Breaking Through Thought-Terminating Clichés

Engaging With Statements That Stop Critical Thought

Note: Sept 5, 2025: Robert J. Lifton (1926–2025), my friend and mentor whose work on thought-terminating clichés and the “language of non-thought” shaped this field, died on Sept 4, 2025, at age 99. His ideas continue to guide ethical inquiry and open dialogue. His scholarship remains foundational to resisting undue influence.