EBOOK Brainwashing:The science of thought control

Throughout history, humans have attempted to influence and control the thoughts of        others. Since the word 'brainwashing' was coined in the aftermath of the Korean War,        it has become part of the popular culture, served as a topic for jokes, and been        exploited to create sensational headlines. It has also been the subject of learned        discussion from many disciplines: including history, sociology, psychology, and        psychotherapy. But until now, a crucial part of the debate has beenmissing: that of        any serious reference to the science of the human brain. Descriptions of how        opinions can be changed, whether by persuasion, deceit, or force, have been almost        entirely psychological.In Brainwashing, Kathleen Taylor brings the worlds of        neuroscience and social psychology together for the first time. In elegant and        accessible prose, and with abundant use of anecdotes and case-studies, she examines        the ethical problems involved in carrying out the required experiments on humans,        the limitations of animal models, and the frightening implications of such research.          She also explores the history of thought-control and shows how it still exists all        around us, frommarketing and television, to politics and education.