1. Constantly trying to control the conversation
2. Frequently changing the subject
3. Gaslighting or making you question your reality
4. Making false promises
5. threatening or punishing you
6. Isolating you from family and friends
7. Frequent use of lies or exaggerations
Table of Contents
Introduction
≈8 minutes to read
There are plenty of different ways people can be brainwashed or manipulated. In this article, we’ll go over the signs that someone has been manipulated and how to recognize them.
What is brainwashing?
Brainwashing is a term that was coined in the 1950s; it refers to the use of coercive persuasion by an individual or group. There are many types of mind control, but brainwashing is unique because it uses intense and coercive persuasion to alter thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Groups or individuals use brainwashing to recruit new members and persuade them to stay within their beliefs. Religious groups also use brainwashing to manipulate people into following their rules, whether it’s giving money or sacrificing their lives for the cause. Companies often use brainwashing tactics when trying to sell products that may not benefit consumers (such as energy drinks). Governments can also employ extreme indoctrination methods to convince citizens that they must comply with specific laws or policies (such as mandatory vaccinations).
Brainwashing can be associated with cults and religion.
Brainwashing is associated with cults and religion. It is a form of mind control where an individual’s personality is altered with the intent to make them more submissive to the goals of the manipulator. Brainwashing is also known as thought reform or thought control, which can be defined as coercive persuasion or psychological manipulation that results in behavioral, cultural, or ideological change by influence and pressure.
Manipulation by companies
Companies use brainwashing to get customers to buy their products, services, and ideas. They also use brainwashing to get customers to buy their opinions. This is done through commercial advertising and marketing campaigns designed to encourage people to believe that one product or service is better than another or that one political party or ideology is better.
It’s not just companies who use brainwashing tactics, though – there are other manipulative forces at work too!
Manipulation by governments
It’s important to be aware of the signs of brainwashing and manipulation. It’s not always obvious when a person is influenced by brainwashing or manipulation, but there are some telltale signs.
The government has been known to use brainwashing techniques to control its citizens. This can include political and religious propaganda, advertising, war, cults, and more.
Emotions of the manipulated
- Confusion: Brainwashed people often report confusion about their old and new lives. They cannot understand why they feel so different from how they used to be or what has changed them.
- Euphoria: Brainwashing has been compared to drug addiction by some experts, but euphoria is not the same as a high. Instead, brainwashed people will have a solid sense of purpose or meaning in their lives, which comes from adhering to their group’s beliefs and goals (these may even seem noble).
- Helplessness: Someone who feels helpless has given up control over their life because they do not believe there is any way out of his situation (i.e., if someone leaves an abusive relationship after having been abused for years). This feeling can also come from being trapped somewhere without means of escape, confinement without food/water, severe illness, etc.).
Signs that someone is brainwashed
Brainwashing is a process that can take years to complete. It’s not an overnight thing, so don’t be fooled by someone who claims they were brainwashed after only a few months or years of being involved in a cult or religion. Brainwashing has been used for centuries as a torture method. Still, it has also been used on political prisoners and members of religious organizations to gain power over them.
The following list contains some signs that someone may have been brainwashed:
- Fear and anxiety
- Loss of identity (or self) – when one doesn’t know exactly who they are anymore. This could include loss of free will, trust issues, and emotions like anger/hatred toward others who disagree with the teachings being taught by those in power at this time (e.g., leaders within an organization).
- Critical thinking skills are diminished due to fear tactics used on those who question anything about what’s happening right now (e.g., “How dare you to ask questions?! Your loyalty should be first! Otherwise…”).
- Loss of trust – not just with others but also with yourself. Because if there’s something wrong, then maybe everything else isn’t right either, which means that either you are wrong or the manipulator is. Either results in a lack of trust.
- Lack of emotional expression – no longer showing sadness/empathy/joy because these are considered weaknesses according to too many teachings from those in power positions.
How to know if you have been manipulated
If you feel like you are losing your identity or can’t remember who you were before this person entered your life, then there’s a good chance that they have been trying to manipulate your sense of self. Here are some other signs of manipulation:
- Losing control over your life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s financial control or something else; if someone is making important decisions for you and taking away the power to make those decisions yourself, it may be a sign of brainwashing or manipulation.
- Feeling like everything revolves around them. If things always have to go their way and everyone has to agree with everything they say—and if anyone who disagrees with them is punished—it might be because this person wants everyone around them. To adhere strictly to their beliefs and worldviews for them not only gain power over others but also feel empowered themselves (which helps explain why many dictatorships exist).
- Feeling like someone else is controlling your thoughts and actions without realizing it themselves, feeling as though part of yourself has been taken away without even knowing it was happening until after. Because another individual has taken complete control over every aspect of how one thinks/feels/acts throughout everyday life without asking permission first.
Conclusion
Brainwashing is a serious matter that affects individuals and society as a whole. It can cause people to make harmful decisions or even become terrorists or criminals. This kind of manipulation is illegal in many countries, including the United States, but it still happens today. Therefore, you should be aware of how others influence you so that you can avoid being brainwashed and manipulated in your daily life.
English
Nederlands
Español