Quite recently I saw a short clip from what I assumed was so

File: ReuternAbraham.jpg (197KB, 834x1134px) Image search: [Google]

197KB, 834x1134px

Quite recently I saw a short clip from what I assumed was soviet documentary (it's in russian, but I added an ability for community subs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJkX06faJ8).

In this documentary they were conducting an experiment where they questioned if the decisions you make are really yours.

The experiment (which was dramatized and wasn't really scientific but does a good job of demonstrating the point) was performed on two people.

In the first part they show 1 guy 5 pictures of people and ask them if all of them are different (he says that all of them are). Then they proceed to put him in a room with a bunch of other people who then start pointing out similarities between people on 2 pictures 2nd and 4th, which ultimately leads to the guy changing his opinion.

In the second part they show him two pyramids: one white, one black, and go down the couch asking what colour are the pyramids, and everyone except for our first guy says that they both are white. They then proceed to mock him, but he stand by his opinion explaining it by saying "it is obvious". But second guy says that both of them are indeed white.

I'm writing this because I too am struggling with the idea that I might be manipulated without realizing it.
Quite recently one russian populist politician started gaining a lot of attention among younger voters and the only thing that critics say about him is that that he is a populist (that he manipulates those voters for his own benefit). The fact that bothers me is that I can't disagree with any of the parties.

I've always heard that literature helps with critical thinking, and I came here to ask for your help and opinion on the matter.