BannedMindControlTechniquesUnleashed

LearntheDarkSecretsofHypnosis,Manipulation,Deception,Persuasion,BrainwashingandHumanPsychology

ByDanielSmith

Copyright2014byMakeProfitsEasyLLCprofitsdaily123@aol.com

TableofContentsIntroductionChapter1:TypesofMindControlBrainwashingHypnosisManipulationPersuasionDeception

Chapter2:BrainwashingWhatisBrainwashing?StepsUsedBreakingDownofSelfAssaultonIdentityGuiltSelf-betrayalBreakingPoint

PossibilityofSalvationLeniencyCompulsiontoConfessionChannelingofGuiltReleasingofGuilt

RebuildingofSelfHarmonyFinalConfessionandStartingOver

BrainwashingasCourtDefenseLeeBoydMalvoCase

CommonTacticsUsedinBrainwashingChapter3:HypnosisWhatisHypnosis?InductionSuggestionSusceptibility

ApplicationsHypnotherapyMilitaryApplicationsSelf-hypnosis

StageHypnosisTypesofHypnosisTraditionalHypnosisEricksonianHypnosisEmbeddedTechniqueNero-LinguisticProgrammingNLPAnchoringNLPFlashNLPReframe

VideoHypnosisSubliminalHypnosis

Chapter4:ManipulationWhatisManipulation?RequirementstoSuccessfullyManipulateHowtoControlVictimsHarrietBraikerSimon

TechniquesofManipulationBlackmailEmotionalBlackmailPuttingDownTheOtherPersonLyingCreatinganIllusion

Chapter5:PersuasionWhatisPersuasion?ElementsofPersuasionModernPersuasion

MethodsofPersuasionUsageofForceWeaponsofInfluenceReciprocityCommitmentandConsistencySocialProofLikingAuthorityScarcity

PersuasionTechniquesCreateaNeedAppealingtoSocialNeedsUsingLoadedImagesandWords

Chapter6:DeceptionWhatisDeception?TypesofDeceptionMotivesforDeceptionDetectingDeception

MainComponentsofDeceptionCamouflageDisguiseSimulation

ResearchonDeceptionSocialResearchPsychologicalResearchPhilosophy

Conclusion

IntroductionMindcontrolisanideathathasfascinatedpeopleformanyyears.Storieshavebeentoldbythemediaandinmoviesaboutgroupsofpeoplewhohavebeenbrainwashedorhypnotizedintodoingthingsthattheywouldhaveneverdoneotherwise.Therearepeopleonbothsidesoftheissue;somebelievethatthereisnosuchthingasmindcontrolandthatitisalljustmadeupwhileothersbelievethattheycouldbemanipulatedbymindcontrolatanymoment.Thisguidebookismeanttoexplainsomeofthedifferenttypesofmindcontrol,howtheywork,andwhetherornottheycanhaveadailylifeapplication.Chapter1startsouttalkingaboutthedifferenttypesofmindcontrolthatareavailableandwhichwillbediscussedinmoredetailthroughoutthebook.Thesemindcontroltechniquesinvolvebrainwashing,hypnosis,manipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thischapterismeanttogiveaniceintroductiontoeachofthesetypesofmindcontrolinordertosetthestageforthelaterchapters.Chapter2continuesonwithtalkingaboutbrainwashing.Topicssuchaswhatbrainwashingis,thestepsthatareusedduringbrainwashing,howbrainwashinghasbeenusedasacourtdefensethroughouthistory,andsomeofthecommontacticsthatcanbeusedduringthebrainwashingprocess.Muchofthischapterisdevotedtodiscussingthedifferentstepsthatareusedduringthebrainwashingprocessessuchasthethreestages;thebreakingdownoftheself,thepossibilityofsalvation,andtherebuildingofthenewself.Next,chapter3discussesthemindcontroltechniqueofhypnosis.Thefirstsectionspendssometimetalkingaboutwhathypnosisisandincludesinformationontheinduction,suggestion,andsusceptibilitystages.Othertopicsthatarediscussedinthischapterincludetheapplicationsofhypnosis,suchashypnotherapy,andthedifferenttypesofhypnosisrangingfromtraditionalhypnosistovideohypnosisandevensubliminalhypnosis.Chapter4changescoursealittletodescribesomeofthemindcontroltechniquesthatmightbeoccurringindailylife.Whilethefirsttwotechniqueswouldrequireisolationofthesubjectandthesubjecttobewilling,theseotherformscansometimesoccurwithoutthesubjectsconsentorevenknowledge.Chapter4talksaboutthefirstofthesewhichismanipulation.Thischapterwillspendsometimediscussingwhatmanipulationisandsomeofthetechniquesthatwillbeusedinmanipulation.Chapter5spendssometimediscussingthemindcontroltechniqueofpersuasion.Itwilldelveintowhatpersuasionisincludingthedifferentelementsofpersuasionalongwiththemethodsusedtopersuadethesubjectanddifferentpersuasiontechniques.Chapter6isthefinalchapterofthisguidebookandwilltakealookatthemindcontroltechniqueofdeception.Deceptionissomethingthatmanypeoplearefamiliarwithalthoughmanymightnotrecognizeitasaformofmindcontrol.Inthischapter,topicsaboutdeceptionincludingwhatisdeception,themaincomponentsofdeception,andtheusesofdeceptionwillbediscussed.Thereisalotofinformationprovidedintheworldaboutthevariousformsofmindcontrol.Whilesomeofthemwillrequirealotoftimeandefforttochangethemindofthesubject,suchasinthecaseofbrainwashing,otherswilloccurthroughoutdailylife,suchaswithdeception,manipulationorpersuasion.Understandingthesedifferentformsofmindcontrolcanhelptomakeiteasiertobeincontrolofyourownmindandlimittheinfluencethatothershaveonyourownbeliefsystemsandidentity.Alsobyunderstandingthesevariousmindcontroltechniquesyouwillbeabletoapplysomeofthemethods.However,ifyoudecidetotakethispathmakesureyoudosowithextremecaution,becausemindcontrolifappliedmaliciouslycanbeadangerousthingandgetyouintoserioustrouble.Sowithoutfurtherado

