Brainwashing : the science of thought control PDF
Preview Brainwashing : the science of thought control
BRAINWASHING Dr Kathleen Taylor studied physiology and philosophy at the University of Oxford. After a research MSc at the University of Stirling,workingonbrainchemistry,shereturnedtoOxfordto do a DPhil in visual neuroscience and postdoctoral work on cognitive neuroscience. In she won two national writing awards.Shehaswrittenonarangeoftopicsfromconsciousness tocruelty,includingfourbookspublishedbyOUP:Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control (), Cruelty: Human Evil and the HumanBrain(),TheBrainSupremacy:NotesfromtheFrontiersof Neuroscience(),andTheFragileBrain:TheStrange,HopefulScience ofDementia(). B R A I N W A S H I N G The Science of Thought Control KATHLEEN TAYLOR 1 3 GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,, UnitedKingdom OxfordUniversityPressisadepartmentoftheUniversityofOxford. ItfurtherstheUniversity’sobjectiveofexcellenceinresearch,scholarship, andeducationbypublishingworldwide.Oxfordisaregisteredtrademarkof OxfordUniversityPressintheUKandincertainothercountries ©KathleenTaylor Firstpublished FirstissuedasanOxfordUniversityPresspaperback, SecondeditionasOxfordLandmarkScience Themoralrightsoftheauthorhavebeenasserted Impression: Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedin aretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,withoutthe priorpermissioninwritingofOxfordUniversityPress,orasexpresslypermitted bylaw,bylicenceorundertermsagreedwiththeappropriatereprographics rightsorganization.Enquiriesconcerningreproductionoutsidethescopeofthe aboveshouldbesenttotheRightsDepartment,OxfordUniversityPress,atthe addressabove Youmustnotcirculatethisworkinanyotherform andyoumustimposethissameconditiononanyacquirer PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyOxfordUniversityPress MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NY,UnitedStatesofAmerica BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData Dataavailable LibraryofCongressControlNumber: ISBN –––– PrintedinGreatBritainby ClaysLtd,StIvesplc LinkstothirdpartywebsitesareprovidedbyOxfordingoodfaithand forinformationonly.Oxforddisclaimsanyresponsibilityforthematerials containedinanythirdpartywebsitereferencedinthiswork. CONTENTS Listoffigures vii Prefacetoedition ix Prefacetofirstedition xxi PART I: TORTURE AND SEDUCTION . Thebirthofaword . Godorthegroup? . Thepowerofpersuasion . Hopingtoheal . ‘Isuggest,youpersuade,hebrainwashes’ . Brainwashingandinfluence PART II: THE TRAITOR IN YOUR SKULL . Ourever-changingbrains . Websandnewworlds . Sweptaway . Thepowerofstop-and-think . Thatfreedomthing PART III: FREEDOM AND CONTROL . Victimsandpredators . Mindfactories . Scienceandnightmare . Takingastand OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,25/11/2016,SPi vi · Notes References Furtherreading Glossary Index LIST OF FIGURES Figure ‘Brainwashing’ Figure ‘Thoughtreform’ Figure Twoneuronsconnectedbyasynapse Figure Thecellanditsworld , Figure Synaptictransmission Figure Outlineofahumanbrain Figure Emotion-relatedprocessinginthebrain Figure Theanatomyofemotion Figure Connectionsbetweenemotion-processing areas Figure Theprefrontalcortexandtheanterior cingulate Figure Brainareasinvolvedineyemovement processing Figure Theeyemovementmapinthesuperior colliculus Figure Simpleandcomplexvisualstimuli Figure Braincontrolofsaccadiceyemovements , Figure Theinfluenceofhistoryinputsoneye movements Figure PFCactivityovertime Figure TheNeckercubeillusion PREFACE TO 2017 EDITION R ereadingBrainwashingpriortowritingthisprefacehasbeen a useful exercise. It has reminded me that many themes developed in my later books can be found in embryonic form within these pages. I have also, however, found revisiting my first-born rather sad. The (sometimes naïve) optimism of those years, early in the new century, has faded; and sadly, much of what I wrote in —like the warnings about ethereal ideas, strong emotions, identity politics, and new technologies—has becomemorerelevant,notless.Wearelivingthroughatimeof greatuncertaintyanddistrust.Claimsthatextremepoliticaland religious beliefs are declining, once so confidently made, are looking shaky. In this age of ideological renewal, concerns about beliefs and their manipulation are a social priority in manycountries. WritingBrainwashing,Iwascarefultoemphasizethattheterm itselfisacomplicated,poorly-understoodmixofscience,polit- ics, and downright fantasy. It is often used as an insult, or a concept of last resort; but strip away the myths, and the core idea is simply stated. Brainwashing is the dream of controlling other people’s beliefs and behaviour so effectively that they do notfeelmanipulated—asiftheimposedbeliefsweretheirown. This potent nightmare taps into the basic, and very strong, human desire to feel that we are agents in control of our lives, notpawnsinsomeoneelse’sstrategy.Wesufferwhenoursense ofcontrolistroubled,andwereadilyacttodefendit.Andmost of us, if we are honest, have moments of wishing other people couldbemadetothinkaswethink.
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