and is currently being manipulated and influenced, often without our knowledge. It's frightening, eye-opening and intensely thought-provoking and an engaging learning experience regarding the use of coercive persuasion to shape both human thinking and behaviour. Highly recommended.

[Fredrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good enough book as a general introduction to the topic. I do however find it didn't quite live up to what I hoped.

This book goes through a lot of different examples and stories about "mind control" and "brainwashing". It tells us about how the terms came into being, what they were used for and what the big scares were.
It tells us about Stockholm Syndrom and how it got its name, The Peoples Temple, and what happened at Jones Town and CIA and Chinese plots to control our minds.
These are all interesting, and there were a lot I did not know.

This book works, kind of, like a history book for the topic of brainwashing, but I found that it wasn't enough for me. I wanted to know more of the mechanics behind it. I wanted the story to focus more on "how", instead of "when", "whom" and "what".
There are also more stories that could have been dragged into this, that might have shed light from different angles, from stories that aren't as wildly known.
I had also hoped for more examples of modern day use. Examples of how modern media, especially social media, can impact us and how to avoid it.

Still worth the read if you do not know about any of the event described in this book.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note that this book focuses very largely on times that people were said to be brainwashed, rather than how people are actually- or thought to be- brainwashed. This left me quite disappointed, as I was waiting forever for the book to get to that point, but it never came. Even the modern examples feel pointless without such explanation.

I’m largely interested in how brainwashing occurs in school and from media, which I thought would be a massive topic in this book as it’s been known to happen all over the world for a very long time, but the book doesn’t go into that. It mentions stockholm syndrome, although not very deeply, which was quite interesting. Most examples are to do with the military and how people were “brainwashed” by the enemy to switch sides or to share top secrets, however the book, for example, doesn’t talk about how the people may have been brainwashed already by their initial side, and the “enemy” was actually undoing such brainwashing. This may not be what happened, but i’m sure it’s something worth thinking about.

[Tala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough and insightful look at the history of brainwashing and how it evolves with us. There are systematic issues in place where cults are given space to thrive. Cult-ish behavior is both abhorred and promoted by media corporations only thinking about the single dollar. And with monopoly laws ceasing to exist and less than 5 media corporations owning all of the news in the country, it doesn't feel like cults are going away anytime soon. As long as we continue to prioritize capitalistic endeavors over the individual they will continue to thrive and evolve along with society.


**received an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[rei ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ- · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most rigid book to know the history of brainwashing. from ww ii, many cold wars (fighting against beliefs and/ also teritory), and into the modern world. how brainwashing coming from torture (using a lot of physical torture and drugs/serum) which is caused trauma disintegration that pavlov studied in some researches. brainwashing representing a threat along the years and developed into some easier way, which is social media. recalling how governments and scientists seize upon pharmaceutical developments in obstetrics and use those drugs into interrogation, and finding the after-effect eventually. this is almost the time to take more concern about persuasion—brainwashing that's coming from the development of technology into social life. i love this book that this giving us more and more examples for brainwashing through social media.

[Patricia Roberts-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A painful, but good read. I wish the last chapter on social media were longer, but that's only because I want him to slam his point home.

[Rohit Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

As history this book is good in tracing how brainwashing evolved in the modern world.

It got some things entirely wrong. But it's not the fault of the writer. What he got wrong seems like the cultural defect of the west. He mentioned its irrational that people believe their political leaders were engaged in child trafficking. And then we have Epstein. This book is written in 2021, Epstein's federal prosecution began in 2019

He gave the example of sati, how widows used to kill themselves in India because after their husband died they felt they didn't have any social role. This is just so wrong that it's fiction. Sati was never a practice adopted by the general population. There is a book by minakshi Jain that explains it very well.

The most hilarious part was when he was talking about Korea, china, Russia, he was full of value judgement and called it dark and what not but when it came to the USA it was all just science when they drugged their own citizens without their consent. They killed one or their own scientists who they thought was a security risk.

He himself mentioned all this probably started with inquisition and all that Christian barbarism days. But then Pavlov is mentioned everywhere like it all originated with him.

It's so ironic, that the writer, writing about brainwashing is brainwashed himself and doesn't even know it.