let’sbeginandexplorethefascinatingtopicofmindcontrol.

Chapter1:TypesofMindControlTheideaofmindcontrolhasbeenaroundformanyyearsnow.Peoplehavehadbothfascinationandfearofwhatwouldhappenifsomeonewhereabletocontroltheirmindsandmakethemdothingsagainsttheirwill.Conspiracytheoriesrunaboundaboutgovernmentofficialsandotherpeopleofpowerusingtheirtalentstocontrolwhatsmallgroupsofpeoplearedoing.Evensomecourtcaseshavebeenbroughtupusingtheexcuseofbrainwashingasanexplanationforwhytheycommittedthecrimetheyareaccusedof.Despitethedramatizationofmindcontrolthathasbeenportrayedinthemediaandthemovies,thereislittlethatisknownaboutthedifferenttypesofmindcontrolandhoweachofthemwork.Thischapterwillexplorealittlebitaboutthemostcommontypesofmindcontrolasanintroductiontoexplainingmoreaboutthisinterestingtopic.Whiletherearemanydifferenttypesofmindcontrolthatcanbeusedtocontroltheintendedvictim,therearefivethataremostcommonlythoughtof.Theseincludebrainwashing,hypnosis,manipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thesewillallbediscussedbelow.

BrainwashingBrainwashingisthefirsttypeofmindcontroltodiscuss.Brainwashingisbasicallytheprocesswheresomeonewillbeconnivedtoabandonbeliefsthattheyhadinthepastinordertotakenewidealsandvalues.Therearealotofwaysthatthiscanbedonealthoughnotallofthemwillbeconsideredbad.Forexample,ifyouarefromanAfricancountryandthenmovetoAmerica,youwilloftenbeforcedtochangeyourvaluesandidealsinordertofitinwiththenewcultureandsurroundingsthatyouarein.Ontheotherhand,thoseinconcentrationcampsorwhenanewdictatorgovernmentistakingover,theywilloftengothroughtheprocessofbrainwashinginordertoconvincecitizenstofollowalongpeacefully.Manypeoplehavemisconceptionsofwhatbrainwashingis.Somepeoplehavemoreparanoidideasaboutthepracticeincludingmindcontroldevicesthataresponsoredbythegovernmentandthatarethoughttobeeasilyturnedonlikearemotecontrol.Ontheothersideofthings,thereareskepticswhodonotbelievethatbrainwashingispossibleatallandthatanyonewhoclaimsithashappenedislying.Forthemostpart,thepracticeofbrainwashingwilllandsomewhereinthemiddleofthesetwoideas.Duringthepracticeofbrainwashing,thesubjectwillbeconvincedtochangetheirbeliefsaboutsomethingthroughacombinationofdifferenttactics.Thereisnotjustoneapproachthatcanbeusedduringthisprocesssoitcanbedifficulttoputthepracticeintoaneatlittlebox.Forthemostpart,thesubjectwillbeseparatedfromallofthethingsthattheyknow.Fromthere,theywillbebrokendownintoanemotionalstatethatmakesthemvulnerablebeforethenewconceptsareintroduced.Asthesubjectabsorbsthisnewinformation,theywillberewardedforexpressingideasandthoughtswhichgoalongwiththesenewideas.Therewardingiswhatwillbeusedinordertoreinforcethebrainwashingthatisoccurring.Brainwashingisnotsomethingthatisnewtosociety.Peoplehavebeenusingthesetechniquesforalongtime.Forexample,inahistoricalcontext,thosewhowereprisonersofwarswereoftenbrokendownbeforebeingpersuadedtochangessides.Someofthemostsuccessfulcasesofthesewouldresultintheprisonerbecomingaveryferventconverttothenewside.Thesepracticeswereverynewinthebeginningandwouldoftenbeenforceddependingonwhowasincharge.Overtime,thetermofbrainwashingwasdevelopedandsomemoretechniqueswereintroducedinordertomakethepracticemoreuniversal.Thenewertechniqueswouldrelyonthefieldofpsychologysincemanyofthoseideaswereusedtodemonstratehowpeoplemightchangetheirmindsthroughpersuasion.Therearemanystepsthatgoalongwiththebrainwashingprocess.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingtojusthappentoyouwhenyouwalkdownthestreetandtalktosomeonethatyouhavejustmet.Firstoff,oneofthemainrequirementsthatcomewithbrainwashingbeingsuccessfulisthatthesubjectmustbekeptinisolation.Ifthesubjectisabletobearoundotherpeopleandinfluences,theywilllearnhowtothinkasanindividualandthebrainwashingwillnotbeeffectiveatall.Oncethesubjectisinisolation,theywillundergoaprocessthatismeanttobreakdowntheirownself.Theyaretoldthatallthethingstheyknowarefalseandaremadetofeellikeeverythingtheydoiswrong.Aftermonthsofgoingthroughallofthis,thesubjectwillfeelliketheyarebadandtheguiltisgoingtooverwhelmthem.Oncetheyhavereachedthispoint,theagentwillstarttoleadthemtowardsthenewbeliefsystemandidentitythatisdesired.Thesubjectwillbeledtobelievethatthenewchoicesarealltheirownandsoitismorelikelytostick.Thewholeprocessofbrainwashingcantakemanymonthstoevenyears.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingtohappeninjustaconversationandforthemostpartitwillnotbeabletohappenoutsideofprisoncampsandafewisolatedcases.Chapter2willgointomoredetailofwhatoccursduringthethreemainstages

