Mike Carruthers

And it's usually a negative term in the sense that we often say people have been brainwashed, but only because they believe something we don't. You aren't brainwashed, and people who believe what you believe are not brainwashed either. Only people who believe something different. The other thing about brainwashing is that we all like to believe we can't be brainwashed. Really? I'm not so sure.

And it's usually a negative term in the sense that we often say people have been brainwashed, but only because they believe something we don't. You aren't brainwashed, and people who believe what you believe are not brainwashed either. Only people who believe something different. The other thing about brainwashing is that we all like to believe we can't be brainwashed. Really? I'm not so sure.

Here to dive into this topic is Rebecca Lamov. She is an historian of science at Harvard University and author of the book, The Instability of Truth, Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyperpersuasion. Hi, Rebecca. Welcome to Something You Should Know.

Here to dive into this topic is Rebecca Lamov. She is an historian of science at Harvard University and author of the book, The Instability of Truth, Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyperpersuasion. Hi, Rebecca. Welcome to Something You Should Know.

Here to dive into this topic is Rebecca Lamov. She is an historian of science at Harvard University and author of the book, The Instability of Truth, Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyperpersuasion. Hi, Rebecca. Welcome to Something You Should Know.

So we hear that term brainwashing a lot, and I'm not sure I know exactly what it is, if it's a real thing or if it kind of describes persuasion in a different way. What is brainwashing?

So we hear that term brainwashing a lot, and I'm not sure I know exactly what it is, if it's a real thing or if it kind of describes persuasion in a different way. What is brainwashing?

So we hear that term brainwashing a lot, and I'm not sure I know exactly what it is, if it's a real thing or if it kind of describes persuasion in a different way. What is brainwashing?

But is brainwashing, I think of brainwashing, not knowing much about it, is basically bombarding you with something so much of the time, so often, so many different ways, that you come to believe something that is not true.

But is brainwashing, I think of brainwashing, not knowing much about it, is basically bombarding you with something so much of the time, so often, so many different ways, that you come to believe something that is not true.

But is brainwashing, I think of brainwashing, not knowing much about it, is basically bombarding you with something so much of the time, so often, so many different ways, that you come to believe something that is not true.

or did she pretend to believe in order to survive?

or did she pretend to believe in order to survive?

or did she pretend to believe in order to survive?

So Patty Hearst and other examples that you talk about are pretty extreme examples. Is brainwashing by its definition extreme, or can you kind of lightly brainwash somebody?

So Patty Hearst and other examples that you talk about are pretty extreme examples. Is brainwashing by its definition extreme, or can you kind of lightly brainwash somebody?

So Patty Hearst and other examples that you talk about are pretty extreme examples. Is brainwashing by its definition extreme, or can you kind of lightly brainwash somebody?

Well, I would think we're essentially all being brainwashed to some extent all the time. I mean, most of what I've come to believe isn't through rigorous research and analysis. It's affected by what I saw my parents believe, or what I saw my friends believe, or what teachers taught me in school. That all of that is a form of brainwashing. But we don't use the term brainwashing.

Well, I would think we're essentially all being brainwashed to some extent all the time. I mean, most of what I've come to believe isn't through rigorous research and analysis. It's affected by what I saw my parents believe, or what I saw my friends believe, or what teachers taught me in school. That all of that is a form of brainwashing. But we don't use the term brainwashing.

Well, I would think we're essentially all being brainwashed to some extent all the time. I mean, most of what I've come to believe isn't through rigorous research and analysis. It's affected by what I saw my parents believe, or what I saw my friends believe, or what teachers taught me in school. That all of that is a form of brainwashing. But we don't use the term brainwashing.