Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Rebecca Lemov (on brainwashing)
28 snips
Apr 9, 2025 
Rebecca Lemov, a Harvard historian of science and author of The Instability of Truth, dives into brainwashing and mind control. She discusses how Patty Hearst used brainwashing as a defense, revealing the manipulative power of stripping an individual's identity. The conversation touches on the psychological trauma faced by Korean War soldiers and the societal acceptance of brutal military training. Lemov also links addiction and brainwashing, highlighting how modern dynamics, like social media's influence, echo cult-like control in today’s society.
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Cafe Meet-Cute
- Rebecca Lemov met her husband at a cafe where she was writing her dissertation and he worked.
- A mixtape, erased phone number, and photography lesson were involved in their meet-cute.
From Ethnobotany to Social Sciences
- Rebecca Lemov initially intended to study ethnobotany at UC Berkeley, influenced by Carlos Castaneda.
- She shifted to social sciences, intrigued by human behavior and free will.
The Spell of Theory
- While in graduate school, Lemov's writing became overly complex, influenced by French post-structuralist theory.
- A friend pointed out the change, prompting Lemov to reflect on the influence.