ofbrainwashingandhowthewholeprocessoccurs.Forthemostpart,thosewhoundergobrainwashinghavedonesowhensomeoneisjusttryingtopersuadethemofanewpointofview.Forexample,ifyouareinanargumentwithafriendandtheyconvinceyouthattheirideasmakesense,youhavetechnicallygonethroughbrainwashing.Sure,itmightnotbeevilandyouwereabletothinkaboutitalllogically,butyouwerestillconvincedtochangethebeliefsthatyouheldbefore.Itisveryrarethatsomeoneundergoestruebrainwashingwheretheywillhavetheirwholevaluesystemreplaced.Itwillusuallyoccurduringtheprocessofcomingaroundtoanewpointofview,regardlessofwhetherthetacticsusedwereforcibleornot.

HypnosisThenexttypeofmindcontrolthatiswell-knownishypnosis.Therearealotofdifferentdefinitionsofwhathypnosisis.AccordingtotheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,hypnosisisacooperativeinteractionwherethehypnotistwillprovidesuggestionsthattheparticipantwillrespondto.Manypeoplehavebecomefamiliarwiththetechniquesofhypnosisthankstopopularperformanceswhereparticipantsaretoldtodoridiculousorunusualtasks.Anotherformofhypnosisthatisgaininginpopularityisthekindthatusesthispracticeforitstherapeuticandmedicalbenefits,especiallywhenitcomestothereductionofanxietyandpain.Insomeinstances,hypnosishasbeenabletoreducedementiasymptomsinafewpatients.Asyoucansee,therearealotofdifferentreasonsthathypnosisthatcanbeused.Thepointwhereitstartstobecomemindcontroliswhenthehypnotistisabletorecommendsuggestionsthatcanbeharmfulorchangethewaythattheparticipantactsintheirsurroundings.Formostpeople,whentheyhearabouthypnosistheythinkaboutapersononstagewhoisswingingawatchbackandforthinordertoputtheparticipantinatrance.Ifyouhavebeentoastageshowforentertainment,youmayhavesomeimagesinyourheadoftheridiculousactsthattheparticipantsperformed.Inreality,thosewhoaregoingthroughwhatisconsideredrealhypnosisaregoingthroughaprocessthatisverydifferentfromthisimage.“Thehypnotistdoesnothypnotizetheindividual.Rather,thehypnotistservesasasortofcoachortutorwhosejobistohelpthepersonbecomehypnotized,”saidJohnKihlstrom.Thismeansthatthehypnotistworkstogettheparticipantintoanalteredstateofmindsothattheyaremoreopentosuggestionsthataregiven.Manyofthepeoplewhoundergohypnosissaythattheyareinasleep-liketrancekindofstate.Despitethesethoughts,whileunderhypnosistheparticipantisinastatethatincludesvividfantasies,heightenedsuggestibility,andfocusedattention.Thisnewstatemakesthemmoresusceptibletothesuggestionsthatthehypnotistwillbegivingtothem.Itishardtodetailtheeffectsthathypnosiscanhaveonsubjectssincetheexperienceswillvaryquiteabitforeachpersonwhoundergoesit.Somesubjectswillreportfeelingliketheyaredetachedfromthewholeexperience,somewillfeelextremelyrelaxedduringthehypnosis,andstillotherswillfeelthattheactionstheyaredoingwilloccuroutsideoftheirconsciouschoices.Ontheothersideofthings,individualswillstatethattheyarefullyawareoftheirsurroundingsandwillevenbeabletocarryoutconversationsduringtheirhypnoticstate.SomeexperimentsthathavebeendonebyErnestHilgardshowsthathypnosiscanbeusedinordertoaltertheperceptionsofthesubjects.TheexperimentconductedbyHilgardincludedaninstructionofthesubjecttonotfeelanypainintheirarm.Aftertheyweretoldthis,thesubjecthadtheirarmplacedinsomeicewater.Thosewhodidthisexperimentandwerenothypnotizedneededtotaketheirarmsoutofthewaterinjustafewsecondssincetheyfeltpain.Thosewhowerehypnotizedwerecapableofleavingtheirarmsinthewaterforafewminuteswithoutexperiencingpain.Whilemoreresearchwillneedtobedone,thisstudyshowshowstrongmindcontrolcanbewhenusingthetechniqueofhypnosis.Therearemanydifferentapplicationsdemonstratedthroughresearchthathypnosiscanbeusedforincluding:

Treatingchronicpainsuchasthatfoundwithrheumatoidarthritis.Treatingandreducingthepainthatcomesduringchildbirth.Reducingthesymptomsthatareassociatedwithdementia.SomeADHDpatientshaveseenreductionintheirsymptomsafterusinghypnotherapy.

