Brainwashing

While the term brainwashing brings negative connotations, the act of brainwashing can have two very distinct paths. A person may be able to indoctrinate themselves into changing their behaviors, such as giving up smoking, another example is in the terms of creating soldiers, through training and indoctrinating them to the culture of the military. Brainwashing is an umbrella for altering the mind and mental state of an individual. 

In this line of psychological methodology, brainwashing is a manipulation of circumstances to coerce either an individual or group of individuals to follow a narrative. This can be seen in radical organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, all terrorist groups (ISIS, Al- Qaeda, The Taliban, etc.…), however the techniques are all the same, emotional manipulation. In Stein’s book, Terror, Love, and Brainwashing, she describes a narrative of a case file involving a woman who sought out counselling for depression, only to become embroiled in a “fringe political group” (Stein, pg.11). This is common among such groups to recruit, as it has been shown that disenfranchised people are often targets for recruitment and indoctrination by entities that harbor an agenda. 

Examples of Brainwashing

According to Clawar and Rivlin, there are several techniques used in parenting to cause children to be brainwashed over to one side or another. Such techniques involve commenting on behaviors and quirks of the other parent that, while innocuous on a single instance, builds up over time to plant a seed of doubt in the eyes of the child (Clawar and Rivlin, 2013). As time carries on, the seeds grow into doubt and the child will begin to agree and follow the parent attempting to sway influence. 

Just like parenting the whole of brainwashing begins with a very simple need, that is a charismatic leader who can build a rapport with willing individuals can sway to that leader’s side. History is replete with such examples, Hitler, Jim Jones, David Koresh, however a major element in these examples is the emotional states of the followers. As stated in previous topics, a key factor of negative emotions drives the vulnerabilities in individuals to feel lost and adrift, creating a need for filling the emotional gap. 

Another form of brainwashing, one that is not as well thought of, is that of loyalty. Loyalties to one’s country, profession, even to one’s own family may cause an effect like brainwashing in that a blind eye is turned to certain events or actions. An example of this can be seen in the police forces where recruits are taught on their first time out on how things are truly done, as opposed to what the “book” refers too (Richards, 2010). This action defines that while taught the procedural way, often, members of law enforcement may teach a possible ethical or moral shortcut to build a rapport with a new officer or to maintain a status quo. While not always harmful, such acts constitute a sort of indoctrination to the ideas held by a perceived leader to maintain a certain level of authority in a group. 

Exercises in Brainwashing and Indoctrination

As discussed previously, there are negative effects on brainwashing, which can lead to nefarious ends, however, aspects have been used in psychology to also curb emotional overload and panic attacks through mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapies. In this first exercise, an individual who is feeling overwhelmed should be in a very calm atmosphere (for instance a room with no lights, quiet, and free from external stimuli) and focus on breathing. Once a steady rhythm of breathing has been attained, count out the breaths in and out, with the focus of the inhalation breath taking in a calm clearing sensation (see psychosomatics), and exhalation pushing out the overwhelming sensation. Repeat process for ten minutes or until the sensory overload is at a manageable level. 

Another exercise is an inquiry and an inventory of behaviors that an individual whishes to remedy. The individual should begin by writing down what it is that they wish to stop or start doing (for example stop smoking) and begin to list all the effects of that activity and start a reaction for each time they may incur a craving. In the example of smoking, when cravings for a nicotine occur, chew a piece of gum, then journal that craving and the stimulation that brought them to the need for that craving. The outcome is to indoctrinate a healthier solution in place of one that is harmful and track over time the progress it took to reach that goal. 

Sources

Clawar, S. S., & Rivlin, B. (2013). Children held hostage second edition: Identifying brainwashed children, presenting a case, and crafting solutions. American Bar Association.

Richards, N. (2010). Police Loyalty Redux. Criminal Justice Ethics, 29(3), 221–240. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/0731129X.2010.524033

Stahl, B., & Millstine, W. (2013). Calming the rush of panic: a mindfulness-based stress reduction guide to freeing yourself from panic attacks and living a vital. New Harbinger Publications. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/radford/reader.action?docID=1124454.

Stein, A. (2021). Terror, love, and brainwashing: attachment in cults and totalitarian systems (Second). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003030959

War and Emotions with a perspective of the Russo- Ukrainian conflict

The Russian war in Ukraine is unprecedented as the scale of propaganda on both sides have been active, to the point where misinformation is more abundant and both sides of the conflict have been muddied. While Russian propaganda remains within its own borders and that of their allies, the west has been influenced by the Ukrainian propagandists and leaked footage for the western world to see. 

It is important to note that while there are social media presences from Russians, there has been a history of curtailment of the freedom of speech in Russia and thus what can be ascertained is through what media outlets and average citizens have released. 

