Brainwashing and "The Third Wave"

I saw this movie my Senior year in high school, and it left a lasting impression on me. I often wondered if it really was possible for normal, everyday, intelligent people to be manipulated in such a manner.

YouTube Link

YouTube Link

Part 2


[edit on 7/8/08 by LLoyd45]

Well, it seams clear from the description that it IS really possible, or at least WAS in pre-WWII Germany and Palo Alto circa 1967. You want to elaborate your take on it? You haven't given us much to discuss yet.

Human beings are extremely malleable. This guy just re-discovered principles that cults, dictatorships and the military have already known about for ages. Interesting how quickly it can be done if you do it just right though.

You can also create the reverse effect. Try this in a classroom (this works best in a crowded course with limited seating):

For the first week or so of class, sit in the same seat. This usually happens as people will sort of automatically pick a certain seat and stick with it. After a seating ‘order’ is established, start showing up early and sit in a different seat. This displaces someone else from ‘their’ seat. They move to a new seat and the process continues. Each day thereafter, sit in a different seat. Soon two results will occur: 1) Some people will start arriving earlier and earlier to get ‘their’ seat and/or 2) Some people will refuse to sit in a seat that is not ‘theirs’ and complain and possibly even fight over ‘their’ seat (beware) with others. After sufficient chaos is created, start sitting in your original seat. People will go back to the seat they assigned themselves.

The point is that people are easily conditioned and when you break that conditioning it causes them to do things they normally wouldn’t. But they only do, or don’t do, these things because they just automatically do them without thinking. If you can find a hidden motivator, and turn it on or off, you can easily manipulate them into doing all kinds of things without even being aware that they are being controlled - or why they are.

When I was a teenager Josh, I honestly didn't believe it was possible unless the subjects were mentally deficient and extremely weak-willed. Twenty-seven years later, with many more life experiences under my belt, I now believe it's completely possible.

There are millions of people today who feel disenfranchised and excluded from the mainstream of society. The reasons are legion.. poverty, isolation, lack of family ties, poor social skills, etc. I think this is why there's such a draw to gangs today.

In my opinion, people have a natural need to belong to a group that's much larger and grander than theirself. They need to feel needed, useful, and loved. The Wave I think demonstrates this perfectly.


[edit on 7/8/08 by LLoyd45]

Certainly. I'd even suggest that there are at least two "types" of such instances: One where the person directing the actions of the masses has some form of institutional authority, such as the teacher in The Wave. Another case can be pure charisma of the leader. I don't think anyone would deny that Charles Manson is a fairly contemptible person, by all descriptions an absolute toad of a man, but he managed to convince others to commit murder. (I'm sure there were drugs involved as well, and one could make an argument for his followers being weak-minded, but ultimately the effect was the same.)