Reducingcasesofvomitingandnauseainchemotherapypatients.Controllingofpainduringdentalprocedures.Eliminatingandreducingskinconditionssuchaspsoriasisandwarts.AlleviatingsymptomsthatareassociatedwithIrritableBowelSyndrome.

Thesearejustafewoftheusesthathavebecomecommonwithhypnosis.Whilemanypeopleareunderthemisconceptionthatusinghypnosisisusedtocontrolthesubjectandmakethemperformhorrificactsordenouncetheirownbeliefs,themostcommonusesarethoseforimprovingthehealthoftheindividuals.Mostexpertsareinagreementthattheeffectofhypnosisasaformofmindcontrolisnotreallyareality.Whileitmaybepossibletoconvincethemindtomakeafewchangesinthehabitsandbehaviorofthesubject,itisnotlikelythatthesubjectwillchangetheirwholesystemofbeliefsjustthroughthisprocess.Manyofthepeoplewhoarecertifiedinthisprofessionwilluseittoassistthesubjectinself-improvementandpainmanagementratherthanfortryingtotakeovertheirminds.

ManipulationManipulationisanotherformofmindcontrolthatcanbeusedinvariouswaystodeterminethewaytheindividualwillthink.Inthisguidebook,manipulationwillrefertopsychologicalmanipulation.Thisisatypeofsocialinfluencethatworkstochangethebehaviororperceptionofothers.Thisisdoneusingabusive,deceptive,andunderhandedtactics.Thisformofmindcontrolisusedtoadvancetheinterestsoftheonemanipulating,oftenattheexpenseofothers.Themethodsthatareusedareoftenconsidereddeceptive,devious,abusive,andexploitative.Manypeoplewillrecognizewhentheyarebeingmanipulatedorwhenothersarebeingmanipulatedaroundthem,buttheydonotrecognizethisasaformofmindcontrol.Thiscanoftenbeadifficultformofmindcontroltoavoidduetothefactthatthemanipulationwillusuallyoccurbetweenthesubjectandsomeonetheyknowwell.Manipulationleavesthesubjectfeelingliketheyhavenochoiceinthematter.Theywillhavebeentoldoutrightliesorhalf-truthsanddidnotrealizethefullextentofthesituationuntilitistoolate.Iftheyfindoutaboutthesituationaheadoftime,theagentwillbeabletoblackmailandusethesubjectinordertogettothefinalgoal.Thesubjectessentiallybecomesstuckbecausetheagentwillhavecraftedeverythingoutinsuchawaythattheywillnotgetintrouble,thesubjectcantaketheblameorgethurtifitcomestothat,andtheagentwillmakeittotheirfinalgoal.Themostdifficultthingaboutthisisthattheagentisincapableoffeelingtheneedsoftheirsubjectoranyotherperson;theyarenotgoingtocareifthesubjectgetsharmedintheprocesswhetheritisemotionalorphysicalharm.Whilethesubjectwillbeemotionallyinvestedinthesituation,theagentwillbeabletowalkaway(aslongastheymeettheirfinalgoal)withoutfeelinganyremorseorregretatwhatoccurredalongtheway.Thiscanbeadangerousformofmindcontrolbecausetheagentisgoingtobeanexpertatit,beingabletoblackmail,threaten,anddowhateverelseisnecessary;attimestheymayevenbeabletoturnthingsaroundsothesubjectfeelsliketheyaregoinginsane.