The war according to Russia

As reported by NPR, the Russian state media has full control over the narrative on the conflict in the Ukraine, as such, there are no mentions of the words, “War” or “Invasion” but rather it is to be seen as a “Liberation” (Clark, 2022). All other news agencies that do not tow this same line are shut down, which has led to a diaspora of independent agencies out of Russia and into other parts of Europe. Incidentally, because of the exit of independent news agencies, many Russians turn to using a virtual private network or VPN to access banned sites to get another look at what is happening in Ukraine. The state utilizes its own versions of popular social media sites to drive the narrative as well as sponsor online “troll” accounts to wage a war of misinformation on popular social networking sites and online news agencies. 

This control over the narrative is a new weapon in the Russian arsenal, as it is the first real example of warfare in cyberspace. While the traditional type of war is being waged in the streets of Kyiv and in the Donbas region, the images shown on Russian state-controlled media talks of a different and often starkly contrasted tale rather than what has already happened. 

How Ukrainians talk to relatives in Russia 

According to a poll taken by the Washington Post, up to the time of the invasion, a sum of 52% of Ukrainians discussed the relations between Russia and Ukraine, discussing the topics of Ukrainian leadership being portrayed as Nazi’s. Less talked about subjects included matters of the Ukraine committing acts of genocide of ethnic Russians in the Donetsk region. When the invasion began, most of the topics discussed included the acts of torture, looting, and rape committed by the Russian troops in the cities of Ukraine. When polled on the responses Ukrainian family members received from Russian family, a majority at the beginning of the war believed the Russian state media, and many older generations believed the state propaganda (Brik, 2022).

It is important to note that this study was conducted at the beginning of the war and that most of the participants were still in contact with relatives at the time and were still able to freely discuss the events without intervention by the Russian state. Since the time of the interviews, many forms of communication have been disconnected by both sides to maintain control of the narrative.

(Jones, 2014)

Example of Russian propaganda, where the use of imagery attempts to paint a picture of liberation by using the swastika to depict the current state of Ukraine and the Russian flag to show freedom and prosperity. 

Conclusions of the propaganda war in the Russo- Ukrainian conflict

Propaganda in the simplest terms, appeals to a baser part of emotions, as an attempt to sway the opinion of people to follow the propagandists’ motives. In the case of Russia and Ukraine, the complete isolation of the people in Russia is paramount to brainwashing as discussed above. The control of the narrative is key in the emotional manipulation of the Russian populous. As a result of this, those with abilities to bypass the state-run media have begun to protest the war in Ukraine, as Russian police have begun making mass arrests. The difficulties that this presents to the Russian government may be miniscule as they control the narrative, but the over arching point is that the Russian public are emotionally strained. 

This case is a clear example of the effect of narrative in a situation where a government attempts to keep perpetuating a narrative to keep support for its actions abroad. This also is a very clear example of an attempt to brainwash those who consume only a single source of media as they vie for control of that media and the danger it possesses. Ukrainians as well have the same albeit more democratically backed form of narrative control, creates a double standard and very dangerous precedent set to create ardent zealots for their cause. 

Sources

Brik, T., Erlich, A., & Gans- Morse, J. (2022, June 20). Is Russia’s wartime propaganda more powerful than family bonds? The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/20/russia-ukraine-relatives-conversations-propaganda/

Clark, N. (2022, March 15). Here’s how propaganda is clouding Russians’ understanding of the war in Ukraine. NPR. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/15/1086705796/russian-propaganda-war-in-ukraine

Jones, J. (2014, March 14). [Russian state propaganda depicting Ukraine as a fascist state]. Pbs.Org. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/inside-ukraines-propaganda-war/

Torichnyi, V., Biletska, T., Rybshchun, O., Kupriyenko, D., Ivashkov, Y., & Bratko, A. (2021). Information and Propaganda Component of the Russian Federation Hybrid Aggression: Conclusions for Developed Democratic Countries on the Experience of Ukraine. TRAMES: A Journal of the Humanities & Social Sciences, 25(3), 355–368. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.3176/tr.2021.3.06

Treisman, R. (2022, March 7). Russia arrests nearly 5000 anti- war protesters. NPR. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/07/1084967986/russia-arrests-more-protesters

Ethics and Emotions

In discussing ethics and its relationship with emotions, human emotions are the driving force of moral and ethical discourse. Negative emotions are the motivator for ethical discussions as the feelings caused by these negative emotions are the principal drivers in how individuals should act (Zerbe, pg. 115). As the need for finding the moral center and discussion of good can not take place with out the heart of feeling emotions. 

