Aivopesu

Aivopesu, Finnish for brainwashing, refers to the process by which an individual’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors are systematically altered through manipulation, coercion, or intensive social influence. Although popular usage often labels any persuasive attempt as aivopesu, scholars distinguish between ordinary influence and coercive thought reform.

Common mechanisms include isolation from prior networks and information sources, the imposition of a strict group worldview, unidirectional communication, control over emotional life (love bombing, fear, guilt), and the gradual exchange of autonomy for dependency. Techniques include controlling the information environment, demanded conformity, surveillance and punishment, and the use of rituals, confessions, and group pressure.

Historically, the term arose in Cold War contexts and has been applied to cults, extremist groups, authoritarian regimes, and abusive relationships. In psychology, it is linked to the concept of thought reform or coercive persuasion and to researchers such as Robert Lifton and Margaret Singer.

Scientific assessment remains debated; some argue that brainwashing is a real, measurable process under certain conditions, while others contend it overstates manipulation capabilities and that voluntary compliance, initially influenced, may later be reinforced. Ethical and legal concerns center on manipulation, exploitation, and the rights of individuals to resist or recover from indoctrination.