The purpose of this commentary is to inconspicuously make aware people to the gradual but measured and deliberate process of social thought reform through the channel of television programming. Not to seem too improbable or paranoia fanatical, but the idea is one that cannot reasonably be denied or methodically be refuted, even though it is widely so among the higher powers of broadcasting and government agencies.

The basic premise is that through a collaboration of cultural gatekeepers and social reformist, television is used to manipulate the minds of average Americans and the world thus resorting to control of their actions and lifestyles. Of course this process is one that could and has gone unnoticed for many years simply because it is a gradual process which requires the element of time to succeed.

The approach needed to measure how effective this process has been and will be to come requires that one stand outside the box of everyday reality and view the social structure from the beginning of television programming. But before we take this trip into the process of social mind manipulation we will give a brief explanation of the science of though reform.

According to Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D., who reviewed a publication called, Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association, which cites thought reform as a contributing factor to "Dissociate Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" (a diagnosis frequently given to former cult members), thought reform is defined as thus:

Thought reform is not mysterious. It is the systematic application of psychological and social influence techniques in an organized programmatic way within constructed and managed environments. The goal is to produce specific attitudinal and behavioral changes. The changes occur incrementally without its being patently visible to those undergoing the process that their attitudes and behavior are being changed a step at a time according to the plan of those directing the program.

Most thought reform tactics are used by cultic groups to "brainwash" members. If cult leadership can succeed in convincing members to think and behave a certain way, for the benefit of the group or organization, then the leaders can exert organized control and social suppression over that group. Systematically, brainwashing occurs in a slow process and starts with little things and end with larger, more controlling concepts, concepts that alter everyday behavior, living standards, beliefs, and attitudes.

When integrated in relation to television, this same process occurs on a national scale with the intention of controlling the masses' behavior, lifestyle, beliefs and attitudes. The goal is to train people to think and believe in a uniformed way, act a certain way, and live life a certain way. It's called propaganda but has stronger, more long-term effects. Over time, television has invaded the lives of the majority of Americans and people all over the world bringing visions of the idea life. Though there is news, educational TV, sports, documentaries and the like showing on various channels, the underlying theme of television is supposedly entertainment.

Drama, comedy, suspense, action, romance, horror, and all the other genres of the historical novel are acted out by people to reflect images of life through the television screen and into the minds of the people watching. Characters resemble true-to-life people that the audience can relate to so to personify the characters and gain the viewers interest and concentration, which involves the emotions, beliefs, and individual personality. With these aspects of the viewing audience at the disposal of the television producer's discretion, they can manipulate what the viewer should think, feel, and believe.

For instance, the daytime soap operas where the characters supposedly portray the lives of people who live in Any town USA. They have jobs, families, sicknesses, and face everyday dilemmas and problems. The producers recreate the lives of real people with real problems - which is not where the thought reform tactics begin - and then offer solutions on how to handle these problems, which is where though reform kicks in. Also, in dealing with routine task, which may involve doing everyday things like making dinner plans, having a conversation with someone, or deciding where to go for a vacation, producers have an opportunity to offer alternative methods of behavior for the viewing person to imitate in their life.

Where at one time a viewer might decide to cook dinner and serve their family at the kitchen table, after watching so many hours of a daytime soap, the viewer's behavior may change and they unconsciously decide to live up to the expectations of a soap character. That character may routinely order out after carefully devising the family budget that would allow dinner out with the family twice a week. The viewer feels and believes that the character has made a reasonable plan and adapts that plan and will not practice anything other for fear of not living up to the character's standards.

Life in television for characters is much more successful than millions of people in real life. Most characters have jobs, nice homes, loving families and or friends, problems that can be solved with witty solutions, and lives without detail. Sometimes they face problems that are not so easily solved but the object is to give viewers an idea of how and what to think while attempting to solve those problems. Producers are careful not to solve viewer's problems for them but are sure to implant concepts into their minds as to how to behave when that problem arises. Believe it or not, many people first consider how their favorite celebrity would handle a problem and then they act accordingly.

Before we get away from the essence of thought reform, here is another detailed description of the concept of thought reform by Margaret Thaler Singer:

In society there are numerous elaborate attempts to influence attitudes and modify behavior. However, thought reform programs can be distinguished from other social influence efforts because of their totalistic scope and their sequenced phases aimed at destabilizing participants' sense of self, sense of reality, and values. Thought reform programs rely on organized peer pressure, the development of bonds between the leader or trainer and the followers, the control of communication, and the use of a variety of influence techniques. The aim of all this is to promote conformity, compliance, and the adoption of specific attitudes and behaviors desired by the group. Such a program is further characterized by the manipulation of the person's total social environment to stabilize and reinforce the modified behavior and attitude changes.

The above description can easily be applied to the scenario of television and the public. "Thought reform programs rely on organized peer pressure, the development of bonds between the leader [television] or trainer and the followers [viewers], the control of communication, and the use of a variety of influence techniques."

Organized peer pressure is when someone is influenced by the behavior of another, as in a television character and the viewer. The viewer is expected to act a certain way and live a certain lifestyle as compared to the characters on television. In other words, if the viewer's life is not as successful as the character's life, then the viewer is subjugated into a status in real life. Because the character is living a middle-class life, the viewer must be living below middle-class and in a lower class status.

If the viewer does not relate to their mother the way the character relates to theirs, then the viewer must have psychological barriers or unacceptable social skills that prohibit them from relating correctly to their parents. Thus the viewer must adopt the social skills of the character. If the viewer does not hang out at coffee houses with three or four of their good friends like the character on television does, then, as television would define the loser, the viewer must be a loser. This is the concept of though reform. It undermines the average person and places them into a categorized, lower form of lifestyle as compared to the norm.

Many people are so convinced that the lives on television are normal and expected that if they are not living that way they are not successful. This process, however, works both ways. Many viewers are wise and know that television life is very unreal and have a firm grip on reality. They know that life is not as easy as on television; however, this does not mean that television does not have an effect on their thinking and lifestyle.

If the day or nighttime drama does not attract some people, they are drawn to another form of television thought reform, such as sitcoms, talk shows, or reality TV. These too, have profound effects on the minds of millions of people. Likewise, commercials, over-rated yearly sporting events, and game shows also heavily contribute to the indoctrination of the average television viewer. And over time, the anticipated behavior imposed by television and is embraced by millions of people who presume life to be a certain way, so they modify their lives accordingly, believe mainstream ideology, feel the emotions they were programmed to feel, and celebrate the days and events television has programmed them to acknowledge.

CONTINUED - Plus Robert Jay Lifton's Eight Point Model of Thought Reform >>>