Brainwashing and other reasons to bathe...

"Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal." Albert Einstein

I have never been susceptible to hypnosis. Maybe.

Which is to say; in controlled situations where I have been aware of the hypnosis being attempted, I was too aware of the methods (or too left-brained) for the desired effect to be achieved. Self-hypnosis tapes have never had the desired effect on me, and subliminal messaging has been a waste of the messenger's time. Or has it?

I have been aware at times of being directly manipulated by those wishing to sell me something. For instance, I am wildly aware of the psychological tricks employed by stores to encourage repeat business or additional buying. I noted a particularly clumsy effort by a former employer, a large store chain. At some point in July, the store began repeatedly playing songs in which Christmas was mentioned or a few bars of a familiar Christmas melody were repeated. While those around me seemed not to notice, I would make a point to ask my customers (I was at the sales desk) whether any of the items purchased were gifts (ostensibly to remind them to keep the receipts for returns). After each incidence of the "Christmas in July" music, there was a noticeable uptick in 'gift' sales. I would hear other employees humming Christmas songs to themselves, though when I asked them what they were humming, none could say.

Needless to say, none of this was exactly scientific. But it was compelling. A few bars of music familiarly associated with a heavily commercialized holiday and sales went up. Makes you feel dirty, doesn't it?

I am new to the field of Neuropsychology, but I am wildly aware of the implications of knowledge regarding exactly how the brain works and how we can train it. Behavioral psychology has long been in use in schools, especially in regards to special education. It is also in use by our armies, to create unified bodies of soldiers trained to do difficult and dangerous work.

Technology can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Knowing how that technology is being used can have the effect of defusing it to some extent.