The Impact of Woke College Brainwashing on Thought Patterns: A CBT Perspective
“I was anxious. I felt guilty constantly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the white privilege thing.”
Quotes and information sourced from the article "Victimhood U: colleges’ leftist brainwashing is making young Americans miserable" by John Stossel, published Jan. 8, 2025.
In recent years, many colleges have been criticized for fostering environments that encourage certain ideological perspectives, often labeled as "woke" thinking. This educational approach can lead to the adoption of rigid thought patterns among students, such as seeing themselves primarily as victims or feeling compelled to conform to specific social narratives.
These patterns, highlighted in the documentary The Coddling of the American Mind, suggest that the ideological climate in some academic institutions may contribute to increased anxiety and depression among students. By examining these issues through the lens of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we can better understand how these ingrained thought processes can be detrimental to mental health.
Analyzing Quotes with CBT
Feeling Guilty Constantly
Lucy Kross Wallace expressed feelings of constant guilt over "white privilege."
Quote: “I was anxious,” she says. “I felt guilty constantly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the white privilege thing.”
CBT Perspective: This reflects a cognitive distortion known as "emotional reasoning," where feelings are taken as facts. CBT would encourage Lucy to differentiate between feeling guilty and being guilty, prompting her to use evidence-based reasoning to challenge these thoughts.
Viewing Oneself as a Victim
Kimi Katiti felt victimized by microaggressions and interpreted benign actions as racist.
Quote: “I feel like I lost my life for six years. I was full of self-confidence when I was 18. But in college, that disintegrated.”
CBT Perspective: This involves "catastrophizing," where situations are viewed as more threatening than they are. CBT would help Kimi reframe these interactions by assessing the intent and context, reducing the automatic attribution of malice.
Self-Censorship to Impress Professors
Kimi's strategy to show victimhood to earn better grades.
Quote: “To compete and get the best grades,” she says, “I showed how much of a victim I was in order to impress my professors.”
CBT Perspective: Known as "all-or-nothing thinking," this distortion assumes that only presenting oneself as a victim will yield success. CBT encourages exploring other ways to engage academically without sacrificing personal beliefs.
Believing Words Can Cause Permanent Harm
Greg Lukianoff highlighted the belief that words can cause lasting damage.
Quote: “Administrators teach students . . . that they can be permanently harmed by words. This is not a kind or compassionate thing to teach.”
CBT Perspective: This is an example of the "magnification" distortion. CBT would focus on differentiating between harmful and uncomfortable speech, promoting resilience rather than avoidance.
Changing Identity for Acceptance
Lucy altered her speech and behavior to fit in with social justice advocates.
Quote: “When I started to use the vocabulary . . . ‘marginalized, intersectional, hegemonic, blah, blah, blah,’ people just smiled a little bit more, and I started feeling like I was part of an in-group.”
CBT Perspective: This reflects "overgeneralization," where one assumes a single approach is necessary for acceptance. CBT would encourage exploring other friendships and finding value in authenticity.
Suppressing True Beliefs
Saeed Malami stopped expressing his true thoughts after negative feedback.
Quote: “What I thought to be true,” he says, “I will keep in my head, and say something else.”
CBT Perspective: Known as "mind reading" or "fortune telling," this distortion involves assuming others’ reactions without evidence. CBT would guide Saeed in expressing himself while understanding that not everyone will agree, which is part of healthy dialogue. CBT could also help in realizing that even if the worst happened and he was penalized for speaking the truth, it would be challenging but not be the end of the world.
Preventing Brainwashing in Colleges
To prevent further ideological brainwashing in colleges, it's essential to promote environments that encourage open dialogue and critical thinking. Educational institutions should focus on teaching students how to evaluate ideas from multiple perspectives and engage in constructive debates.
By integrating genuinely diverse viewpoints into the curriculum and fostering an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity and respect, students can develop healthier, more balanced thought patterns. Encouraging self-reflection and resilience instead of victimhood will help students navigate complex social issues without succumbing to the pressure of adopting singular ideological stances. Through these efforts, colleges can nurture a generation of thinkers who are well-equipped to handle the challenges of today's world with confidence and empathy.
Great posting, great advice. This post reminded me of a book read some years ago, “Telling Yourself the Truth”, by William Backus, which touches on much the same subjects. Many people curtail their behavior based on how they project others will react, often not only compromising themselves but deciding in advance others’ reactions which may not be true.
The college year's ages of 18-24 are some of the most crucial for developing long-lasting adult habits and behaviors. As many believe, these are the same years in which young adults who may be susceptible to mental health issues have their toughest trials. The stress of college, including also working to make ends meet in many cases, can be challenging enough without trying to conform to woke ideologies. That crap has absolutely no place in the molding of our future's potential.