Errant Belief #2: “Everything Is Mind Control”

Some people claim that mind control is everywhere. For instance, elements of mind control are in psychotherapy, advertising, education, and the military… so it must be normal or acceptable, right? We lose critical distinctions when we generalize and say everything is mind control. Insight is not gained through overgeneralization.

A more accurate and useful framework is to view influence on a spectrum or continuum. On the one hand, there is ethical, consensual influence that supports a person’s autonomy, growth, and human rights. It is constructive, preserves things like autonomy, and offers unconditional acceptance. On the other side of the spectrum lies undue influence, where individuality is stripped away, and the group’s or leader’s will replaces personal agency. Destructive influence encourages hate and discourages people’s authentic selves.