Dark Persuasion

A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media

Dark Persuasion
Joel E Dimsdale
RRP:
NZ$ 47.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 38.39
Hardback
h235 x 156mm - 304pg
28 Sep 2021 US
International import eta 10-30 days
9780300247176
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Quantity:
 
 
A harrowing account of brainwashing' s pervasive role in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries This gripping book traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and religious conversion into the age of neuroscience and social media. When Pavlov introduced scientific approaches, his research was enthusiastically supported by Lenin and Stalin, setting the stage for major breakthroughs in tools for social, political, and religious control. Tracing these developments through many of the past century' s major conflagrations, Dimsdale narrates how when World War II erupted, governments secretly raced to develop drugs for interrogation. Brainwashing returned to the spotlight during the Cold War in the hands of the North Koreans and Chinese. In response, a huge Manhattan Project of the Mind was established to study memory obliteration, indoctrination during sleep, and hallucinogens. Cults used the techniques as well. Nobel laureates, university academics, intelligence operatives, criminals, and clerics all populate this shattering and dark story-one that hasn' t yet ended.
"In an age with deep concern that we are being manipulated by artificial intelligence and algorithms, this is an important topic and a timely, well-written book. The question of how large groups of seemingly reasonable people come to hold obviously unreasonable beliefs is one of the deepest questions of our age. "-Tanya Luhrmann, author of When God Talks Back "This book is a fascinating account of coercive persuasion from Pavlov to today' s mass believers in conspiracy. Dimsdale' s sobering account makes the reader wonder if what anti-vaxxers, Big Lie believers, and victims of brainwashing techniques have in common is the story told in this book about the socialization of cognition and emotion. Provocative and eye-opening. "-Arthur Kleinman, author of The Soul of Care "A book for our times-timely, compelling, provocative, smart, and ultimately hopeful, in offering a means to our own protection from the forces of darkness. "-Philippe Sands, author of East West Street "A remarkable history of the historical background to brainwashing in the twentieth century. This book should be read by anyone interested in how people can believe in something dramatically different from their own observations. "-Thomas Wise, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine "Captivating. Illuminating. Frightening. Secrets revealed and myths debunked on the past century' s practices of brainwashing told from the perspective of an experienced psychiatrist and a gifted narrator. A journey never to be forgotten. "-Stephen M. Stahl, Neuroscience Education Institute
Joel E. Dimsdale is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego. He consults widely to government agencies and is the author of numerous other works, including Anatomy of Malice: The Enigma of the Nazi War Criminals. He lives in San Diego, CA.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780300247176
Published: 28 Sep 2021
Published In: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Height: 235mm
Width: 156mm
Pages: 304

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information

View Cart or Browse other items in Society & Culture / Ethnic Studies.