The Brainwashing Controversy
From: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/cultsect/brainwashing.htm
Introduction
The concept "brainwashing" first came into public use
during the Korean War in the 1950s as an explanation for why a few
American GIs defected to the Communists. The two most authoritative
studies of the Korean War defections concluded that "brainwashing"
was an inappropriate concept to account for this renunciation of
U.S. citizenship.
When several new religions came into high profile during the youth
counter-culture of the 1960s and 70s the concept of "brainwashing"
was again employed as a culturally acceptable explanation to account
for the fact that some idealistic "flower children" came
under the influence of "cult" leaders.
A quarter-of-a-century of scholarly research on why people join
new religions has come to essentially the same conclusion as the
Korean War studies-"brainwashing" is not a viable concept
to describe the dynamics of affiliation with new religions. Defenders
of "brainwashing" have used other concepts like "mind
control" and "thought reform," but they have failed
to produce a scholarly literature to support their claims. Thus,
whatever euphemisms may be employed, the basic conclusion against
the brainwashing thesis is not altered.
Still, the mass media continues to report claims of "brainwashing"
as if the alleged phenomenon were real. And, as a result, the concept
of "brainwashing" sustains considerable currency in popular
culture. It is, to be sure, a powerful metaphor. "Brainwashing"
communicates disapproval of influence by persons, or groups, the
user of the term considers to be illegitimate.
Given the power of this concept to communicate ill-gotten influence,
the concept of "brainwashing" will almost certainly remain
a central component of the controversy about religious movements.
Discrimination, or legal action, against religious groups because
someone doesn't like them is clearly a violation of the free exercise
of religion, a human right increasingly recognized around the world.
But the claim of "brainwashing" shrouds the discrimination
by claiming that religious groups are victimizing recruits and potential
recruits by employing powerful means of manipulation that are extremely
difficult to resist.
Social scientists who study religious movements do not reject the
general proposition that religious groups (old and new) are capable
of having considerable influence over their members. Indeed, most
argue that "influence" is ubiquitous in human cultures.
But they argue, further, that the influence exerted in "cults"
is not very different from influence that is present in practically
every arena of life.
This section on the Brainwashing Controversy presents materials
that will illumine the history of the concept, provide examples
of materials that have fueled public debate as it has periodically
raged over the past quarter-of-a-century, explore the scientific
evidence that is pertinent to the debate, and offer an extended
bibliography. The materials presented here will permit interested
persons to explore the controversy in considerable depth.
My own perspective is squarely in the social science camp in opposition
to the "brainwashing" thesis. Most persons and groups
who promote the "brainwashing"/"mind control"
perspective do not acknowledge the existence of a scholarly literature
that challenges their perspective. Or, if they do acknowledge the
existence of a scholarly literature, they dismiss it with ad hominem
arguments. We offer ample writings that are representative of both
scholarly and ideological perspectives and leave it to readers to
weigh the evidence themselves.
I would also invite readers to explore my course lectures on topics
relevant to this issue. The most directly relevant lecture is on
the topic of brainwashing. A second lecture on influence highlights
arguments set forth in a popular book by Robert Cialdini entitled
Influence. The objective of this lecture is to raise students' consciousness
of the prevalence of influence in every arena of life. Other lectures
explore social science literatures that illumine the questions of
why people join new religious movements and why most of them leave
after a short period of time.
Let me also encourage you to write me with your suggestions for
materials to be included in this section on the brainwashing controversy.
Jeffrey K. Hadden
Last modified: 11/26/00
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