PersuasionPersuasionisanotherformofmindcontrolthatissimilartomanipulationinthatitworksinordertoinfluencethebehaviors,motivations,intentions,attitudes,andbeliefsofthesubject.Therearemanydifferentreasonsthatpersuasioncouldbeusedineverydaylifeandoftenitisanecessaryformofcommunicationinordertogetpeopleofdifferingideasonthesamepage.Forexample,inbusiness,theprocessofpersuasionwillbeusedinordertochangeaperson’sattitudetowardsomeobject,idea,oreventthatisgoingon.Duringtheprocess,eitherwrittenorspokenwordswillbeusedinordertoconveyreasoning,feelings,orinformationtotheotherperson.Anothertimethatpersuasioncanbeusedistomeetapersonalgain.Thiswouldincludetrialadvocacy,whengivingasalespitch,orduringanelectioncampaign.Whilenoneoftheseareconsideredbadorevil,theyarestillusedinawaytoinfluencethelistenertoactorthinkinacertainway.Oneinterpretationofpersuasionisthatitusesone’spositionalorpersonalresourcestochangetheattitudesorbehaviorsofothers.Therearealsoseveraldifferenttypesofpersuasionthatareknown;theprocessofchangingthebeliefsorattitudesthroughappealstoreasonandlogicisknownassystematicpersuasion;theprocesswherebeliefsandattitudesarechangedbecauseofanappealtoemotionsorhabitsisknownasheuristicpersuasion.Persuasionisaformofmindcontrolthatisusedinsocietyallofthetime.Whenyoutalktosomeoneaboutpoliticsyoumighttrytopersuadethemtothinkthesamewaythatyoudo.Whenyouarelisteningtoapoliticalcampaign,youarebeingpersuadedtovoteacertainway.Whensomeoneistryingtosellyouanewproduct,thereisalotofpersuasionthatisgoingon.Thisformofmindcontrolissoprevalentthatmostpeopledonotevenrealizethatitisoccurringtothematall.Theissuewilloccurwhensomeonetakesthetimetopersuadeyouintobelievingidealsandvaluesthatdonotmatchuptoyourownsystemofvalues.Therearealotofdifferentkindsofpersuasionthatareavailable.Notallofthemhaveanevilintent,butallofthemaregoingtoworktogetthesubjecttochangetheirmindsaboutsomething.Whenapoliticalcandidatecomesontelevision,theyaretryingtogetthesubject,orthevoter,tovoteacertainwayontheballotonelectionday.Whenyouseeacommercialontelevisionoronline,thecompanywhopresentedthatadvertisementistryingtogetthesubjecttopurchasethatproduct.Allofthesearetypesofpersuasionthatarebentattryingtogetthesubjecttochangethewaythattheythink.

DeceptionFinally,deceptionisalsoconsideredaformofmindcontrolbecauseoftheeffectthatitcanhaveonthesubject.Deceptionisusedinordertopropagateinthesubjectbeliefsineventsandthingsthatjustarenottrue,whethertheyarecompleteliesorjustpartiallies.Deceptioncaninvolvealotofdifferentthingsincludingsleightofhand,propaganda,anddissimulation,concealment,camouflage,distraction.Thisformofmindcontrolissodangerousbecausethesubjectoftendoesnotknowthatanymindcontrolisgoingonatall.Theyhavebeenconvincedthatonethingistruewhenthecompleteoppositeisright.Thiscangetdangerouswhenthedeceitishidinginformationthatcouldkeepthesubjectsafe.Often,deceptionisseenduringrelationshipsandwillusuallyleadtofeelingsofdistrustandbetrayalbetweenthetwopartners.Whendeceptionoccurs,therehasbeenaviolationoftherelationalrulesandcanmakeitdifficultforthepartnertotrusttheotherforalongtime.Itcanbeparticularlydamagingbecausemostpeopleareusetotrustingthosearoundthem,especiallyrelationalpartnersandfriends,andexpectthemtobetruthfultothemforthemostpart.Whentheyfindoutthatsomeonetheyareclosetoisdeceivingthem,theymayhaveissueswithtrustingothersandwillnothavethesenseofsecuritythattheyareusedto.Deceptioncancausealotofissuesinarelationshiporwithintheagentandsubject.Thesubjectwillhavealotofissuestrustingtheagentinthefutureoncetheyfindoutaboutthedeception.Therewillbetimeswhenthedeceptionwillbedoneinordertohelpouttherelationship.Thesewouldincludethingssuchasnottellingaspousewhensomeonesayssomethingmeanaboutthem.Othertimesthedeceptionismorespitefulorharmfulinnaturesuchaswhentheagentishidingimportantinformationfromthesubjectorisevendeceivinginthepersonthattheyreallyare.Nomatterwhattypeofdeceptionisbeingdeployed,mostpeopleagreethatdeceptionisharmfulandshouldnotbedone.

Chapter2:BrainwashingThischapterisgoingtofocusontheprocessofbrainwashingandallthecomponentsthatcomewithit.Throughthemediaandthemoviesthatareseen,manypeopleseebrainwashingasanevilpracticethatisdonebythosewhoaretryingtocorrupt,influence,andtogainpower.Somewhoreallybelieveinthepowerofbrainwashingbelievethatpeopleallaroundthemaretryingtocontroltheirmindsandtheirbehavior.Forthemostpart,theprocessofbrainwashingoccursinamuchmoresubtlewayanddoesnotinvolvethesinisterpracticesthatmostpeopleassociatewithit.Thischapterwillgointoalotmoredetailaboutwhatbrainwashingisandhowitcaninfluencethesubject’swayofthinking.

