Mencide: The Psychological Game of Mind Control
Terms like “mind control” and “brainwashing” might sound exaggerated, but there’s real science behind them. Former CIA operative and current conservative talk show host Buck Sexton has coined the term “mencide,” which he describes as the murder of the mind.
This concept of psychological attacks isn’t new; it traces back to Dutch psychologists who explored how totalitarian regimes manipulate citizens’ thoughts. Joost Merlu studied figures like Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong, drawing from human experiments similar to Pavlov’s work. His notable publication is titled Rape of the Heart.
Sexton recounts Merlu’s history: “Joost was a trained psychiatrist involved with the Resistance and later worked with the Allies in interviewing Nazi leaders. He perceived a sort of psychiatric pandemic among the Nazis, where regular individuals engaged in horrific acts while believing blatant falsehoods.”
In his new book, Manufactured Delusions: How the Left is Brainwashing, Indoctrinating, and Propaganda Against You, Sexton applies Mergloo’s ideas to today’s scenarios in countries like China, Russia, North Korea, and even in the U.S. He plans to address issues such as COVID-19, transgender ideology, climate change, and the influences of movements like Black Lives Matter.
In the book’s description, he states, “Cults, brainwashing, thought reform—they’re all different modes leading to the control of human thought.” He challenges readers to understand why mass delusions can take hold swiftly in contemporary society by drawing from his CIA experiences.
He argues that today’s rapid communication renders historical mass hysteria, like the Salem Witch Trials, almost trivial. “Back then, mass hysteria existed, but it couldn’t be shared widely like it can today,” Sexton observes.
The pandemic fears related to COVID-19 compelled him to delve deeper into this phenomenon. “The coronavirus was a mass assault on the American psyche. We were misled and coerced into absurd behaviors,” he expressed during a conversation. “I wanted to grasp how these manipulations work; at the core, there’s something about disruption and degradation.”
Addressing gender matters, Sexton expressed disbelief when renowned scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson remarked on Bill Maher’s show that he was unsure if men had a physical edge over women in sports. “Isn’t that where we’ve landed? Even when they tweak the terminology, it often appears they are conceding the debate before it even starts,” he remarked.
He highlights the shift from “transitioning” gender to “affirming” it, questioning the logic: “If someone undergoes a De-Transition, then is it De-positive? That doesn’t quite fit.”
When asked about strategies against mind control, Sexton suggests community engagement and building connections with reliable individuals. He references Hannah Arendt’s work emphasizing isolation and its potential dangers, especially as it relates to jihadist tactics preventing assimilation of immigrants.
In researching for his book, Sexton revisited Pavlov’s studies on dogs and an intriguing incident during his research when flooding nearly drowned a group of conditioned dogs. Astoundingly, the trauma led many to exhibit significant changes in behavior, even “forgetting” their conditioning.
Interestingly, both Lenin and Stalin had spies monitoring Pavlov’s work closely.
Sexton responds to concerns about similar manipulations in America today, emphasizing questions like, “What does it mean to ‘confess your privilege’?” He raises the alarm about procedures the political left enforces that can strip someone of their job or academic position—indirect coercion reminiscent of totalitarian tactics.
While the physical repercussions may be milder, the psychological impact can be comparable. He describes a troubling aspect surrounding the rise of transgender ideology, suggesting it contributes to what he sees as a breakdown of rational thinking.
By compelling individuals to endorse falsehoods and repeat absurd slogans, they undermine their capacity for reason, Sexton notes.
Why do people often yield to these pressures? “Many wish to feel like heroes of civil rights without taking significant action,” he speculated. “It’s part of the psychology of group dynamics.”
Moreover, he critiques the evolving meanings of language that support these delusions, pointing to euphemisms used in academic and medical circles, such as “reproductive health care” for abortion and the inclusion of “cis” terminology for biological sex.
