indoctrinate

Indoctrinate is a verb meaning to teach someone to accept a particular set of beliefs or a worldview, often with little encouragement of critical scrutiny or alternative viewpoints. In common use, the term carries a sense of persuasive influence beyond neutral instruction.

The word derives from doctrine, from Latin doctrina meaning teaching. Its English form and sense emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, with usage expanding to describe efforts to implant beliefs within individuals or groups.

Indoctrination can occur in various contexts, including religious communities, political movements, schools, and media programs. Common techniques associated with indoctrination include repeated assertion of a single viewpoint, appeals to authority, emphasis on conformity, censorship or suppression of dissent, and social or peer pressure to align with a prescribed set of beliefs.

Scholars and commentators often contrast indoctrination with education. Education is generally viewed as aiming to develop critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and the ability to engage with diverse perspectives. Indoctrination, by contrast, is typically characterized as prioritizing acceptance of a predefined doctrine over critical evaluation. Critics argue that it can diminish autonomy and the capacity to make informed personal judgments, while defenders may see it as necessary for social cohesion, shared values, or moral formation within a community.

Related concepts include inculcation, brainwashing, and propaganda. The use and evaluation of indoctrination remain debated across educational, political, and religious domains.