WhatisBrainwashing?Brainwashinginthisguidebookwillbediscussedintermsofitsuseinpsychology.Inthisrelation,brainwashingisreferredtoasamethodofthoughtreformthroughsocialinfluence.Thiskindofsocialinfluenceisoccurringallthroughoutthedaytoeveryperson,regardlessofwhethertheyrealizeitornot.Socialinfluenceisthecollectionofmethodsthatareusedinordertochangeotherpeople’sbehaviors,beliefs,andattitudes.Forexample,compliancemethodsthatareusedintheworkplacecouldtechnicallybeconsideredaformofbrainwashingbecausetheyrequireyoutoactandthinkaspecificwaywhenyouareonthejob.Brainwashingcanbecomemoreofasocialissueinitsmostsevereformbecausetheseapproachesworkatchangingthewaysomeonethinkswithoutthesubjectconsentingtoit.Forbrainwashingtoworkeffectively,thesubjectisgoingtoneedtogothroughacompleteisolationanddependencyduetoitsinvasiveinfluenceonthesubject.Thisisoneofthereasonsthatmanyofthebrainwashingcasesthatareknownaboutoccurintotalisticcultsorprisoncamps.Thebrainwasher,ortheagent,mustbeabletogaincompletecontrolovertheirsubject.Thismeansthattheymustcontroltheeatinghabits,sleepingpatterns,andfulfillingtheotherhumanneedsofthesubjectandnoneoftheseactionscanoccurwithoutthewilloftheagent.Duringthisprocess,theagentwillworktosystematicallybreakdownthesubject’swholeidentitytobasicallymakeitnotworkrightanymore.Oncetheidentityisbroken,theagentwillworktoreplaceitwiththedesiredbeliefs,attitudes,andbehaviors.Theprocessofbrainwashingisstillupfordebatewhetherornotitwillwork.Mostpsychologistsholdthebeliefsthatitispossibletobrainwashasubjectaslongastherightconditionsarepresent.Eventhen,thewholeprocessisnotassevereasitispresentedinthemedia.Therearealsodifferentdefinitionsofbrainwashingthatmakeitmoredifficulttodeterminetheeffectsofbrainwashingonthesubject.Someofthesedefinitionsrequirethattheremustbesomesortofthreattothephysicalbodyofthesubjectinordertobeconsideredbrainwashing.Ifyoufollowthisdefinition,theneventhepracticesdonebymanyextremistcultswouldnotbeconsideredtruebrainwashingasnophysicalabuseoccurs.Otherdefinitionsofbrainwashingwillrelyoncontrolandcoercionwithoutphysicalforceinordertogetthechangeinthebeliefsofthesubjects.Eitherway,expertsbelievethattheeffectofbrainwashing,evenundertheidealconditions,isonlyashorttermoccurrence.Theybelievethattheoldidentityofthesubjectisnotcompletelyeradicatedwiththepractice;rather,itisputintohidingandwillreturnoncethenewidentityisnotreinforcedanymore.RobertJayLiftoncameupwithsomeinterestingthoughtsonbrainwashinginthe1950safterhestudiedprisonersoftheChineseandKoreanWarcamps.Duringhisobservations,hedeterminedthattheseprisonersunderwentamultistepprocesstobrainwashing.Thisprocessbeganwithattacksonthesenseofselfwiththeprisonerandthenendedwithasupposedchangeinbeliefsofthesubject.Thereare10stepsthatLiftondefinedforthebrainwashingprocessinthesubjectsthathestudied.Theseincluded:

1. Anassaultontheidentityofthesubject2. Forcingguiltonthesubject3. Forcingthesubjectintoself-betrayal4. Reachingabreakingpoint5. Offeringthesubjectleniencyiftheychange6. Compulsiontoconfess7. Channelingtheguiltintheintendeddirection8. Releasingthesubjectofsupposedguilt

9. Progressingtoharmony10. Thefinalconfessionbeforearebirth

Allofthesestagesmusttakeplaceinanareathatisincompleteisolation.Thismeansthatallofthenormalsocialreferencesthatthesubjectisusedtocomingincontactwithareunavailable.Inaddition,mindcloudingtechniqueswillbeemployedinordertoexpeditetheprocesssuchasmalnutritionandsleepdeprivation.Whilethismightnotbetrueofallbrainwashingcases,oftenthereisapresenceofsomesortofphysicalharmwhichcontributestothetargethavingdifficultyinthinkingindependentlyandcriticallyliketheynormallywould.

StepsUsedWhileLiftonseparatedthestepsofthebrainwashingprocessinto10steps,modernpsychologistsorganizeitintothreestagesinordertobetterunderstandwhatgoesonforthesubjectduringthisprocess.Thesethreestagesincludethebreakingdownoftheself,introducingtheideaofsalvationtothesubject,andtherebuildingoftheselfofthesubject.Understandingeachofthesestagesandtheprocessthathappenswitheachofthemcanhelpyoutounderstandwhatisgoingontotheidentityofthesubjectwiththisprocess.

BreakingDownofSelfThefirststageofthebrainwashingprocessisthebreakingdownoftheself.Duringthisprocess,theagentwantstobreakuptheoldidentityofthesubjectinordertomakethemfeelmorevulnerableandopentothedesirednewidentity.Thisstepisnecessaryinordertocontinueontheprocess.Theagentisnotgoingtobeverysuccessfulwiththeirendeavorsifthesubjectisstillfirmlysetintheirresolveandtheiroldidentity.Breakingupthisidentityandmakingthepersonquestionthethingsaroundthemcanmakeiteasiertochangetheidentityinthelatersteps.Thisisdonethroughseveralstepsincludingassaultontheidentityofthesubject,briningonguilt,self-betrayal,andthenreachingthebreakingpoint.

