In 1961, psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton published Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, which is a book on the psychology of brainwashing (which he called “thought reform”).
Lifton’s research subjects included American servicemen who had been held captive during the Korean War, and Chinese people who had fled their homeland after having been indoctrinated in Chinese universities. He identified the tactics used by Chinese communists to cause dramatic shifts in people’s opinions and personalities.
In his book, Lifton outlines what he calls the “Eight Criteria for Thought Reform.” These tactics are now heavily used in the United States.
- Milieu Control. The group or its leaders control information and communication in order to isolate its members from society as a whole. (e.g. “Fake News” accusations, FauxNews, NewsMux, Sinclair Group, PragerU, increasing right-wing control of online, broadcast, and print media).
- Mystical Manipulation. The group creates manipulative experiences and false memories and makes them appear to be spontaneous. These false experiences are designed to reinterpret events in favor of the leader. Coincidences are interpreted as omens or prophecies. (e.g. Election lies, Jan 6 lies, economic lies, exaggerated numbers, near-miss bullets).
- Demand for Purity. The group requires its members to view the world as black and white and expects conformity to the group ideology. Control is maintained through guilt and/or shame. (e.g. “Rhino” accusations, bullying, closed primaries, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger).
- Confession. The group defines sins that members should confess. There is no confidentiality. Leaders discuss and exploit group member’s “sins,” “attitudes,” and “faults.” (e.g. Loyalty tests, belittling nicknames, public harassment).
- Sacred Science. The doctrine and ideology of the group is not to be questioned. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader is above criticism. (e.g. Firings, threats, doxing, primary elections against incumbents).
- Loading the Language. The group uses words and phrases in new, coded, ways that measure a member’s conformity. These phrases function as “thought-terminating cliches” that short-circuit logic and opposition. (e.g. “Woke,” “DEI,” “CRT,” “Socialist”).
- Doctrine over person. Members personal experiences must be subordinate to the sacred science. Any contrary thought or experience must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the group ideology. (e.g. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, JD Vance, etc.).
- Dispensing of existence. The group gets to decide who has the right to exist or not. Those outside the group are considered to be unenlightened and must be converted to the group’s ideology. Those who do not join or are critical must be rejected. The outside world has no credibility and must be shunned. (e.g. Immigrants, minorities, women, Democrats).
Using these criteria, it is easy to see that Trump’s MAGA party is a classic example of a brainwashed group.
Sources:
— “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism,” Wikipedia.
— “Thought-terminating cliche,” Wikipedia.
— “Robert Jay Lifton,” Wikipedia.
Brian Ferguson, “14 Signs of Fascism,” Insight, September 28, 2020.
Brian Ferguson, “10 Tactics of Fascism,” Insight, June 27, 2022.
Our Church has chosen to remain totally silent on Trump’s fascist movement and process as is evidenced by the Deseret News’ silence on same. I don’t know quite what to make of this, other than a reluctant conclusion we have been sold out.