The act of forcing someone to give up their beliefs and accept new ones through psychological pressure, repetition, or other manipulation.
A direct translation of the Chinese 'xǐnǎo xǐ' (literally 'wash brain'), used by Chinese Communists in the 1950s. The term was popularized in English during the Korean War to describe techniques used on prisoners. The metaphor of 'washing' suggests completely erasing old thoughts and filling with new ones.
The term 'brainwashing' was coined during the Korean War, but the techniques are way older—religions, governments, and cults have used repetition, isolation, and emotional pressure for centuries. Understanding how it works helps you recognize it in modern places like social media algorithm bubbles.
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