The 3 most important types of indoctrination

We are constantly exposed to stimuli that seek to modify our ideals and beliefs. Some are subtle and some are less so.

We will perform a journey through the most frequent forms of indoctrination, starting first with a broad definition of this phenomenon that will allow us to lay the foundations for the subsequent study of the types that we can find in our day to day.

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The main types of indoctrination

In order to know the various types of indoctrination, it is necessary first of all that we be clear about the term indoctrination, as it can sometimes lead to certain confusions. The truth is the action of indoctrination is basically transmitting a doctrine to another person. Of course, this action has extraordinary implications..

Passing on a doctrine means that one person is trying to instill in another a series of values, ideas, ways of thinking and even acting. As social beings that we are, this is a phenomenon that inevitably occurs in many of our interactions, especially with those closest to us.

This is the case of the transmission experienced from parents to children, as we will see later when reviewing the types of indoctrination. In this case, it is difficult to establish a border between the mere process of educating and that of indoctrination. Some authors introduce the nuance of critical thinking to differentiate both concepts.

In that sense, we could say that indoctrination differs from education when the indoctrinator tries to prevent the indoctrinated from reasoning critically about the elements that he is instilling in him, and therefore accept them without further qualms. This issue has generated a heated debate between parents and educational communities about the limits between the two.

As with education, and as we will see in the types of indoctrination, this concept also maintains strong links with socialization, making their separation in certain areas is complicated. In any case, socialization is seen as a neutral process, while indoctrination unleashes a series of negative connotations.

The phenomenon of indoctrination has been treated historically, even in ancient times, although it has been given other labels. However, the modern term has been studied mainly in the 20th century, through research on the influence of the media carried out by such influential authors as Avram Noam Chomsky, or even the physicist and Nobel laureate, Albert Einstein.

Having built a theoretical base, we can now delve into the different types of indoctrination. For this we are going to review a list with the most common examples, although it does not mean that they are the only ones we can find, since indoctrination can occur in a multitude of fields.

1. Political indoctrination

Undoubtedly, when thinking about the types of indoctrination, one of the first that will come to mind is that which has to do with the field of politics. In that sense, the different political doctrines would make up the set of ideals, values ​​and ways of thinking and living that a certain group would try to impose over the rest.

Indoctrination is a fundamental part of politics. Every message and campaign is aimed at strengthening the feeling of unity of those convinced voters but also to try to generate interest in those who are hesitant between different formations.

Of course, against those parties that are opposite, they will generate a feeling of rivalry that is closer to enmity, blaming them for all the ills of society and never recognizing the goodness of a proposal or a measure taken by them.

In addition, when we talk about politics, within the types of indoctrination, we must not forget the influence of new technologies, and how social networks are They use to try to instill the ideals of the party constantly, so they are no longer limited to this action during electoral campaigns, as in the past, but at the moment a daily state of tension is sought.

Obviously, not all political movements have the same indoctrination approach. We can find the maximum exponents, how could it be otherwise, in the totalitarian ideologies that emerged in the first half of the 20th century, such as National Socialism or Communism.

These types of movements went far beyond politics, making doctrine a way of life. Even today we can find vestiges of that past in countries like North Korea, where there is a cult of the supreme leader who borders on the divine and absolutely all facets of citizens' lives are controlled, restricting their freedoms to the maximum individual.

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2. Religious indoctrination

If one was that of politics, the second of the most obvious types of indoctrination cannot be other than that of religion. Religion is itself an indoctrination, for raises a series of beliefs that are based on faith, that is, that escape all critical and scientific thought.

Religions have been linked to the history of humanity even since prehistoric times, as there is evidence of various behaviors encompassed in shamanism, and even funeral rites that involve a series of beliefs spiritual. But later other creeds arose, some of which even survive today.

Why would religion be one of the types of indoctrination? Because They are not only composed of beliefs about a hypothetical beyond, but also impose a series of rules for earthly life, based on a higher power. In other words, they tell people how they should act, since God (whoever corresponds according to religion) commands it that way.

The majority religions, in fact, have a series of ceremonial rites in which the welcome new members or celebrate a vital moment or commitment within the framework religious. These acts are another element that mark the way in which the person should act, another example of why religion fits as one of the types of indoctrination.

Religion is a fantastic means of population control, as was the case in western countries in the past, through Christianity, or as occurs in many countries in Africa and Asia today, through the Islam. Many of these nations are theocracies, where religious power is inseparable from political power, so the laws are based on beliefs.

But even in countries where religion has lost the power it once held, we cannot ignore the cultural imprint they have left. This phenomenon is easily observable if we think about the differences in the way of being and living between people. belonging to traditionally Catholic countries and traditionally Protestant countries, such as the North and the South of Europe.

The most extreme form of indoctrination through religion is that carried out by fundamentalist movements, reaching even to convince their followers to commit suicidal acts, as is the case of some Islamic terrorist groups radical.

3. Indoctrination in the media

The media is not exactly one of the types of indoctrination, it is the medium ideal to indoctrinate in various ideologies, some of a political nature and others that go even further.

Evidently, there is no objective means of communication. Each and every one of them will respond to some power, being in some cases obvious and in others a more diffuse question.

In any case, the media act as a loudspeaker for the ideals that they intend to spread and impose. certain sectors, and for this they take advantage of informative, entertainment programs or any other. The messages can be introduced in a more veiled way or even in an explicit way.

It is only necessary to review the content of a television station, radio station or newspaper for a moment to grasp the editorial line that underlies that medium. This characteristic is also observed in social networks, not only due to the activity of its users, which will depend on each one of them, but the filtering and censorship actions that they can carry out, depending on the content they want show.

Due to our way of life, it is almost impossible to isolate ourselves from the media and social networks. An individual may try to choose the media that he reviews to inform himself, but he is never going to be safe from an attempted manipulation, even when critical thinking is strong in him.

For this reason, the mass media are, perhaps, the most extraordinary of the types of indoctrination, due to the practically unlimited power they wield. Perhaps that is why all powers strive to control them.

Bibliographic references:

• Callan, E., Arena, D. (2009). Indoctrination. The Oxford handbook of philosophy of Education.
• Ibáñez-Martín, J.A. (nineteen eighty one). Introduction to the concept of indoctrination. Spanish Journal of Pedagogy. JSTOR.
• Sears, A., Hughes, A., (2006). Citizenship: Education or indoctrination. Citizenship and Teacher Education. Citeseer.
• Snook, I.A. (2010). Concepts of Indoctrination (International Library of the Philosophy of Education Volume 20): Philosophical Essays.
• White, J.P. (1970). Indoctrination. Philosophy of Education.