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41st out of 44 books
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Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control
The term 'brainwashing' was first recorded in 1950, but it is an expression of a much older concept: the forcible and full-scale alteration of a person's beliefs. Over the past 50 years the term has crept into popular culture, served as a topic for jokes, frightened the public in media headlines, and slandered innumerable people and institutions. It has also been the subje...more
Paperback, 324 pages
Published
July 27th 2006
by Oxford University Press
(first published 2004)
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I got this book hoping that it would provide me with scientific evidence that would help me develop a more informed opinion on the controversial issue of brainwashing. Unfortunately, Taylor points out that it is ethically impossible to conduct controlled brainwashing studies, so I did not find the specific evidence I was looking for. What the book does provide, however, is a detailed discussion of what science can tell us about how we come to believe what we do, and how influence attempts can ...more
This is possibly one of the most important books I've read in a long while. As someone trained in media studies and employed within an advertising-driven environment, I understand all too well how modern media manipulate people. Kathleen Taylor offers readers a basic breakdown with reference to further reading, examining not only the history of thought control, but also discusses the fact that we are continually bombarded with information seeking to change our minds.
I urge anyone wit...more
I urge anyone wit...more
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I found this book hard to read at first until I got used to the author's style and began to figure out her goals. (I skipped to the end of the book to read her conclusion.) Taylor stated in the beginning that she was examining the concept of brainwashing, but I did not understand what her definition of brainwashing was. She outlines many aspects of brainwashing: as a term of abuse, as a scientific process, as a dream, and as a concept of last resort, but does not obviously pick one definition be...more
Very thorough and intelligent book looking at the way cults, totalitarian regimes and even the media can bring us round to their way of thinking. Looks at the subject from all angles - from the violent spouse to the torture camp, from the narrow focus of most media to the milieu control of cult leaders. Explains how ethereal ideas such as "freedom" and "liberation" can be used to manipulate an individual, group or even entire populace into consensus.
Also has a fa...more
Also has a fa...more
If this book is a little hard to get into at first, persevere. The first half of the book is the author catching us up on all the foundations and history of brainwashing in order to then discuss with us the parts she finds most fascinating - the writing was much easier to get into in the second half. The section on "cogwebs" is where the book really begins to take off.
Or perhaps I was brainwashed into enjoying it by then.
Anyone with an interest in psychology, an...more
Or perhaps I was brainwashed into enjoying it by then.
Anyone with an interest in psychology, an...more
This book was primarily for research purposes only. It was some insightful information concerning the brain, emotions, and cogwebs--how they react to coercive tortures and other behaviors. However, I did not see how to regroup or cope after "brainwashing" even though it also started off with the historical places, reasoning, and motives for "brainwashing" during World War II.
3 words: Waste of time.
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