Political brainwashing is a social control mechanism employed by those in power for their gain. It's an effort to control the outcome of any situation.

Political brainwashing exploits the political gap existing in people. Most people do not have much information about politics and the knowledge politicians and their analysts have, they use that to exploit this gap in the people to their advantage.

Brainwashing in itself is intentional or unintentional persuasion and pressurizing an individual or a group of individuals into adopting a certain way of thinking or approaching issues. They must end up being limited and lacking the freedom to think rationally. It's done systematically and repeatedly. In the political arena, it's done by politicians to win support from the masses and alter their thinking into believing or at least agreeing with the idea. Others brainwash so that they can control, use and exploit their victims. Not everyone can be brainwashed to an equal extent or at the same rate. Some people are more prone to brainwashing than others. This difference might be caused by events that took place at an earlier stage in life for example events that affected their self-esteem. People who have developed strong self-esteem have stronger resistance to brainwashing. They know who they are and where they stand on most issues and are not easily influenced by other people's opinions. They are confident and firmly rooted in their skills, purpose, passion, and abilities.

We are all brainwashed to some extent politically. There's always a hint of discomfort when a favorite political candidate is criticized. Most people can be categorized as brainwashed simply by the personal way they approach and react to political criticism. They seem to have lost and grip on their national independence.

It works similarly to a group of individuals who do not have a religious standing or roots. This group of people may encounter a radical preacher or religious leader and are indoctrinated into believing the message preached without much thought or rational criticism. They want to identify with something and identification comes through socialization. It's a social phenomenon. People naturally seek to develop an identity that will be acceptable to their groups.

Brainwashing has many systemic techniques used to implement them.

1SOCIAL MANIPULATION

Social manipulation is a strong need to support a certain political standing for different reasons. For example racial, family, or tribal of an individual. Most individuals find themselves at crossroads because they do not want to disappoint those whom they feel their allegiance should lie with. This pressure act as a core driver in the manipulation of their political standings.

The notion of manipulation through societal expectations or other social structures existent that box individuals into acceptance, paints a picture of human beings being constricted and not free or autonomous in their choices and actions. They are constrained by the social world they inhabit and the social relations they form like families through marriage. Society conforms to norms, values, and rules that direct their behavior and in this instance political behavior. The key ingredient to political brainwashing is group psychology. Politicians exploit this in their favor. Group psychology is a concept that urges people in a group to make impulsive and irrational decisions as a group. Group psychology and need for identity or identity crisis to brainwashing.

2COERCIVE PIRSUATION

This is a systemic effort to persuade an unbeliever to accept and adopt an ideology, a formal way of thinking, or how they approach and view situations. Coercion can also come in the form of threats, force, or intimidation.

Those in power can opt to alter the social and physical environment of the people (voters), forcing them to support them irrespective of their rational beliefs and leanings politically.

3PROPAGANDA

Propaganda is the dissemination of information, arguments rumors, or lies to influence public opinion of the person.

In an ideal democracy, everyone is free to spread propaganda. It's a political brainwashing technique employed by most politicians. It's used to stain and paint the political name and standing of rival parties and politicians. Examples of propaganda are fraud claims, corruption claims, and lack of academic qualification claims among others. Propaganda is normally met with peaceful counter propaganda and the final verdict is left for the general masses to decide.

Propaganda is deliberately selected facts, and arguments and presented in ways that will have the most effect on people for example a food scandal when there is a hunger crisis in the country or corruption claims when there is inflation in commodity prices.

SIGNS OF BRAINWASHED PERSONS

1NO LONGER THEMSELVES

These individuals act as having turned into someone else. They adopt the beliefs, behaviors, and ways of life of their leader. Supporters of a politician will suddenly conform to the politician's manifestos, and agendas without critically and rationally judging.

2STRONG ATTACHMENT TO THEIR NEW IDEOLOGY

This individual will defend their political standing with everything they got. They will constantly remind you how wrong you are about your political ideas. They are convinced almost as if divinely intervened that their leader is the right one.

3OBSESSION

They are obsessed with their new belief, groups, and the group leaders (political leaders, in this case), they can't stop talking about their ideologies.

4PRESENCE OF REWARDS FOR ONE'S DEVOTION

Most political brainwashing techniques include rewards to their political supporters in form of money, property, or opportunities. If your allegiance or support is rewarded then definitely you are being brainwashed.

5EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION

Most politicians use their background or some specific characteristics for example gender or age group to guilt-trap individuals into supporting them. An example is a politician from a certain ethnic group who will guilt trap his or her ethnic colleagues into supporting him regardless of how they feel about them or their political views.