My favourite part is how people in the west just assumed Chinese and Russians must have done some brainwashing through some high tech stuff to convert their soldiers. And make them say bad things about the west. Maybe the Chinese and Russians did that. But it's not really hard to see that no brainwashing is needed, anyone who would just read the history of the UK and USA would say bad shit about the place. And Chinese and Russians know that history the best. Chinese knew that Americans were imperialists even in the 1960s, that's impressive. Their sense of things is definitely better than others.
They knew that about india too. They knew India is a stooge of the west that's why they considered India as an enemy and Indians took 70 years to see that. What Indians didn't know themselves about india, Chinese knew.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, there was Pavlov who learnt how to condition dogs. Then he discovered that under extreme stress, dogs lose all their learnt behaviour. Stalin famously supported Pavlov and his research. Stalin managed to get confessions of people whom he purged about crimes that they didn’t commit. Thus the start of the term brain washing. It invokes:
1. Food and sleep deprivation
2. Sensory isolation
3. Unpredictable interrogation behaviour
4. Promise of release should prisoners confess
5. Shooting them

During the Korean War, American POWs who went into Chinese camps were bombarded with propaganda and some 40 of them chose not to go back home. The Chinese had added an additional technique: peer group pressure. The prisoners were forced to criticise each other.

The CIA got intrigued and then started MK-ULTRA, a notorious program where unsuspecting individuals have their food/drinks spiked to see what the effects of drugs are. Those ‘research’ were done by the most prestigious psychiatrists at that time. Scopolamine, barbiturates and LSD, amongst others were tested to see whether they can become the ‘truth serum’. None of them were useful in that regard. One scientist developed mental instability and jumped to his death after his drinks was spiked with LSD. So though Jason Bourne was fictional, what the CIA was capable of, was not.

5 stars!

[BenAbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book explores the history of brainwashing, though the author and experts in the field prefer terms like thought reform, dark persuasion, or coercive persuasion. The narrative traces its origins from medieval dungeons and the Church to its more systematic development in the 20th century, particularly with the work of Pavlov. His research on behavioral conditioning demonstrated that an individual's behavior could be modified through reward and punishment, which became highly relevant to authoritarian regimes.

The Soviet Union built upon Pavlov’s findings, especially Stalin’s show trials, where intense psychological pressure, disorientation, and forced self-incrimination led prisoners to confess to fabricated crimes. The Chinese Communist Party later adapted these methods, but unlike the Soviets—who used confessions to justify purges—the Chinese aimed to convert prisoners rather than eliminate them. They also introduced social pressure as a key element, encouraging prisoners to criticize and police each other, making the process even more effective.

The book then moves to the Korean War, where the unexpected phenomenon of American POWs refusing repatriation shocked the U.S. government. This led to panic and speculation that the Chinese had developed an advanced brainwashing technique, more powerful than Soviet methods. In response, the U.S. launched MKUltra, a secret program designed to understand, resist, and potentially weaponize coercive persuasion. The government sought to ensure that American soldiers would not be turned against their country and, at the same time, explore ways to manipulate enemy minds.

However, MKUltra was a disaster. The experiments, which involved LSD, electroshock therapy, sleep deprivation, and other extreme methods, were conducted on unwitting subjects, leading to severe psychological damage. The Montreal Experiments in Canada, led by Ewen Cameron, were particularly infamous—patients were kept sedated, subjected to electroconvulsive therapy, insulin shock treatment, and forced to listen to repeated audio messages while in a sensory deprivation state. Instead of reprogramming minds, the process obliterated memories and caused long-term trauma.

The book then explores how coercive persuasion evolved beyond political regimes into other areas by the 1970s. This includes the Stockholm Syndrome phenomenon, where hostages began to identify with their captors and turn against their rescuers. It also examines the rise of cult indoctrination, most notably with Jonestown and other extremist movements, where leaders used isolation, manipulation, and psychological control to maintain dominance over their followers.

In the final chapters, the author reflects on modern and future forms of coercive persuasion, particularly neuroscience and social media. He warns that while physical coercion may have declined, new technologies have created more subtle but equally powerful methods of influencing thought and behavior.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing, Joel E. Dimsdale offers an intriguing overview of brainwashing, tracing its evolution from early psychological experiments to modern-day applications. The book explores various historical examples, from wartime propaganda to cult indoctrination, showcasing the insidious ways in which individuals and groups manipulate human thought and behaviour.

Dimsdale's narrative is compelling, providing a fascinating look into the psychological and sociopolitical contexts that have shaped brainwashing techniques. His storytelling shines as he recounts chilling case studies, immersing readers in the dark world of mind control. However, the book falls short in its exploration of the scientific concepts underpinning these practices.

