The Manipulated Mind: Brainwashing, Conditioning and Indoctrination

by Denise Winn

Book Overview

Ever since American prisoners of war in Korea suddenly switched sides to the communist cause, the concept of brainwashing has continued to fascinate and confuse. Is it really possible to force any thinking person to act in a way completely alien to his or her character? What makes so-called brainwashing so different from the equally insidious effects of indoctrination and conditioning, or even of advertising and education? Research findings from...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1883536227
• ISBN13: 9781883536220
• Release Date: June 2017
• Publisher: Malor Books
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book

Why would the average person not want to know about influences that alter her or his perception of others and the world surrounding them? An excellent source for those that wish to know more about themselves and society.

Revealing

Every year that goes by, I pat myself on the back for the little nuggets I am able to notice, about myself and the world around me. But, like the old saying goes, "until you focus on a subject it's not part of your world." "The Manipulated Mind" opens the flood gates of our fragile mind. Mine included. That's what happens when you live in your world. Reading this book is not for someone who does not have prior knowledge of how the mind works. The book covers so many areas that it will overwhelm the beginner. The book is an easy read if you can understand the topic. Each chapter is full of information and examples. Each chapter is unique and leads into the following chapter. This book will be read two or three times more just to absorb the information and the conclusions derived from it. It has tremendous application for every day use.

Man as a species is creative because `no man is an island'

This book is concerned with brainwashing. However instead of concentrating on the specifics of the techniques used, it presents and analyzes why brainwashing and other forms of conversion are possible. The book extensively quotes from Sargent's seminal studies reported in "Battle for the Mind". Sargent showed how brainwashing and conversion can be traced to a physiological strategy used by the brain to cope with stress. Sargent's insights into this are conclusive but he does to address the question of why this strategy was chosen by evolution and to what purposes it is used. Winn presents results from psychology to show the reasons why as she quotes ' man is a rationalizing animal.' Winn shows how man as a social animal is tuned to adapt to the reality as others find it. Man, as opposed to other animals, has the potential to learn from others and so gives great significance to the knowledge that he finds implicit in the behaviors of others. Winn's book is a distillation of the research of others. She presents Sargent's ideas but deepens them by putting them in a broader psychological and social perspective. She does not explicitly state this but her book presents the reasons why the capacity for conversion or brainwashing is evolutionarily advantageous. It is a trait that provides us with capacity to create society. Man as a species is creative because `no man is an island'. This is an excellent book that is well worth reading.

Outstanding! Rational and Clear - a must read about Media

A very clear and well written study of the various means that the media uses to manipulate and control the mass 'thinking' and behavior. I read the original hardcover (used) and now that there is an updated paperback I am ordering it. Very rational investigation by a media reporter, well cited and referenced and a pleasant eye-opening reading. Should be required reading for all poly sci, media, and psych majors.

Readable and Informative. This is not simply a text book.

An extremely engaging book. It is very well written for the layman and on a subject that should interest us all. Experts in psychology that have a genuine talent for writing are rare and I have no hesitation in recommending this book unreservedly. It takes as its theme, the 'brainwashing' of American soldiers in the korean war, but relates the 'techniques' to influences which operate on us all in our every day life to varying degrees, to influence our thoughts. An important, but also entertaining book. Two thumbs up! :)