In the basis of ethical discussion, philosophers such as Kant, Aurelius, Cicero, and others have placed a great emphasis on emotions, either as a driver of ethical expression or as a byproduct of life that must be controlled and explored (Meditations, 2020). In the factors that play into the full relationship between ethical philosophy and emotions, is the intersection of culture, biology, and interpersonal connections and how they relate to the expression of emotion. As previously discussed in emotions and culture, highlighting the differences placed on outward expression of emotions, the discussion of what is appropriate for a response to expression and the expression itself vary wildly depending on the culture and context. 

Ethical expression and the need for art

As important psychologically as building a vocabulary for emotional expression is, there is also a need for an ethical expression of emotion in art as it is a release of feelings in a way that cannot be quantified scientifically. The use of poetry, music, painting and sculpture, all express emotions that in other circumstances humanity may lack in terminology. The expression of anger and grief from world events brings a fundamental expression in the form of visual or auditory form creates a release to the one feeling that emotion. This in turn creates a different kind of emotional vocabulary in the sense that one can express as many emotions through a medium as opposed to trying to assign a singular word or expression to the feeling. 

When expression goes wrong

Expression of emotion is vital to the growth and development of humanity, however there is a time and place where it may be inappropriate for there to be any emotional bias. In the field of journalism, emotions compromise the integrity of the journalist as it creates a bias and risks running an air of self-promotion (Ward, 2010), and is to be cautioned against if one wishes to maintain integrity and good standing in the field of reporting. This is not to say that a journalist may not have any emotions on the subject matter but rather there is a time and place for there to be an expression of emotion an to use emotions discretionally rather than openly may prove to show ethical behavior.

Conclusion

The outward expression of emotion is paramount in the release of the build up of feelings, in that the release will cause an outlet for the emotions to flow. However, in certain circumstances emotional releases may not be appropriate or even welcome as either cultural bounds are concerned, or professional ethics are involved. This it may be concluded that the overall medium of the expression of emotion is just as important as the emotion itself. 

Sources

Marcus Aurelius, E. of R. (2020). Meditations: the philosophy classic. Capstone, a Wiley brand

Silva Sara Graça da (Ed.). (2016). Morality and emotion: (un)conscious journey to being. Routledge. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www-taylorfrancis-com.radford.idm.oclc.org/books/edit/10.4324/9781315651040/morality-emotion-sara-gra%C3%A7a-da-silva

Ward, S. J. A. (2010, August 24). Emotion in reporting: use and abuse. Center for Journalism Ethics. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2010/08/23/emotion-in-reporting/

Zerbe, W. J., Härtel Charmine E. J, & Ashkanasy, N. M. (2008). Emotions, ethics, and decision-making (Ser. Research on emotion in organizations, v. 4). Emerald Group Pub. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/radford/reader.action?docID=453325

De-Escalation

De-escalation in the emotional context is the ability to temper emotions and states of mind between two parties. Putting it simply, the ability to find a common ground and quell heightened emotions. In recent years de-escalation has been a theme in discussions ranging from political unrest to police violence and mass shootings. What this study will examine is the use of de-escalation and the reasons behind emotional states requiring de-escalation, the use of and the techniques in de-escalation in the context of conflict resolution. 

The Amygdala and the amygdala hijack

To being, the amygdala is a small almond shaped part of the brain that processes information from many other regions of the brain and co-ordinates a response in the body to external and internal stimuli. Connected to the amygdala are the hippocampus, the thalamus and several synaptic organs that make up the processing portion of the brain for the five senses (Wright, 2020). This is known as the limbic system.

(Wright, 2020)

In this part of the brain, the reaction to certain stimulation occurs and is processed into the physiological and emotional responses felt by individuals. As such this is where the amygdala may “hijack” the brain in times of stress and levels of danger. This hijack takes over the rational parts of the brain and replaces the signals with a baser and more emotional response. For example, if an individual is involved in an argument and the other party is dominating the narrative, the individual could be driven by the amygdala to snap and lose control of their composure and in the vernacular, “go off” on someone. It is not until later that the individual may find that their reaction was unjustified or over the top and thus think in retrospect on the perception of their actions (Guy- Evans, 2015). 

When the amygdala takes over, several physiological reactions take place, notably the fight or flight response is triggered and the body dumps adrenaline into the bloodstream. This causes a reaction in the processing of information in the moment and the loss of cognitive reasoning, an example of this can be seen in warfare when taking incoming fire from an enemy position, or in the abundant cases of police, where a suspect attacks an officer to either flee or inflict harm. The responses are the same however the choice of fight or flight comes to the individual and their conditioned responses. 

How to regain control after the amygdala hijack

First and foremost, in regaining cognitive control over one’s emotions is time. From the initial triggering event there is a spike in adrenaline and response becomes instantaneous, followed by a heightened state of awareness. Over time, this state begins to fall to a critical low point before returning to base line. This period is the fight or flight response window where the body is faced with the physiological reaction of the amygdala.

