Why People Defend Gabi by Saying She Was Brainwashed: Understanding the Complexity of Mental Conditioning

Sometimes, the narrative surrounding Gabi, a fictional character from the popular anime Attack on Titan, can leave one questioning why people defend her by saying she was brainwashed. The complexity of mental conditioning and human behavior often makes it difficult to understand why individuals hold certain beliefs and act in specific ways, especially when those beliefs are deeply ingrained from a young age.

Understanding Brainwashing and Its Impact

Mental conditioning and brainwashing are often described as mechanisms through which individuals are manipulated and led to hold specific beliefs. This can be seen when a person, like Gabi, is taught a particular perspective from a young age and struggles to break free from it. Just like homeless individuals struggling to buy a house, it is not a simple matter of simply changing one's mind when the belief system is deeply ingrained.

The logic behind saying someone is brainwashed is that they do not want to question the information they are given. Their belief becomes a part of who they are, and any attempt to change their mind feels like resistance to this conditioning. This explains why Gabi, although aware that she was brainwashed, has difficulty changing her perspective. Her rejection of the truth is not due to a preference for bias but rather a result of deep-seated beliefs formed during a period when she was not in a position to question her surroundings.

The Difficulty of Turning Away from Ingrained Beliefs

Just as it is hard for those who have lost their homes to buy a house, it is challenging for individuals who have been through a process of brainwashing to suddenly switch their perspective. In the real world, people with various biases, such as racists, homophobes, or supporters of authoritarian regimes, often find it difficult to change their beliefs. This does not make them morally bankrupt; rather, it highlights how the human mind can be conditioned in ways that are hard to dismantle.

Mental conditioning, especially from childhood, plays a significant role in shaping one's worldview. In the case of Gabi, her brainwashing began early in life, leading to a rigid and uncompromising belief system that is deeply rooted. This makes it extremely difficult for her to simply stop being brainwashed and think logically. The very concept of logic and the ability to question one's beliefs are part of the brainwashing process, making it even more challenging to break free.

Importance of Childhood and Questioning

Childhood is a critical period in mental development. During this time, the foundation of one's belief system is laid, and there is less questioning due to the lack of ability to critically evaluate information. Once beliefs are formed, questioning them becomes much harder. This is why Gabi's journey to freedom is longer than that of others who may lack the same deep conditioning.

For instance, Falco, another character, is seen as more compassionate and understanding due to his ability to empathize and understand different perspectives. His conflict with Gabi highlights the difficulty of breaking away from such conditioning. While Gabi is a genius, her stubbornness and lack of empathy are also her greatest flaws. When her beliefs were challenged by Willy Tybur and during the Paradis Island arc, Gabi continued to hold on to her perspective, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The Paradis Attack Arc marked a crucial turning point for Gabi, as she faced the realization that the Eldians of Paradis are not devils but just people. This realization, although long delayed, was a necessary step towards unlearning her previous conditioning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the defense of Gabi by those who say she was brainwashed highlights the complexities of mental conditioning and the challenges of changing one's deeply held beliefs. Just as it is hard for homeless individuals to buy a house, it is difficult for individuals like Gabi to unlearn beliefs formed during childhood. Her journey, much like that of many characters in the Attack on Titan series, is one of unlearning and growth, reflecting the struggles faced by individuals in real life as they grapple with their own beliefs and the information they have been conditioned to accept.