AssaultonIdentityTheassaultontheidentityofthesubjectisbasicallythesystematicattackonthesubjects’senseofself,ortheiregooridentityalongwiththeircoresystemofbelief.Itmakesthesubjectquestionwhotheyarebymakingthemthinkthateverythingtheyhaveeverknowniswrong.Theagentwillspendagreatdealoftimedenyingeverythingthatthesubjectis.Inprisonercamps,forexample,theagentwillsaythingslike“Youarenotdefendingfreedom,”“Youarenotaman,”and“Youarenotasoldier.”Thesubjectwillbeunderattacksliketheseconstantlyfordaysuptomonths.Thisisdoneinordertoexhaustthesubjectssothattheybecomedisoriented,confused,andexhausted.Whenthesubjectreachesthiskindofstate,theirbeliefswillstarttoseemlesssolidandtheymightstarttobelievethethingsthattheyaretold.

GuiltOncethesubjecthasgonethroughtheassaultontheiridentity,theywillenterthestageofguilt.Thesubjectwillbeconstantlytoldthattheyarebadwhilegoingthroughthisnewidentitycrisisthathasbeenbroughton.Thisisdoneinordertobringalargesenseofguiltontothesubject.Thesubjectwillbeconstantlyunderattackforanyofthethingsthattheyhavedone,regardlessofhowbigorsmalltheactsmaybe.Therangeoftheattackscanvaryaswell;thesubjectcouldbecriticizedfortheirbeliefsystemstothewaythattheydressandevenbecausetheyeattooslowly.Overtime,thesubjectisgoingtostarttofeelshamearoundthemallofthetimeandtheywillfeelthatallthethingstheyaredoingarewrong.Thiscanhelptomakethemfeelmorevulnerableandlikelytogoalongwiththenewidentitytheagentwantstoproduce.

Self-betrayalNowthatthesubjecthasbeenledtobelievethattheyarebadandthatalloftheiractionsareundesirable,theagentisgoingtoworktoforcethesubjecttoadmitthattheyarebad.Atthispoint,thesubjectisdrowningintheirownguiltandfeelingverydisoriented.Throughthecontinuanceofthementalattacks,thethreatofsomegreatphysicalharm,oracombinationofthetwo,theagentwillbeabletoforcethesubjecttodenouncehisoldidentity.Thiscanincludeawidevarietyofthingssuchasgettingthesubjectto

denouncetheirownpeers,friends,andfamilywhosharethesamebeliefsystemasthem.Whilethisprocessmaytakeawhiletooccur,onceitdoes,thesubjectwillfeellikehebetrayedthosethathefeelsloyalto.Thiswillalsoincreasetheshameaswellasthelossofidentitythatthetargetisalreadyfeeling,furtherbreakingdowntheidentityofthesubject.

BreakingPointBythispoint,thesubjectisfeelingverybrokendownanddisoriented.TheymaybeaskingquestionssuchasWhereamI?WhoamI?andWhatshouldIdo?Thesubjectisinanidentitycrisisatthispointandisgoingthroughsomedeepshame.Sincetheyhavebetrayedallofthebeliefsandthepeoplethathehasalwaysknown,thesubjectisgoingtogothroughanervousbreakdown.Inpsychology,thisjustmeansacollectionofseveresymptomsthatoftenindicatealargenumberofsupposedpsychologicaldisturbances.Someofthesymptomscaninvolvegeneraldisorientation,deepdepression,anduncontrolledsobbing.Thesubjectmayhavethefeelingsofbeingcompletelylostalongwithhavingaloosegriponreality.Oncethesubjectreachesthisbreakingpoint,theywillhavelosttheirsenseofselfandtheagentwillprettymuchbeabletodowhatevertheywantwiththematthispointsincethesubjecthaslosttheirunderstandingofwhatisgoingonaroundthemandwhotheyare.Alsoatthispoint,theagentwillsetupthevarioustemptationsthatarenecessaryinordertoconvertthesubjecttowardsanewbeliefsystem.Thenewsystemwillbesetupinawaytooffersalvationtothesubjectfromthemiserythattheyarefeeling.

PossibilityofSalvationAftertheagenthasbeeneffectiveatbreakingdowntheselfofthesubject,itistimetomoveontothenextstep.Thisstepinvolvesofferingthesubjectthepossibilityofsalvationonlyiftheyarewillingtoturnawayfromtheirformerbeliefsystemandinsteadembracethenewonethatisbeingoffered.Thesubjectisgiventhechancetounderstandwhatisaroundthem,aretoldthattheywouldbegoodagainandthattheywouldfeelbetteriftheywouldjustfollowthenewdesiredpath.Therearefourstepsthatareincludedinthisstageofthebrainwashingprocess;leniency,compulsiontoconfession,channelingoftheguiltandreleasingoftheguilt.

LeniencyLeniencyisthe“Icanhelpyou”stage.Thesubjecthasbeenbrokendownandforcedtoturnawayfromthepeopleandthebeliefsthattheyhaveheldontoforsomanyyears.Theyhavebeentoldthattheyarebadandthateverythingtheydoiswrong.Thesubjectisgoingtofeellostandallaloneintheworld,shamefulatallofthebadthingsthattheyhavedoneandwonderingwhichwaytheycanturn.Whentheyreachthisstage,theagentisabletoofferthemsomeformofreleasebyofferingtohelpthem.Thiswilloftenbeintheformofareprievefromtheabusethesubjecthasincurredorsomeothersmallkindness.Forexample,theagentcanofferalittleextrafoodoradrinkofwatertothesubjectoreventakeafewmomentstoaskthesubjectpersonalquestionsabouthomeandlovedones.Inthesubject’scurrentstate,thesesmallactsofkindnesswillseemlikeabigdeal,resultinginthesubjectfeelingabigsenseofgratitudeandrelieftowardstheagent.Oftenthesefeelingsarewayoutofproportionincomparisontotheofferingthathasbeenmade.Insomeinstances,thesubjectmayfeelliketheagenthasdonetheactofsavingtheirliferatherthanjustofferingasmallservice.Thisdistortionofeventsworksinthefavoroftheagentasthesubjectisnowgoingtogaintiesofloyaltywiththeagentratherthanthingsofthepast.

