Firstly brainwashing is not accepted as a scientific fact - it may not even exist. However, if it does, it'd be my guess that it relies on first completely breaking down the subject's personality via a process of destroying the ego, sense of self and ability to think crirtically (examples: the Manson Family, the Nazis) before building a new personality designed by the individuals or group carrying out the process; which explains why certain religious groups in particular seek out individuals who are already at rock-bottom and vulnerable such as drug addicts, the homeless, the very ill and other similar deomgraphics - the hardest part has already been done for them.

You can see the same technique used to an extent in the military, where otherwise normal human beings are "programmed" to be able to carry out acts that most of us would find repellent and completely at odds with human nature, and even in some commercial companies which constantly try to indoctrinate employees with a belief that "the team is all that matters."

Many captured prisoners of war are so called " Brain washed " brutally by their captors, such as those captured by the comunist veit cong, Brutalised,sleep deprived, repeated screaming messages, starved, and tortured, anything that may break them down,usually to spout propaganda overTV to their homeland military authorities. Brainwashing in the cult, religeous sector, is somwhat more civilised but just as insideous. Repeated religeous themes, close friendship with the victim,.excessive bible reading, keeping in constant contact to discourage escape, promises of great peace and life after death, and generally saturating your brain to a scrambled mush. Always be suspicious of uninvited friendliness.

"Brainwashed" is not technically a correct or even valid term. "Indoctrinated" is more like it. But "brainwashed" will do as a metaphor I suppose.

The easiest way to understand it is to identify the ways in which YOU are indoctrinated. Do you believe in unbridled capitalism as good, any form of or element of socialism as evil? Do you think this self-evident and can't really elucidate a coherent argument in favor of it? Then you may be right or you may be wrong, but you're indoctrinated.

Do you believe in romantic ideals of love? Like the song, Let Me Be There, "let me take whatever's wrong (for you) and make it right"? Would you actually take on that burden for someone else, or believe them when they claim to take it on for you? Do you at some level think that if you could just find "the one" that you'd live happily ever after? Then you are indoctrinated in hoary old tropes or romantic courtly love dating back to the 12th century.

Trust me, there's something you're indoctrinated in, that you hold as self-evident and yet would be resentfully uncomfortable to have it questioned in any way. It's the exact same mechanism as religion uses, except that religion has been refined for millennia to do its thing.

Many factors contribute to being brainwashed by religion, I think that fear of the unknown, having a sense of belonging, or even just loneliness can all make a person likely to fall for that

The chuch targets young people with kids. They are vulnerable because they have many stresses. It feels pretty good to know that God will keep your kids safe. It is nice to have an army of prayer warriors to intercede for you. It sounds dumb, but when your young and broke?

Intelligence is not necessarily the key to susceptibility. Force of will, emotional maturity and, above all, the willingness to doubt, seem to me at least, to be of equal importance. Perhaps those of us who are stubbornly resistant, or emotionally balanced, or question every damn thing they're told, are less vulnerable to being brainwashed than others? And yet, each of us has a weakness, and at some point, we may be faced with a decision to flee, fight or surrender.

Religion always offers something, and folks keep bitting the bait.

There have been numerous studies proving how susceptible people are in the face of peer pressures to conform.

Early indoctrination is the "best" way to do it.
We tend to believe what our parents tell us because it is an evolutionary advantage.
If they tell us not to play with knifes or run on the street we should better believe that.
Sadly children can't differentiate between that and the supernatural (how would they?).

It is easy. We are prone to it. We naturally are believers. Doubt is more work.

If everyone got a real dose of formal training in critical thinking before they graduated high school, this would be enormously less a problem. Most people see through these kinds of things after that.

Of course, most people would see through religion after that too. So, we couldn't possibly teach real skepticism to school kids....

Desperation for something, belonging or answers or affirmation what have you

It can come with cutting everything else out of your life but that one source of information and acceptance. I think everyone has some degree of insecurity and fear. When something comes along that caters to whatever that fear might be, that comforts and makes the person feel more secure, safe, wanted, even loved, then that something gains more attention and respect and trust than anything else. Even the most intelligent person can desire that close connection and care. Eventually that leads to shutting everything else out and believing on that one source.

If someone has had no other exposure to any ideas except for the ones he is being brainwashed with, it is hard to know any better. During the religious period of my life I only knew the LDS viewpoint. After years of belief most people would rather hear a lie than the truth which they are afraid of.

Very easy. They are watching tv all day long.

Cults find and exploit fears, superstitions, irnorance, and perceived weaknesses.

By being exposed to Faux News for hours on end and religious indoctrination.

I beleive relgion to be the combination of Fear, Ignorance and the sad wanton need for social acceptance.

The BITE model. I found this helpful in explaining mind control techniques.
[freedomofmind.com]

I've never understood it. I see it happening all the time, not just in religious circles, but I know a lot of people who fall for pyramid schemes which is a variation of the same. I have in-laws who are very smart, yet they fall for every new pyramid scheme that comes along.
They will not only spend money on it, but then they mindlessly spout the benefits of whatever their newest venture has them selling. Whether it's some fruit juice, Amway, essential oils etc. you can show them all the evidence in the world to the contrary, and they won't listen. These are the same people who are very religious.

I think its a false saftey thing really so they don't have to worry about dying.

It is the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life’s joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.

I often wonder this about followers of sociopaths and narcissistic people. I have seen right through people that I felt were sociopaths while others clung onto their every word. While they have 1000 friends on facebook. I don't understand it. I think it's some peoples need to have a leader. Someone to show them the way. I guess. I'm not sure. Good question!

Insecurity

Perhaps the phenomenon of tunnel vision plays a part. They fail to pull back the lens they’re looking through occasionally to look at the Big Picture of their life-map. Perhaps pride too. They’re so invested in this thing in all regards that even if they smell stink on it they are lothe to lose face.