How to tell if you’re brainwashed?” | Steve Hassan | TEDxBoston

Do you know someone who has changed radically in their values and beliefs? Do you think it may have been brainwashing? Steven Hassan offers a 4-step reality testing formula developed over 45 years of research starting after leaving a cult that deceptively recruited him. The bottom line is that brainwashing is not just something that happens in cults—we are all susceptible. A talk to make you think.

[Srindal]

Once you go down the road of deprogramming yourself, you never see the world the same. Its like you see everything as bubbles of influence that cause you to think a certain way

[chriscampas-svensson]

As a former Jehovah’s Witness you have helped me and my wife tremendously throughout our leaving process. I have nothing but gratitude and respect for you sir.

[ralphbernhard]

Short answer: *Any* system that tells you _what_ to think rather than _how_ to think.

[timward]

Be aware that these principles are well known by large media organizations, governments, and political parties. It's the way they get us to rationalize and accept the most horrific things and mobilize us against one another. It is an intrinsic and essential part of "divide and conquer."

[Thenatureboy]

About 8 billion more people need to watch this.

[scottfitzpatrick]

This world needs a major push in mass de-programming.

[mafarmerga]

This is perhaps the most important video on YT.
My wife almost entered into a cult.
It is VERY hard to pull a person back.
But it can be done.

[StillmanSpinningSteel]

Left the latter day saint church (Mormons) recently. Never felt so free and discovering who I really am. I used to see reality through belief but now I am experiencing my own reality and aware of the diversity of reality. It's beautiful.

[jimflagg]

Any time some one says to "Do Not Think. Have Faith. Surrender." then you are being brain washed.

[sorcindy]

Re-programming my mind after an abusive relationship took me years.

[MrVesperatu]

I think one of the surest signs you are in a cult is that debate about certain things simply isn't allowed. And if you are in a situation where it isn't allowed to discuss or question certain things or if you do, you find yourself shunned, you can rest assured, you are in a cult.

[BuddsYT]

I watched the Leah rimini Scientology documentary series and as a Jehovah’s witnesses was surprised to see how eerily similar we were. The shunning especially, heartbreaking what control the shunning policy exercises over People and how it breaks Families apart.

Part of being and leaving a cult is also having to admit to yourself that you were wrong. Especially when you were taught to think you were the one and only to have the “truth”. But all these cults think that. And then to admit “it was a lie”. Wow hard pill to swallow.

[heydiddlediddlethecatandth]

As a kid raised in evanglicalism, leaving church at a young age and then leaving the faith shattered my entire world, but I feel like I saved the most vital parts of myself and my identity. I recognize all these tactics and affirm all the solutions to brainwashing. I began to suspect those who told me not to listen to the critics because they were agents of Satan, and got curious as to people who had left the church. Above all, being curious, asking "What ifs" is what saved me. I stayed curious about the world and people different from me, which made me more open to learning and resistant to fear. When you have insatiable curiosity you find fear less appealing and it becomes less effective. Curiosity is an underrated virtue.

[anonymouskeys]

This is such a sobering video.
I am convinced that people around me are doing this and now i have the proper mental tools to recognize it because of this and people like you.
Godspeed

[userphone]

I have been brainwashed that much where I don't even know if the every day decisions I make are my own. And I don't know what to believe anymore. I feel like I just need to be free and happy.

[DivineLightPaladin]

When the books are being banned and certain topics excluded, questions not allowed, words vanished...

[stultusvenator]

"Love the uneducated" sound familiar.

[caramares]

I was brainwashed for 15 years. It’s so freeing getting out from it, however, not many are aware it even exists. See Cara’s inner healing horror for my testimony.

[Dee-xf]

I had a friend who fell in with a guy who was selling supplements. Within 2 weeks of meeting her, he was living at her house and setting up "parties" to introduce his product line. I was skeptical, but went to one of the parties. After his presentation—which seem innocuous enough—I innocently asked him how he got interested in health and wellness. Most people love to talk about themselves and their interests, but this guy immediately got defensive and angry. He shot back at me, "what do you mean, how did I get into this??" and walked away. It was so bizarre that I knew for sure he was deliberately scamming her. Healthy, on-the-level people don't need to lie and exaggerate. They don't mind answering followup questions and will readily share specific data or sources of information that help prove their position. Normal, innocent people want to have their day in court to justify their innocence. Healthy people will gladly state their goals and preferences because they want to be understood. When someone doesn't do these, or starts talking fast, bouncing between points, changing the subject... then DO NOT trust them.

[MM-oiez]

SOOOoo many people who choose Political sides over families... NEED help in deprogramming their brainwashing.