November 2nd: Journal Entry #9

1). Significance: My essential question for the month of November (which groups of people are susceptible to indoctrination?) is significant because it addresses the purpose of my research. The western world has grown increasingly polarized, and supplementary to this polarization has been the rise of political indoctrination. I am of the opinion that if the body politic was equipped to resist political indoctrination the effects of polarization upon our societies would be mitigated. However, one must first identify those who are most susceptible to indoctrination, for as the idiom goes 'a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.'

2). Perspective: I think that the issue that this essential question is attempting to address, alongside my previous essential question, effects practically every individual who concerns themselves with politics, or wider social questions and issues. I am inclined to suggest that the scope of this question, in regards to the volume of individuals it effects, makes it more significant. 

3). I know the information that I will present in my SDA is valuable because the three sources I plan on referencing in my sda are reputable, and utilize other reliable sources in their respective text(s)

• https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/indoctrinating-youth 

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8234595/ 

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11245-023-09921-6 

4). Naturally, other subjects such as sociology and psychology are profoundly connected to this essential question. In my SDA I will attempt to establish a profile of an Individual who is susceptible to indoctrination, and this goal can only be achieved by means of sociological analysis. 

5). How might it be different if the internet never existed?