The diverse phenomena of so-called “brainwashing” has been practiced by tsarist secret police, German nazis, Chinese comunist regime, and in many others places throughout the centuries.
The term come from chinese colloquialism “hsinao“, and has been also known as “thought reform” or “coercive persuasion“.
Brainwashing defines the techniques employed and the results produced by coercive pressure, both phisical and psychological, to bring about durable ideological change.
It is a complicated process, occurring gradually and varying with many factors.
(Edited by María Moya Guirao, M.D.)
