Indoctrination is the process of inculcating a person with ideas, attitudes, cognitive
strategies or professional methodologies (see doctrine).
Humans are a social animal inescapably shaped by cultural context, and thus some degree
of indoctrination is implicit in the parent–child relationship, and has an essential function
in forming stable communities of shared values.
In the political context, indoctrination is often analyzed as a tool of class warfare,
where institutions of the state are identified as "conspiring" to maintain the status quo.
Specifically the public educational system, the police, and mental health establishment
are a commonly cited modus operandi of public pacification.
In the extreme, an entire state can be implicated.
George Orwell's book Nineteen Eighty-Four famously singled out explicit, state-mandated
propaganda initiatives of totalitarian regimes.
Opinions differ on whether other forms of government are less doctrinaire, or merely
achieve the same ends through less obvious methods.
The precise boundary between education and indoctrination often lies in the eye of the
beholder.
Some distinguish indoctrination from education on the basis that the indoctrinated person
is expected not to question or critically examine the doctrine they have learned.
As such the term may be used pejoratively or as a buzz word, often in the context of
political opinions, theology, religious dogma or anti-religious convictions.
The term is closely linked to socialization; however, in common discourse, indoctrination
is often associated with negative connotations, while socialization functions as a generic
descriptor conveying no specific value or connotation (some choosing to hear socialization
as an inherently positive and necessary contribution to social order, others choosing to hear socialization
as primarily an instrument of social oppression).
Matters of doctrine (and indoctrination) have been contentious and divisive in human society
dating back to antiquity.
The expression attributed to Titus Lucretius Carus in the first century BCE quod ali cibus
est aliis fuat acre venenum (what is food to one, is to others bitter poison) remains
pertinent.
== Religious == Religious indoctrination, the original sense
of indoctrination, refers to a process of imparting doctrine in an authoritative way,
as in catechism.
Most religious groups among the revealed religions instruct new members in the principles of
the religion; this is now not usually referred to as indoctrination by the religions themselves,
in part because of the negative connotations the word has acquired.
Mystery religions require a period of indoctrination before granting access to esoteric knowledge.
(cf.
Information security) As a pejorative term, indoctrination implies
forcibly or coercively causing people to act and think on the basis of a certain ideology.
Some secular critics believe that all religions indoctrinate their adherents, as children,
and the accusation is made in the case of religious extremism.
Sects such as Scientology use personality tests and peer pressures to indoctrinate new
members.
Some religions have commitment ceremonies for children 13 years and younger, such as
Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation, and Shichi-Go-San.
In Buddhism, temple boys are encouraged to follow the faith while young.
Critics of religion, such as Richard Dawkins, maintain that the children of religious parents
are often unfairly indoctrinated.However, indoctrination can occur, and often does occur
with great frequency, in non-religious contexts.
For example, in the 20th century, the former People's Socialist Republic of Albania and
the former USSR instituted programs of government-sponsored atheistic indoctrination in order to promote
state atheism, specifically Marxist–Leninist atheism, within their citizenry.
Sabrina P. Ramet, a professor of political science, documented that "from kindergarten
onward children [were] indoctrinated with an aggressive form of atheism" and "to denounce
parents who follow religious practices at home."
However, after the death of Albania's leader, Enver Hoxha in 1985, his successor, Ramiz
Alia, adopted a relatively tolerant stance toward religious practice, referring to it
as "a personal and family matter."
Émigré clergymen were permitted to reenter the country in 1988 and officiate at religious
services.
Mother Teresa, an ethnic Albanian, visited Tirana in 1989, where she was received by
the foreign minister and by Hoxha's widow.
In December 1990, the ban on religious observance was officially lifted, in time to allow thousands
of Christians to attend Christmas services (see Freedom of religion in Albania).
Similarly, in the former Soviet Union, "science education [in] Soviet schools [was] used as
a vehicle for atheistic indoctrination", with teachers being instructed to prepare their
course "so as to conduct anti-religious educations at all times," in order to comport with state-sanctioned
Marxist–Leninist values.
However, in 1997, several years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian government
passed a law recognizing religion as being important to Russian history with Orthodox
Christianity (Russian: Православие Pravoslaviye), Russia's traditional and largest
religion, declared a part of Russia's "historical heritage."
== Military ==
The initial psychological preparation of soldiers during training is referred to (non-pejoratively)
as indoctrination.
== Information security == In the field of information security, indoctrination
is the initial briefing and instructions given before a person is granted access to secret
information.
== See also ==
Abusive power and control Acculturation
Behavior modification Brainwashing
Groupthink