What do you think makes one person able to brain wash a majority?

Question

Over the years there have been many people with thoroughly distorted views and ambitions that have become leaders (i.e. Stalin, Hitler etc.) and in most cases these people managed to convert people via minority / majority influence in various ways (i.e. brain washing). I have recently been reading about religious cults and mass suicide as this is an area which we only touched on slightly in my psychology course. I cannot and will never understand how Marshall Applewhite (Heaven's Gate) managed to convince 38 people to commit suicide so they would be ready to board a space ship which was waiting behind a comet. The bodies of the dead were found in their bunks, with arm bands saying 'Away Team', whilst wearing matching black clothing with Nike trainers and the same amount of money in their pockets (no doubt to buy duty free once on the craft?). I know 'cults' are quite complicated but this one reads as 'laughable'. How is it possible for one man to brain wash so many people?

Answer 1

You've been already brain washed into thinking this mass murder comitted by high standard people in politics and economy was in reality this funny tail of a mass suicide.

The American media is the best brain washer ever.

Answer 2

Usually, because the people are very venerable. Germany and Russia were in very poor shape when Hitler and Stalin rose to prominence. In the case of cults such as Heaven's Gate they start with people who are lonely or troubled. They start be offering friends hp or shelter. Then they isolate the person.

Answer 3

It is the combination of the person influencing and the person being influenced. Charisma, personality and stature play a part in conveying a message, but the person receiving the message decides to buy into a particular idea or philosophy. Most people are looking for a "higher power" or purpose to believe in and to think there is something much greater then the individual. I'm sure a persons mental status also plays into the equation as well. Someone who needs to feel accepted, wanted or even admired; and often times these "leaders" focus on people who are in search of such acceptance. Once they become part of a group it is difficult to form ones own identity, which is the ideal situation for the person in charge because they have given up all sense of the word individual. Once influenced the next step is to formulate the idea it is an US against THEM mission. "The world doesn't understand" or "the world is wrong and wants to keep us from being right."

In small ways we are all forced into joining a group. The only difference is most of the time the ideas or beliefs are more positive. Have you ever been in a club (4-H, girl/boy scouts) member of a church, school or university, family, or stood up for a particular belief; then you have been influenced.

It is much deeper then this, but in a nutshell.. it takes the right circumstances to bring about this type of influence.

Answer 4

I dont think it has anything to do with the Speaker, I think its the audiences fault, many are charismatic, and every now and then you get the combination of a Charismatic person talking to a sympathetic audience, the combination can be deadly.

If you ever been in sales you know that once you make the first c***k in the defenses it becomes like dominos, once you get one to believe you soon there will be two, and so on.

Answer 5

the leader hits on a feeling or idea others like but don't have the guts to do/say, thats why they follow the one who is strong enough to do things against the popular ways of the time. each of the followers like some part of the generally unpopular ideals of the leader.

this qtn is like why does a country have to listen to its leader?

there is many who have died by following their leader, maybe it should be why is there leaders and why are some followers?

Answer 6

Persistence, scaring/intimidation and confidence is the key. He kept his followers well informed about what was going to happen and convinced them be-on reasonable doubt(according to their understanding), that the next step would be the best/mot preferable.

Anyway,i would say that, most of the time, people are made to believe what is told to them more often.they give in because they are tired or are afraid of the out come.

But most of them scare people into believing what they have in mind.

Thanks for sharing

Answer 7

People who want to be part of a revolution.

A certain amount of political savvy

Entreprenurial skills

A badass little 'stash

1 million Jews (to start with)

Cynide, hooj ovens, barbed wire and rifles.

Combine, stir, let sit for 8 years.

Repeat as necessary

Answer 8

The combination of charisma and ignorance. If you have enough charisma then you can most likely manipulate an ignorant group of people very easily.

Answer 9

Ben L is right.  They are people waiting for a Messianic leader.  When you examine the conditions at the time these leaders rose, you see why they gained so much influence.  They said what the people were ready to hear and did what the people wanted to be done.

I left the army 40 years ago confused about such things.  I have been studying philosophies and social practices for almost that long trying to understand.  That's what I found, and a lot more.

One of the more is that the things that happened, in general, were necessary.  That goes particularly for things like wars.  I also study why they are necessary.  In short, people need things they cannot get otherwise.

The route problem is not the war, it's the need.  Usually that is caused by overpopulation, current or pending, in your nation or others that affect yours (sound familiar?).  That's always been the most common cause of that kind of desperate need.

Answer 10

Personal Charisma & the ability to define & attract people that maybe in need of feeling as if they 'belong' to something.

I'm sure there are many more reasons why.