Readers seeking a deeper understanding of the neurological and psychological mechanisms involved in brainwashing may find the book lacking in detailed scientific analysis. Dimsdale touches on key theories but often prioritises narrative over a comprehensive exploration of the science, leaving some complex questions unanswered.

Despite this, Dark Persuasion remains an enlightening read for those interested in the history and societal impact of brainwashing. It serves as a cautionary tale about the power of persuasion and the vulnerability of the human mind. While it may leave scientifically inclined readers yearning for more depth, it is a valuable starting point for anyone curious about the intersection of psychology, history, and ethics in coercive persuasion.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was written was written well, but the focus was the opposite of what would have interested me with respect to this topic. It came across too much like torture porn - detailed accounts of extreme examples of eccentric, powerful people doing some of the worst things to human beings. It was an assemblage of a handful of stories that seemed chosen to capitalize on modern lust for true-crime and serial killer documentaries. At the same time, felt out of touch in its rehashing of war stories and bygone media sensations. The coverage of the twenty-first century seemed to be a few cursory examples tacked onto the end to justify the title and attempt to give it modern relevance. While good for pop historical trivia, the book did not satisfy my interest in deeper learning on the subject.

I would have preferred a deep dive into the science of manipulation with a lot more nuanced coverage of the psychological effects on individuals with majority focus on relevance to the modern world. I was hoping to see content on, for some examples, the psychological nitty gritty of identity, gaslighting, and surreptitious manipulation under capitalism. Perhaps this is not a fair basis on which to judge a self-described history book, but I hope it captures how unpleasant and underwhelming a reading experience I had relative to what I expected or hoped for going into the book.

[Connor Rolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book that is a great introduction to Government programmes, as well as the affects of cults on a general populace. What falls short, is Dimsdale's reiteration of the same concern at the end of each chapter -- on whether it was truly "Brain washing".

This felt like a book that should have been longer, with more examples, and overall more detail. The information regarding Government programmes, MKUltra, etc -- is amazing, and has good detail, and read like it was the author's main interest. But regarding cults, it definitely needed more overall detail.

The tagline "From Pavlov to Social Media" is a bit disingenuous, as Dimsdale doesn't really go into much detail about the affects, and how Social Media has been used as a tool for "Brain washing", and more just hinted at the potentials of it. With a few more years, I imagine he would have more to say, but I do think it wasn't necessary to have the social media chapter, and instead focused more on the historical side.

I do think the book is a good read overall, and certainly a book to be read, but I simply expected more from what it described itself as.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've understood for a few years that all of humankind is subject to being conned. It has happened to me. I spent 12 years in a fundamentalist Christian cult. That's not the only time I've been deceived and taken advantage of.

Dimsdale makes a solid case for being watchful... and that's not all. Humankind is ALL about stories. To discern which are worth embracing takes skills. Critical thinking skills certainly, also including but not necessarily limited to emotional intelligence.

In his afterword, Dimsdale says,
I know brainwashing is an outlandish term, but we are stuck with it. I also know that for one hundred years we have been scaring ourselves silly with the idea in countless novels and movies, but that doesn't mean the danger isn't real. [...]

George Orwell soberly observed, "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever." If we ignore the potential developments of brainwashing in the twenty-first century, we will be defenseless against it, and Orwell will have been right.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be dividing this review in two parts: one for narration, the second for the content, and then review the audiobook as a whole.
1. I loved the narration and the calm, even tone the narrator possessed. I would listen to this narrator read the phone book or a dictionary.
2. The content is interesting and written in a manner that translates as being matter of fact when narrated.
Unfortunately, the combination with the cadence of the narration and style of writing made for a book that I enjoyed thoroughly because it helped me fall asleep. I could not seem to stay awake though the topic is one I am interested in-this one might be better to consume via ebook or paper. I rated it three stars because both content and narration were good, but the combination made for a book that I struggled to consume.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are mine alone.

[Wan Shoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dark Persuasion" masterfully unveils the complex world of psychological manipulation, combining in-depth research with a compelling narrative. It explores the significant impact of isolation and sensory deprivation on human psychology, emphasizing the importance of social connections. The book stands out for its insightful analysis and relevance in today's digital age, where misinformation is rampant. However, it could further enrich its offering by discussing strategies to recognize and resist manipulative tactics.

