Former CIA officer and conservative talk show host Buck Sexton is raising alarms about what he calls a modern wave of psychological manipulation in the United States. In his new book, he argues that techniques once associated with totalitarian regimes are now influencing American culture. Sexton uses the scientific term “menticide,” meaning the systematic destruction of independent thought.
Buck Sexton draws heavily on the work of Dutch psychiatrist Joost Meerloo, author of The Rape of the Mind. Meerloo studied how totalitarian governments manipulated populations through fear, confusion, and coercion. He observed how regimes led by Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong applied psychological pressure to enforce ideological conformity.
Sexton recently discussed these themes on The Drill Down, hosted by Peter Schweizer and Eric Eggers. He argued that mass delusions can take hold rapidly in modern societies due to instantaneous communication. According to Sexton, confusion and degradation form the two central pillars of menticide.
In his book, Manufacturing Delusion: How the Left Uses Brainwashing, Indoctrination, and Propaganda Against You, Sexton contends that similar psychological tactics are visible in debates over COVID restrictions, gender ideology, climate change messaging, and social justice activism. He asserts that language shifts—such as “gender affirmation” or “reproductive health care”—are designed to frame arguments before public debate begins.
Sexton references the experiments of Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, whose conditioning research influenced early 20th-century psychology. He notes historical accounts suggesting Soviet leaders monitored Pavlov’s work closely. An often-cited incident involving flooding near Pavlov’s St. Petersburg laboratory, Sexton argues, demonstrated how trauma could disrupt conditioned behavior.
The broader thesis warns that social coercion in democratic societies can mirror psychological pressure in authoritarian states, even if the physical consequences differ. Sexton argues that professional penalties, social ostracism, and reputational damage can serve as enforcement tools.
Sexton also references political theorist Hannah Arendt, who described “atomization” as the isolation of individuals from community bonds. He contends that trusted relationships and open dialogue are safeguards against manipulation.
While critics dispute Sexton’s conclusions, the debate underscores rising concern about the power of media, institutions, and digital platforms to shape public thought. As cultural conflicts intensify, arguments about free speech, ideological conformity, and psychological influence remain central to America’s political landscape.
