AD,
I am not an expert on brainwashing and I can't address all the ways it can occur but I do accept what the experts say about it occurring in very controlling cults. Also on this forum we have the testimony of posters who say they were brainwashed. I don't doubt them. How many have commented regarding their involvement....what was I thinking?
I think of brainwashing this way. Some parents who have a strong hatred for certain racial/ethnic groups often influence their children and teach their children the same hatred and I think their children are deceived and brainwashed that certain racial/ethnic groups are bad (they aren't bad) and the child is brainwashed to hate. In a Bible based cult I think members can be deceived that they are maturing spiritually into Christ in the flesh (even though they don't even walk in the key and foundational tenets of compassion, forgiveness and love or any spiritual power) because that's what their spiritual leaders tell them and if they believe it, I think the members have been brainwashed...heavily influenced and persuaded they are becoming little gods. This may be a very simplistic way of understanding brainwashing and as you say perhaps not everyone is easily influenced but according the Rick Ross he as helped doctors, lawyers, etc. folks who rely on their critical thinking skills for their professions who got fooled by the persuasion and influence of cult leaders.
I am not an expert on brainwashing and I can't address all the ways it can occur but I do accept what the experts say about it occurring in very controlling cults. Also on this forum we have the testimony of posters who say they were brainwashed. I don't doubt them. How many have commented regarding their involvement....what was I thinking?
I think of brainwashing this way. Some parents who have a strong hatred for certain racial/ethnic groups often influence their children and teach their children the same hatred and I think their children are deceived and brainwashed that certain racial/ethnic groups are bad (they aren't bad) and the child is brainwashed to hate. In a Bible based cult I think members can be deceived that they are maturing spiritually into Christ in the flesh (even though they don't even walk in the key and foundational tenets of compassion, forgiveness and love or any spiritual power) because that's what their spiritual leaders tell them and if they believe it, I think the members have been brainwashed...heavily influenced and persuaded they are becoming little gods. This may be a very simplistic way of understanding brainwashing and as you say perhaps not everyone is easily influenced but according the Rick Ross he as helped doctors, lawyers, etc. folks who rely on their critical thinking skills for their professions who got fooled by the persuasion and influence of cult leaders.