Not so much a ‘how to
…’  guide to brainwashing, as a ‘how
to avoid being brainwashed’, Taylor’s 15 chapter volume is a timely addition to
the bookshelf. Presented as being as much a social, as a political method of
persuasion, the author puts forward the topic of brainwashing as covering a
wide spectrum of human activity, from the overt, deliberate and forceful
breakdown in torture chambers, to the more subtle expressions of emotional
blackmail from family members and loved ones. Perhaps lacking, however, was any
in-depth discussion of the effects of various public media, product marketing
strategies and corporate advertising, which are also geared toward the "alteration
of a second person’s thoughts and feelings". A further welcome addition,
would have been some discussion of the value of brainwashing reversal, and
torture victim rehabilitation, beyond that illustrated by Burgess’ ‘A
Clockwork Orange’. Taylor’s examples of successful brainwashing cover both
fictional (e.g., ‘1984’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’) as well
as non-fictional scenarios (incl. The Manson Family and the Jonestown Massacre)
by way of introduction, but there is little new for the hardened conspiracy
theorist to take away from these chapters.

In
an attempt to explain the formation, development and cohesion of cult groups,
and in particular their members willingness to perform anti-social and illegal
acts, Taylor reviews a number of putative mechanisms underlying such
conformative behavior, much of which will be familiar territory to both social
and cognitive psychologists. But more importantly, the better value of this
book may be revealed in its attempts to discuss the underlying neural mechanisms
that are involved in the "business of changing people’s minds".

At
the risk of being regarded another emotional reaction Vs intellectual reaction
argument, Taylor argues for a subtle, and I believe real, distinction to be
drawn between the contributions of the cortical and sub-cortical parts of the
brain in understanding the success of brainwashing techniques. In crude terms,
the latter is the more willing participant in following the wishes of another,
without so much thought beyond a more (albeit learned) reflexive reptilian
behavioral repertoire. In contrast, those more inclined to "stop and
think" prior to acting (for whatever reason), are likely to be employing
the cortical parts of their brain during decision making, and especially so
their pre-frontal cortical areas. The key example presented, (appropriately)
involves our current understanding of the multi-layered neural systems
underlying human eye-movement control (partly reflexive, but subject to
override according to the demands of the cognitive task at hand), but perhaps a
revised edition might also include more recent work conducted with ethical
dilemmas and correlate action plan decision-making fMRI data (e.g., Greene et
al, Science, 2001).

This
book nonetheless offers the interested reader both psychological and
neurological data to absorb in coming to better understand the processes
thought to underlay human persuasion and the plasticity of thinking, especially
in situations under which one’s thoughts are obviously in conflict with
available evidence (the hall mark of otherwise successful brainwashing?). I
would highly recommend this volume to the reader in search of a self-defense
guide against their being brainwashed, but more seriously suggest consideration
of Taylor’s "FACET" approach as at least providing useful hints for
enhancing one’s critical thinking skills. By so doing one might become better
equipped to allay the attempts of many hidden persuaders "out there"
who are seeking our otherwise unthinking co-operation in support of their activities
and influence.

© 2005 Anthony Dickinson

Tony Dickinson,
McDonnell Center for Higher Brain Function, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis.

Categories: General, Psychology