This engaging read serves as a poignant reminder of the subtle yet pervasive nature of brainwashing, urging readers to navigate the digital world more consciously. "Dark Persuasion" is a must-read for those interested in the intricacies of psychological influence and its effects on society.

[Carolyn Amate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy of Dark Persuasion by Joel Dimsdale in exchange for my honest review.
DarkPersuasion #NetGalley.
Dark Persuasion is a history of how brainwashing has been used in society from the beginning when Pavlov started using Manipulation of the mind to today in the media. If you love history, sociology or psychology then this book is for you.
Dimsdale gives a great historical account of how brainwashing was first used and used again in the cold War and ww2.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in this subject as he has done his research well.
4 stars.

[Teardra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was enthralling from beginning to end. Every now and again I'll come across a book that causes a dilemma in my mind: should I go to sleep because I have to work in the morning or should I stay awake and read this book. The latter option won in this instance.

I have read about cults and brain washing and "group think" for years. This book artfully brings it all together (and then some) and culminates in addressing a question I ponder often--can social media brain wash someone?

Although only a small portion of the book is dedicated to that element, the entire content was fascinating and poses many questions that made me pause and ponder.

[Atty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super interesting! The concept of brainwashing just sounds so silly to me. But after reading Dark Persuasion I can see how it’s actually very valid and dangerous. It was interesting to see the progression of the use of manipulation, from being used in the war and now in media. It really made me think.

I recommend this book to anyone that is curious about brainwashing and how it has been used throughout history.
(My rating 2.5)


Thank You to Joel E. Dimsdale for the digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

[Delson Roche · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fascinating read that uses some well known incidents in history to explain how brain washing has evolved over time.
Among all, I personally found the various means that religion uses to make and hold into it's flock it's followers very enlightening.
Most of the tricks have been used for centuries and people still fall for it.

The final chapters are a great read and very informative- both to stay alert to modern day brainwashing and also in picking up patters as many leaders use time tested methods to hoodwink their followers.

Great read.

[Melina Xia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly thought this would be more of an explanation behind the phenomenon of why people are so susceptible to being brainwashed and convinced to make drastic changes, but as the title suggests, it reads more like a timeline or history. That's my bad. But still quite interesting. I wish there were more of a focus on more recent history though, as much of the book focuses on Pavlovian techniques.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Not something I'd normally pick up but it caught my eye and it was really good. For writers of fiction this was something I'd think you may want to pick up to help with a variety of possible plot threads.

There wasn't as much focus on social media as I thought there would be and there was more of a focus on the military and espionage side of it than I at first thought there would be.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good (well-referenced) history of brainwashing from many perspectives. Mostly, it's use in wartime but also in many psychopathy circumstances. I forgot (as child/teen/young-adult) just how many whack-a-doodles made the news convincing one or more people to die for their(leaders) beliefs... it did seem to happen more frequently than today (cults) but that probably because the Democrats may have found how to ID and corral these types for their "cause".

[Linda Is on her way · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was meh.
It took a third of the book for me to really get into it and concentrate on it. Then it was pretty much about how much humans suck, I knew that already. And then a couple examples which I knew a few already, the Jones town situation and so on. I think the topic just isn't for me , cause it just makes me angry/disappointed

[Daniel DeLappe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book on brainwashing. Nice history. Good examples. Good writing and pace. I do have one problem with the conclusion on Behaviorism. Brainwashing is all S and R training. So it’s all behaviorism. Very with while read.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so this book is a good overview but don’t expect a deep dive into methodologies etc. This book was well written but it was nothing I didn’t already know from a variety of sources. That said the chilling pursuit of mind control from various governments and religious organisations are terrifying.

[Khadija]

I just find it very interesting that the blurb would allude to the brainwashing practices of North Korea and china and not say oh a three letter agency in the USA or any of their infamous experiments. Some of the reviews have also noted similar biases. Ahistorical even perhaps.

[Chris M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book is okay. It provides a narrative description about different cults and propaganda machines, which was interesting to learn more about. I would have liked to see more content about social media.

[Jill Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting and eye opening book about the history of brainwashing. The book really makes you think about what is going on in the news and media today. I listened to the audio book.

[Reid Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately it’s rather plodding and misses a tremendous opportunity to focus on modern applicability. More of a history book than a practical informative.