is your point that brainwashing is more humane than a gun to the head? I'm not sure that's the best take-away, I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression that hegemony is primarily humanistic compared to more violent forms of imperialism ... Hegemony is more like self-harm propaganda, scams, and other malicious belief systems - it's just a form of power and control, and is no less coercive ... remember that the consequences of going against hegemony is often punishment, the alternative to accepting brainwashing is to have the gun to your head (if you don't cut it in an office environment, the alternative is desperate wage work).

Even when you don't fully endorse hegemony, you still behaviorally go along to avoid punishment, the self-regulation is cheaper and easier for those in power.