Thought-Terminating Clichés

In 1961, psychiatrist Robert Lifton published a book titled Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, in which he discussed methods of brainwashing in China. In that book, Lifton introduced a very important term: the thought-terminating cliché.

These are memorised expressions created and circulated within a society. They are repeated in different conversations and situations in ways that make the listener stop thinking—as though the phrase has delivered the final answer to any possible discussion.

For example, a phrase such as “That’s right, isn’t it?” placed at the end of almost any statement is among the clearest examples of a thought-terminating cliché. It is simply a familiar social expression attached to the end of a conversation without offering anything new or adding anything to the argument.

When a Cliché Becomes a Way of Life

The danger of the thought-terminating cliché is that it seeps into every part of life until it becomes a lifestyle. You may be exhausted and distressed, and when you try to talk to someone close to you, the person immediately hands you one of these phrases: “Everything happens for good,” or “Tomorrow will be better.”

Really? Is that it? Have my problems now been solved and everything suddenly become perfect?

Literally every area of our lives contains thought-terminating clichés. In truth, this is a feature of societies with a high degree of rigidity—societies that do not want to exhaust themselves by thinking. Here are several clichés commonly used in social conversations and religious debates:

• Islam is the solution.
• The Bible is clear; only a blind person could fail to see it.
• The blessing rests upon the obedient child.
• The Bible—and nothing else.
• Jesus Christ did not belong to any particular denomination.
• God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

At times, even verses from the Bible are used as excuses for thought-terminating clichés:

• “There is one mediator between God and humanity”—therefore, there is no priesthood.
• “My glory I will not give to another”—therefore, there is no intercession.
• “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone you shall serve”—therefore, the Orthodox are pagans.

And that is it. The conversation is finished. One of these brilliant sentences has been pronounced, everyone present has apparently become convinced—although no one knows exactly what they have been convinced of—and they all go home without any problem remaining.

The Question Is Not Simply Whether the Phrase Is True

I know that you might object, and we could debate whether the slogans above are true or false. And if we debate the slogans, how could we possibly argue that verses from the Bible are untrue?

The issue is not simply truth versus falsehood. It is much closer to cognitive laziness and mental rigidity. If the goal were really understanding, we would explain how these slogans should be applied, or unpack the meaning and context of the verses. Instead, many of us simply throw out a thought-terminating cliché and run away.

The same principle applies in countless situations. The real question is not merely the slogan, idea, or verse itself, but how it became planted in our minds and consciences in such a shallow and incapacitating form.

Before repeating one of those famous expressions, we need to ask ourselves: have we truly become convinced, or have we merely fallen silent and stopped thinking because we became bored or unwilling to continue?

Unfortunately, the subject has been reduced to repeated expressions, worn-out ideas, and tedious accusations inserted into every discussion in order to silence minds and prevent any genuine moment of insight.

Adapted from an article on thought-terminating clichés by Dr Kyrillos Bahgat.