The article discusses the resurgence of the term "brainwashing" amidst political polarization and the rise of social media, suggesting these factors contribute to perceived mind control. It highlights a shift in psychology, with books exploring brainwashing's impact in the modern era. The sentiment reflects confusion within personal relationships as individuals struggle to understand differing beliefs, leading to mutual accusations of being brainwashed. Notably, recent scholarly works approach the term with caution, acknowledging its metaphorical power despite its controversial history.
Several recent books have taken up the subject of brainwashing—among them Daniel Pick's "Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control" and Joel E. Dimsdale's "Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media." They share a scholarly squeamishness about the word they are forced to use for their subject matter.
One potential answer is the rise of technologies suspected of having mind-controlling powers, chief among them social media. Another is the entrenched political polarization of our time.
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