The next step in regaining control is to recognize what is happening as the feelings of the amygdala take control, keeping aware of the presence of mind is key. Controlling breathing and focus is a key factor as in doing so, the response is slowed, and cognitive control can remain outside of the amygdala’s response. This requires the use of learned techniques in controlling stress and trauma. 

The third step is after the amygdala hijacking to process what had happened to cause the hijacking and create a vocabulary for the situation. Uses of techniques in dealing with alexithymia are crucial to this portion to regain control. This not only prevents any further trauma to the individual but also can provide a point where de- escalating the situation that caused the event where there can be a modicum of objectivity as well as a concise attempt to approach the event in a manner of civility. 

Conflict resolution and practical applications

In current practices of mediation, more and more the need for de-escalation practices is prevalent to the current orthodoxy of behavior, meaning that there is a great need to train law enforcement, educators, and mental health professionals with the tools on how to address conflict as it arises and soothe tensions before they boil over into a more violent conclusion. 

The start of conflict resolution begins with the need for a mediator between the aggrieved parties. Mediators need to be completely impartial to either side and must present a level approach to conflict by showing empathy and understanding of both points of the argument (Stewart, pg. 18). This impartiality sets a precedent to have both parties speak and play to their need to be heard. By this, their emotional states can be controlled into a feeling of security and tensions can be eased knowing that they will be heard. 

The role of the mediator in the conflict should be to sound out the arguments for both sides, thus giving a framework for brainstorming ideas. They also should act by voicing the facts and avoid taking sides at all costs. The mediator in the situation should also take into consideration the framing of a resolution and then orchestrate the binding of that resolution through negotiation. Keeping in mind the point of remaining impartial, the agreement should be reached by the parties involved and the mediator only facilitating the agreement.

In practical use for conflict resolution, law enforcement can use these techniques to better handle domestic disputes and civil matters where the law is not bound such as disputes between neighbors. Of note, the role of being a mediator would benefit law enforcement in their practices as building rapport with the community through mediation would help improve the perception of law enforcement in communities where there has been an amount of turmoil brought on by negatively charged incidents in the area. 

Experiential Exercises

First exercise involves role playing as individuals in a conflict, requiring two volunteers to be the aggrieved parties (the source of conflict can range from a perceived insult to a dispute over something miniscule, point of this must be to create a conflict that can be resolved using mediation), and a third to play the role of mediator. Using the layout above, the mediator must get both parties to agree to a resolution within a time frame of ten minutes. After ten minutes has elapsed the three must switch places until all participants have had a turn as mediator. Once this is completed, a discussion on the successes and failures of the mediation should be conducted with a reflection on the importance of mediation and conflict resolution.

Second exercise is one that involves a recognition of the elements that make up the emotions that lead to the need for de- escalation. In this, participants must create a list of positive and negatives stressors they had for the day and how it made them feel. Next going on to rate the interactions based on how strongly they felt concluding as to how the accumulation of external stimulation has caused them to react. 

The third exercise involves full group participation, where the group is prompted with a question in the format of what would you do? These hypothetical scenarios can range from being very serious to completely absurd, but the goal is to come up wit ha solution to resolve the problem through talking it out in the group with one person leading the discussion.

Sources

Alexis Rain Rockwell, Stephen A. Bishopp, & Erin A. Orrick. (2020). Do policy and training changes influence patterns of police use of force? An interrupted time-series analysis. Policing: An International Journal, 44(3), 469–482. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-07-2020-0128

Guy-Evans, O. (2021, Nov 05). Amygdala Hijack and the Fight or Flight Response. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/what-happens-during-an-amygdala-hijack.html 

Hoorelbeke, K., Van den Bergh, N., De Raedt, R., Wichers, M., Albers, C. J., & Koster, E. H. W. (2022). Regaining control of your emotions? Investigating the mechanisms underlying effects of cognitive control training for remitted depressed patients. Emotion. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/emo0001067.supp (Supplemental)

Hullman, G. A., & Kwiatkowski, M. J. (2022). Social constructions of conflict and mediation as factors in mediation program decisions. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 39(3), 211–220. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/crq.21325

Killcross, S. (2000). The amygdala, emotion, and learning. Psychologist, 13(10), 502. Retrieved from https://login.radford.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/amygdala-emotion-learning/docview/211803601/se-2?accountid=13401

Richmond, M., & Gibbs, J. C. (2021). Police Perceptions of Training on Interactions with Persons with Mental Illness. Journal of Police & Criminal Psychology, 36(2), 268–275. https://doi-org.radford.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09409-8

Stewart, S. (1998). Conflict resolution: A foundation guide. Waterside Press.

Wright, A. (2020, October 10). The amygdala [JPG]. Neuroscience Online, University of Texas. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s4/chapter06.html