Manipulating the Mind

brain·wash·ing   /brenwŋ, -wŋ/ Show Spelled[breyn-wosh-ing, -waw-shing] Show IPAnoun 1.a method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs, originated in totalitarian countries, especially through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques

in·flu·ence   /ˈɪnfluəns/ Show Spelled [in-floo-uhns] Show IPA noun, verb, -enced, -enc·ing.noun 1.the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling forceon or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.

Government, media, and peers...how do these cause manipulation of the mind?

The political party in power influences public

perception of figures or ideas by implementing

euphemisms...whether positive or negative

Think: "Obamacare", "pregnancy termination", "progressive" v. "liberal", "welfare" v. "public assistence"

It's not just small-scale...many national

news networks are heavily biased towards

one particular political party. No matter which,

the network assumes the opinionated parts of

its broadcasts will be taken as fact.

In this campaign ad,

watch for: "Visionary"; "beaurocracy"; "foreign wars"; "taxes".

What other words could have been used?

But not there?

Who said what?

The first "mass media" was the

upper class...the lower classes

looked to them for the cue.

Fashion magazines have

been around for hundreds of

years.

The media not only tells

us what is attractive...but

what is acceptable.

AKA, what is "p.c."

It's not unusual for

terms to fall "out of favor"...

and the media lets us know

when they do.

Think "welfare"; "Indian" v.

"Native American"; etc

Even entertainment media carries

a strong social message.

Check out this McDonald's ad from

the 90s.

It gets straight to the point...

directly targeting children.

This isn't a new idea, either.

This 1960's Barbie advertisement

makes a lot of strong suggestions

to a manipulable audience.

It tells what is attractive and desirable,

and paves the way for consumption.

How would this change

the perspective of a young child?

Why make consumption so

appealing? To promote economic

progress...often at our expense.

While we can avoid direct daily contact with the government and even the media, peers are a constant presence in our lives.

...And that means more than classmates, co-workers, etc.

These groups can be religious...

Social...

and anything in between.

Cults provide an extreme example

of peer influence gone too far.

In one infamous example, over 900 people committed suicide in the Jonestown compound. Here's some news coverage:

Would 900 people be driven to

consume cyanide without the influence

of their peers?

When does "peer pressure" cross the line?

People in groups have more incentive to behave in ways...

...they individually would not.

Why is that? What shifts?

Following the teachings of

Michael and Debi Pearl,

several extremist evangelical

groups actually sanctioned

extreme forms of child abuse...

...as proper "punishments"

for misbehavior--encouraging

methods of beating,

starving, and freezing

Several sets of parents are now being

charged with murder.

Who would approve this kind

of behavior?

Once your peer group condones

something, the idea becomes acceptable.

Peer pressure is a powerful thing,

...quietly influencing our every decision.

Value systems change once you become

part of a group...it's hard to stand alone.

While it's understandable

that peers with exert some

influence over our lives, things

can take a turn for the worse,

sometimes resulting in tragedy...

Whether for a few...

...or for millions.

The devastation of the Holocaust

was not the work of a single man,

but an organized group of people whose

perspective was completely altered.

Their perception of life was skewed...

in other words, their minds were manipulated

by their peer group.

Suggestions can, and often do,

change lives.

It depends on your conviction to

stand strong in the face of opposition.

The government often has a hand

in shaping the media, another huge

influence on the mind.

Why is this the style here...

Peers do a lot to manipulate

our perceptions of the world.

What does this ad

suggest?

Buy the product=Attractiveness=Happiness

Some peer groups number in the millions.

Do you "need" a new

car? Do you "need"

skinny jeans? The media

says so.