How To Avoid Brianwashing?

Knowing we are all human beings and susceptible to manipulation that targets emotions, desires, and other areas where people are generally quite vulnerable, how can you defend yourself against someone who is trying to use these against you in a brainwashing attempt?

The advice here follows the advice given in the previous chapters, where potential manipulation is involved. You must maintain awareness in all situations and consider the possibility that the people you are talking to are not who they say they are.

The golden rule in situations like this is the following. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Similar to financial scheme in which someone tricks others into investing in false promises or nonexistent entities, the person or “business” is convinced as something where they can make a whole lot of money for very little time, effort, and personal risk. This happens a lot of the time. It is quite impossible, and people should be aware of the schemes at work in the real world, which prey on people`s simple desires for money and to get it the easy way.

On a deeper level, there are those who know that they can manipulate their way into someone`s heart and circle of trust by promising quick fixes for the things which plague many human beings. These are things that have to do with deep spiritual fulfillment or finding peace or meaning in daily life, which sometimes seems like a road full of emptiness, especially when there are hardships to work through.

Be aware of those deepest vulnerabilities that you harbor in yourself, and work to find your own way to fulfillment and satisfaction or meaning. Do not put yourself in other human beings where this deepest desire is concerned because this is the gateway for emotional manipulation and brainwashing according to another person or group`s will.

Remember that the most important things in life are worked for and sought after for a long period of time and only with the help of those you love, trust, and respect based on your own choosing and experience with them. Do not let people, who promise answers to all your problems, come into your life because quick fixes just don`t exist.

Be aware of the ulterior motives that might exist. Do not reveal personal information that might be used against you, but instead, make others prove themselves trustworthy through tests of time and trial.

Now that you know the general workings behind Brainwashing Techniques keep in mind that genuine relationships happen naturally and not according to a timeline. In the example above, Marsha fell into a trap based on her own feelings and was able to fall right in line according to a very short timeline where she should have been developing a meaningful relationship with these women with whom she chose to share personal information and issues.

A large factor in this downfall was an element of group pressure where everyone around her was acting a certain way, and this made her feel like she should be acting in the same way, too. And this involved divulging her deepest struggles. If something similar feels like having an impression on you and your behavior, it is best to remove yourself from the situation so that you have time to think clearly about what`s going on.  

Anytime you feel doubt about a new Interaction and Acquaintance, let the people already in your life, whom you love and trust, help you work through what you truly feel regarding that budding relationship. Someone else might be able to pinpoint red flags when you are too distracted to notice them yourself.

So, We have discussed in this chapter “Defenses against Brainwashing” which can help you understand people around you much better.

In Next Chapter, we will be Discussing  

” Neuro-Linguistic Programming “