Did you know that it only takes three steps to brain wash someone, brainwashing also known as mind control is a concept that the human mind can be altered, by use of some psychological techniques, just by the use of these steps;
BREAKING DOWN THE SELF
step one is breaking down the self if someone wants to brainwash you what they will first have to do is to attack your identity try to convince you that you are not who you think you are, for example during the Korean War captors begins to brainwash American Prisoners of War by Simply telling them you're not a soldier you're not man, you're not defending freedom, filling them with confusion and guilt and shame until eventually the first step is completed when they have finally betrayed themselves and begin to sincerely agree that they are just as bad as their captors said that they were.
• By the end of step 1 the the goal is to have broken down their sense of self and to get the victims to denounce their friends and family and Peers who shared the same wrong belief system that they did, that should leave them psychologically exposed and desperate for help.
INTRODUCTION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVATION
Step 2 introduced the possibility of salvation after dealing with this sort of harassment for days or weeks the victim is completely exhausted and that's when the captors begin to act nicer towards them offers them a different perspective " you are not bad, it was just the Old beliefs that were, as long as you blame your past you don't have to blame yourself, you can be psychologically saved and freed as long as you're freed and a different person" if you have watched the game of throne this should sound familiar remember that scene, when Theon after being brainwashed and tortured finally admits to assume his new identity as weak, a new name a new future and a new identity.
Once The Captors Have saved them from themselves it is time to move on to step 3.
REBUILD TGE SELF
Step 3 rebuild the self during this Final step the ritual is conducted to stamp the new belief system in the captives mind which forces them to remain loyal to the new world that they offended it's a representation of their Rebirth we see very small forms of this actually when fraternity or sorority members cross during their initiation ceremony which typically involves wearing masks reciting oath and swearing to secrecy and loyalty. So prison camps, game of throne dungeons, confrantanities, so it appears that brainwashing comes in many forms and it all comes down to
• number one breaking down of self
• number 2 introducing the possibility of salvation
• Number three rebuild the self
I can think of a few institutions social norms that's actively and currently and continue to brainwash us so my question to you is can you think of any other example of brainwashing that has become so normalised you don't even realise it's brainwashing anymore