Thought reform and the psychology of totalism : a study of "brainwashing" in China / Robert Jay Lifton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lifton, Robert Jay, 1926-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Brainwashing--China.

Brainwashing.

Communism--China.

Communism.

Totalitarianism--China.

Totalitarianism.

China--History--20th century.

China.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (525 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, 1989, c1961.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Informed by Erik Erikson's concept of the formation of ego identity, this book, which first appreared in 1961, is an analysis of the experiences of fifteen Chinese citizens and twenty-five Westerners who underwent ""brainwashing"" by the Communist Chinese government. Robert Lifton constructs these case histories through personal interviews and outlines a thematic pattern of death and rebirth, accompanied by feelings of guilt, that characterizes the process of ""thought reform."" In a new preface, Lifton addresses the implications of his model for the study of American religious cults.

Contents:

Contents; Preface to the University of North Carolina Press Edition; Preface; PART ONE: The Problem; 1. What Is ""Brainwashing""?; 2. Research in Hong Kong; PART TWO: Prison Thought Reform of Westerners; 3. Re-education: Dr. Vincent; 4. Father Luca: The False Confession; 5. Psychological Steps; 6. Varieties of Response: The Obviously Confused; 7. Varieties of Response: Apparent Converts; 8. Varieties of Response: Apparent Resisters; 9. Group Reform: Double-edged Leadership; 10. Follow-up Visits; 11. Father Simon: The Converted Jesuit; 12. Recovery and Renewal: A Summing Up

PART THREE: Thought Reform of Chinese Intellectuals13. The Encounter; 14. The Revolutionary University: Mr. Hu; 15. A Chinese Odyssey; 16. The Older Generation: Robert Chao; 17. George Chen: The Conversions of Youth; 18. Grace Wu: Music and Reform; 19. Cultural Perspectives: The Fate of Filial Piety; 20. Cultural Perspectives: Origins; 21. Cultural Perspectives: Impact; PART FOUR: Totalism and Its Alternatives; 22. Ideological Totalism; 23. Approaches to Re-education; 24. ""Open"" Personal Change; Appendix: A Confession Document; Notes; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; L; M; N; O; P; R; S; T

UW; Y

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9798890881342

9780807882887

0807882887

OCLC:

769189698