Can brainwashing be used to fight corruption? ………Priyanko Sarkar I TNN
Mumbai: One word that has popped up repeatedly in conversations of those discussing the terror attacks is ‘brainwashing’. It has become an ugly word, a way to explain the senseless actions of a deeply indoctrinated mind. The ugly word, however, begs the question—if brainwashing can get a bunch of young men to carry out their job with such deadly accuracy, can it also be used more positively, to fight the many ills in our society? Can we, for instance, brainwash people against corruption? Or indoctrinate them to stop spitting? Or inculcate civic sense?
The answer depends on many factors. Dr Varsha Patkar, clinical psychologist and counsellor says that most important of all is to find the right kind of person. According to her, the perfect candidate is someone with “with low motivation who believes in an ideology and looks up to a leader. Once he finds his role model, he follows his or her ideals blindly’’.
Counsellor Dr Jatish Shah says that a more professional way to describe brainwashing is “behaviour modulation therapy’’, and this can be done by the subject himself or at a camp or rehab centre. Shah says that brainwashing does not have an age limit. “From a tenyear-old to an eighty-year-old, anyone can be brainwashed. If I take you to a terrorist camp I will turn you into a terrorist,’’ he says. “Similarly, if I teach you how to lead a balanced life, that’s what you’ll do. All that is needed is a community setting.’’
Psychotherapist Anjali Chhabria cites Singapore as a good example of positive brainwashing. “This concept works on the principles of exposure, repetition and reward. You inform people about your message and then simply bombard them with the same message over and over again. This is followed up by rewarding the subject for good work. Singaporean society follows every rule because of the effective use of these principles. Even corporates use positive brainwashing to get the most out of employees.’’
What are the most effective ways of positive brainwashing? Tanuja Chandra believes books and movies have a limited effect in changing perception, and that while “books and films give us pleasure and allow us to cry and give vent to our emotions, their ability to deeply change our lives is limited’’.
Chhabria says that using all audio-visual, textual and auditory mediums together can have a significant impact. Shah adds that brainwashing (to do things like follow rules and be honest) should begin at an early age. “We can start by can giving Value Education more emphasis in school. This will teach kids basic positive values which they will imbibe and utilise for the rest of their lives.’’
But theatre director Zubin Driver, who has been running a campaign against gender violence, doesn’t think propaganda is so easily achieved. “In this age of information democracy, brainwashing is outdated,’’ he says. “You can con or fool a person for some time but not brainwash them. Brainwashing can happen only when the religious element comes into the picture because the brain stops being rational.’’
Dr Rooshikumar Pandya, a motivational speaker who lectures at police camps says that the techniques used to motivate and brainwash are the same. “Coaches motivate their players by repeatedly giving them messages to perform to the best of their abilities. Soldiers are also motivated with the idea that their death will not be in vain, that they are fighting for the country. Being cut off from the outside world helps. In both cases, the subject is programmed to win.’’
If sustained, brainwashing can spark some kind of change. “The solidarity messages flashing across the media as well as the peace marches across the city are a form of positive brainwashing. It has helped to bring down some leaders. That is its true power and beauty,’’ says Dr Patkar.
Dr Chhabria says it would be worth it to experiment and see if positive brainwashing works. “Now is a good time for using anger rather than losing it,’’ she says.