Brainwashing is all about lying
and distorting reality

• Starting with the truth, then layering on lies
  A small truth from the victim is used as a foundation, then falsehoods are gradually added until the person accepts an entire distorted narrative.
• Punishing questions and doubts
  Victims who ask for proof or challenge lies are shamed, expelled, or punished, reinforcing fear and obedience.
• Isolation and exploitation of confessions
  Victims are interrogated about relationships and life events. Personal admissions are later used for blackmail, humiliation, or manipulation.
• Gaslighting through false gossip
  Abusers claim that friends or family are speaking negatively behind the victim’s back. This creates mistrust, alienates allies, and destabilizes relationships.
• Reward and punishment cycles
  Compliance is rewarded with small privileges, while resistance is punished with humiliation, deprivation, or exclusion.
• Repetition of false narratives
  Victims are forced to chant slogans, memorize distorted “truths,” or repeat lies in group settings until they internalize them.

Building on lies

The basic method is to take a small amount of truth from the subject and build on lies. The initial information is true, because it comes from the person themselves, and then each falsehood is gradually built on top. The logic is, if one thing is true, then the rest is true also. If the first lie is believed, then another lie is added. The lies pile up like stones. For example, a cult leader may begin by agreeing with someone’s personal frustration about work, then claim that “your boss is part of a conspiracy against you.” Once the first exaggeration is accepted, more extreme distortions follow.

If you ask questions and check everything for proof, the victim soon discovers that they are being lied to. At this point the abuser may withdraw or slow down temporarily. They will start again in another direction and try something else the subject does believe. People who ask questions may be removed from the group or punished. This is often seen in authoritarian groups where doubters are shamed publicly or expelled, reinforcing fear and obedience.

These tactics are used to isolate the person from others. The victims are questioned about every relationship and life event to look for compromising information (KOMPRIMAT) to use against them later. Abusers look for information to have more material to use to extort and manipulate. For instance, a manipulator may demand confessions of “wrongdoings” during group sessions, later using those admissions to blackmail or humiliate the victim.

This knowledge of their social contacts provides the initial information the handler uses to build falsehoods on. The handler tells the subject that people are saying or doing negative things behind their back. The victim then accuses their social contacts of all sorts of negative statements that were never said. This makes the victim look unstable and relationships break down. It is similar to the effect of vicious gossip. In this case it may never actually have been said. The subject believes it because certain small parts of the story may be true. This convinces the subject that the rest is also true. This technique is known as “gaslighting,” where the abuser fabricates stories to make the victim doubt their own perception and alienate them from allies.

The upside universe

Lies are used to turn the person’s reality upside down. Lies are used to control the entire world of the subject. A tactic of deception is to claim that every good thing that happens to the subject is because of the abuser or abusive system being in control and helping the subject. Every negative thing that happens is a punishment for being disobedient or disrespectful. “We didn’t give you that job because you were disrespectful last week.” The subject tries to think of anything they said or did that was disrespectful and apologises.

Each time they submit, they become more vulnerable. For instance if every time the abuser threatens the subject’s family, the subject submits. Therefore, the abuser continues to use this tactic because they know it works. The victim obviously does not understand the system of manipulation; and are treated accordingly. Every time they give in, they make their own situation worse. This is a classic “reward and punishment” cycle, where compliance is rewarded with small privileges and resistance punished with humiliation or deprivation.

The victim can no longer even think without being surrounded by lies. They live in a universe that is entirely controlled by their abusers. They live in a state of terror and hopelessness as they believe that every aspect of their life is controlled by their abusers.

The victims are under constant pressure and abuse to reinforce the brainwashing. They repeat these lies to others and the entire group accepts a false reality. Examples include chanting slogans, repeating false narratives in group meetings, or being forced to memorize distorted “truths” until they become second nature.

The Kidnapping of Colleen Stan (The girl in the box) is an extreme example of brainwashing someone until they become psychologically and physically imprisoned. Collen Stan was held in a box under her captors’ bed for seven years. She had never tried to escape because she believed that she was being watched by a non-existent group called ‘The Company’. Her abductors Cameron and Janice Hooker had completely convinced her that she was their prisoner. She was released eventually, by the wife of her abductor. Colleen Stan did not report them to the police. However, three months later, Janice Hooker reported her husband to the police. Cameron Hooker had allegedly killed a previous victim, but was not charged due to lack of evidence. Collen Stan had done well to survive. She may have bonded with her abusers due to Stockholm syndrome. A survival mechanism is to bond with captors and take their side to be accepted as part of the group and therefore reduce the risk of mistreatment. An further example of this would be conversion to the religion of their captors. This enables their captors to see their hostages as people of value and part of the group. Their treatment of their captives may improve.

When the abuser or abusive system is completely in control it has effectively imprisoned the victim. It is very difficult to deprogram victims of these tactics. It can be a long process to analyse and dismiss all the falsehoods they have accepted for years. Every lie is in their conscious as well as subconscious mind. They have constructed an entirely false narrative of their own lives, their thoughts and behaviour. It takes courage to face the truth and admit that they have been taken in by people they thought cared about them. Their life has been taken from them as an individual; they have lost control to others. It can be a shock when the truth finally dawns on them. They have invested so much in the group only to be left feeling humiliated and victimised. They cannot turn back time and get the lives they would have had back. It will take time and support to free their minds, as well as their lives. They will need to rebuild their social network. They may have some apologies to make to friends who tried to help them see the truth and were rejected. Hopefully some friends will forgive and understand.

Rebuilding in reality can be both a joyous process and one of great sadness. The isolation from others can take a lifetime to repair. The victim may never regain their trust in others or repair the damage to their relationships completely. However, every day is a further step in recovery. Helping others to free themselves can restore self-worth and enable other people to regain control of their lives. It can be lonely to leave a group or person that they have built their lives around. But there are other survivors out there waiting to help. People who share similar experiences are often the best help in recovery. We are never alone with suffering. Many people survive terrible trauma and recover. They go on to live happy and fulfilled lives. Free your mind, and help free others.

Protective strategies against brainwashing

• Question everything
  Ask for evidence and proof before accepting claims. Doubt is a healthy safeguard.
• Maintain diverse connections
  Stay in touch with friends, family, and communities outside the group or individual. Isolation makes manipulation easier.
• Recognize emotional manipulation
  Notice when guilt, shame, or fear are being used to control behaviour.
  Step back and evaluate calmly.
• Limit exposure to controlling environments
  Reduce time spent in spaces where lies, slogans, or repetitive narratives dominate. Redirect your energy to more positive pursuits and organisations.
• Strengthen self‑worth
  Remind yourself of your values, achievements, and identity beyond the manipulator’s narrative. People who put you down constantly are often insecure. Their need for control is because they feel powerless in other areas of their lives.
• Educate yourself
  Learn about common manipulation tactics (gaslighting, isolation, reward/punishment cycles). Awareness makes them easier to spot.
• Practice critical thinking
  Compare information against facts, logic, and multiple sources. Don’t rely on one authority for truth. Opinions may contain bias. Understand the agenda and motivation of the author.
• Document your experiences
  Keep a private record of what was said or done. Ensure that evidence is kept safe.
  Reviewing later helps identify contradictions and falsehoods.
• Know your legal rights
  Learning about your rights can make it clear when a person’s or organisation’s behaviour is inappropriate or illegal.
• Seek outside perspectives
  Talk to trusted people or professionals who can provide objective viewpoints.
• Build resilience through support networks
  Survivors’ groups, therapy, or community organisations can provide solidarity and tools for recovery.