8/14/2019 2994_Cults Brainwashing Term Paper www.gazhoo.com

1/2

Brainwashing?

The controversy surrounding new religious movements seems to be foremost concernedwith whether or not the members of these religions come of their own freewill or if they

convert as a necessary and inevitable response to advanced brainwashing techniques

used by the cult leaders.

The concept of brainwashing came into popular existence in the 1950s as the result of

attempts to try and explain the behavior of some American GIs who defected to theCommunists during the Korean War (19 Oct 1999). Many people, including some

professionals, found brainwashing to be the explanation for the otherwise unexplainablebehavior. However, the brainwashing theory did nothing to explain why hundreds of

other captured GIs who chose to remain true to their country even at the risk of beingtortured or even murdered. It couldnt accurately explain for the behavior of few GIs

when it didnt offer any explanation for the behavior of the majority.

Since the 1950s, the concept of brainwashing has faded in and out of publics eyes witha tendency to flare up again in the face of public controversy. In the 1960s and 1970s

the brainwashing debate again took center stage, this time in an attempt to explain thebehavior of so-called radicals who left behind a normal life and choose instead for a

cult existence.

Although scholars of new religious movements would agree that religious groups oftenhave great influence over their followers, they would also debate that the influence

forced in \"cults\" is not very different from influence that is present in practically everyaspect of life, (19 Oct 1999). Mainstream religions also exercise influence over their

members concerning matters such as lifestyle choices, family relations and financialdonations. Furthermore, most sociologists concede that some degree of influence is

expected in each culture and surface of life even outside the area of religious choice.

Despite the fact that there do not appear to be any studies that provide evidence ofbrainwashing as a legitimate explanation for joining a cult, and in spite of the many

studies that have refuted that brainwashing defense successfully, the brainwashing theorycontinues to be debated regularly. The concept of brainwashing is still often relied on to

account for behavior that is otherwise culturally unjustifiable.

If brainwashing is not an valid explanation for the conversion of people to cults than whatis? A common theme on the anti-cult side of the conversion debate is the argument that

members are, to varying degrees, predisposed to becoming cult members. This supposedpredisposition is commonly thought to be a product of depression, grief, loneliness and a

life filled with successive failures. However, as recent studies have shown, this is notentirely true. Although many people who seek out

Cult followers are suffering with depression or have realized some setbacks the same

could be said of some that seek out mainstream religions for the same reasons, namely tofeel better about themselves and to find purpose and meaning in life.

8/14/2019 2994_Cults Brainwashing Term Paper www.gazhoo.com

2/2

Shelley Leibert, an instructor with the Unification Church, has discussed two main types

of people that pass through the UC camps (Dawson, 1996:204). Leibert describes onetype as being well rounded, successful and secure while the other is described as being

drug users, dropouts and drifters. Leibert concludes that it is the latter that are most

unlikely to dedicate themselves to the lifestyle of the UC.

Proposals of the predictable theory often argue that it is these depressed and lonely

people who are vulnerable, determined and often targeted victims of cult brainwashing.They make these assumptions often lacking any firsthand knowledge of cult recruiting

practices. While it is true that at times some cult members appear to be more vulnerableto cult recruiting (Dawson, 1996:205), it remains that vulnerability and disposed are two

different concepts. Furthermore, many of those who are deemed to be vulnerable(recent divorcees, the grieving, etc.,) frequently regard their cult experience as a positive

and therapeutic experience, even after leaving the cult environment (Dawson, 1996:205).

Although, as Dr. John G. Clark suggests, these seemingly vulnerable people join cults inan attempt to feel better about themselves (Dawson, 1996:207), the same thing can be

said of many who join mainstream religious organizations. Regardless of whether thevulnerable person chooses to join a mainstream religion or a cult it is nevertheless, still a

choice. The exercising of freewill, or choice, by cult inductees is evident but theirfrequent church, or cult, hopping done in order to find a group whose beliefs and

practices best answer their questions (Dawson, 1996:205).

The brainwashing theory conveniently provides an outlet for the anti-cult movement toanswer to the question of why some people chose cults over mainstream religions. It

allows those who leave cults and regret their former connections to avoid takingresponsibility for their actions and takes the blame for their unexpected behavior away

from them. Doing so, the brainwashing theory cancels out the possibility of freewill.

In conclusion, it could be argued that, if brainwashing was a relevant theory, the anti-cultmovement exhibits more mind control behaviors than do cults, when considering their

participation in action such as breaking down and their consistent use of propagandaand half truths.

Works Cited and Consulted

Dawson, L.L. (1998). Comprehending cults. Don Mills: Oxford University Press.Dawson, L.L. ed. (1996). Cults in context. Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press.

The Brainwashing Controversy. (19 Oct 1999)http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~jkh8x/soc257/cultsect/brainwashing.htm (13 March 2001).

Brainwashing and the Cults: The Rise and Fall of a Theory. (10 Dec 1999)http://www.cesnur.org/testi/melton.htm (13 March 2001).

Paloutzian, R.F. (1996). Invitation to the psychology of religion. (2nd ed.). Boston: Allynand Bacon.