CompulsiontoConfessionOncetheagenthasbeenabletogainthetrustoftheirsubject,theywilltrytogetaconfessionoutoftheprocess.Thisstageisoftenknownasthe“Youcanhelpyourself.”Duringthisstageofthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectstartstoseethedifferencesbetweenthepainandguiltthattheyfeltduringtheidentityassaultandthereliefthattheyarefeelingfromthesuddenleniencythatisoffered.Ifthebrainwashingprocessiseffective,thesubjectmayevenstarttofeeladesiretoreciprocatesomeofthekindnessthathasbeenofferedtothembytheagent.Whenthisoccurs,theagentwillbeabletopresenttheideaofconfessionasapossiblemeanstorelievingthesubjectofthepainandguiltthattheyarefeeling.Thesubjectwillthenbeledthroughaprocessofconfessingallofthewrongsandsinsthattheyhavedoneinthepast.Ofcourse,thesewrongsandsinswillbeinrelationtohowtheyaffectthenewidentitythatisbeingcreated.Forexample,ifthesubjectisaprisonerofwar,thisstepwillallowthemtoconfessthewrongsthattheydidbydefendingfreedomorfightingagainsttheregimeoftheothercountry.Evenifthesearenotnecessarilywrongsorsins,theygoagainstthenewideologythattheregimeisalwaysrightandsotheymustbeconfessed.

ChannelingofGuiltOncethesubjectentersthechannelingofguiltstep,theyhavebeenundergoingtheassaultoftheirselfformanymonths.Bythetimethesubjectreachesthispointinthebrainwashingprocess,theyareabletofeeltheguiltandtheshamethathasbeenputonthem,butithasprettymuchlostitsmeaning.Theyarenotabletotellyouexactlywhattheyhavedonewrongtomakethemfeelthisway;theyjustknowthattheyarewrong.Theagentwillbeabletousetheblankslateofthesubjectinordertoexplainwhytheyareinthepainthattheyarefeeling.Theagentwillbeabletoattachthesenseofguiltthatthesubjectisfeelingtowhatevertheywant.Iftheagentistryingtoreplaceasystemofbeliefs,theywilltaketheoldsystemandconvincethesubjectthatthosebeliefsarewhataremakingthemfeeltheguilt.Thisisthestagewherethecontractbetweentheoldbeliefsandthenewbeliefsareestablished;basically,theoldbeliefsystemhasbeenestablishedtocorrespondwiththepsychologicalagonythatthesubjecthasbeenfeelingwhilethenewbeliefsystemhasbeenestablishedtocorrespondwiththeabilitytoescapethatagony.Thechoicewillbethesubjects’,butitisprettyeasytoseethattheywouldchoosethenewsysteminordertostartfeelingbetter.

ReleasingofGuiltInthisstep,thesubjecthascometorealizethattheiroldvaluesandbeliefsarecausingthempain.Bythistimetheyareworndownandtiredoffeelingtheguiltandshamethathasbeenputonthemformanymonths.Theystarttorealizethatitisnotnecessarilysomethingthattheyhavedonethatmakesthemfeelthisway;rather,itistheirbeliefsthatarecausingtheguilt.Theembattledsubjectisabletofeelsomerelieffromthefactthatthereissomethingthattheycandoabouttheguilt.Theywillalsofeelrelievedbecausetheynowhavecometotheunderstandingthattheyarenotthebadperson,ratheritisthepeoplethattheyhavebeenaroundandtheirbeliefsystemthatisthetrueculpritthatiscausingthemalaisewhichissomethingthattheycanfixinordertobecomegoodagain.Thesubjecthaslearnedthattheyhaveameansofescapesimplybyescapingthewrongbeliefsystemthattheyhaveheldandembracingthenewonethatisbeingoffered.Allthatthesubjectwillhavetodoinordertoreleasetheguiltthattheyarefeelingistodenouncetheinstitutionsandpeoplethatareassociatedwiththeoldbeliefsystemandthen

theywillbereleasedfromtheguilt.Thesubjectnowhassomecontroloverthisstage.Theywillbeabletorealizethatthereleaseofguiltisuptothemcompletely.Allthesubjectwillneedtodoforthisstageinordertobereleasedfromthewrongnessistoconfesstoanyoftheactstheyhavecommittedthatareassociatedwiththeoldbeliefsystem.Oncethefullconfessionisdone,thesubjectwillhavecompletedthefullpsychologicalrejectionoftheirformeridentity.Theagentwillneedtostepinatthispointinordertoofferanewidentitytothesubjectandhelpthemtorebuildtheiridentityintothedesiredone.

RebuildingofSelfBythisstep,thesubjecthasgonethroughalotofstepsandemotionalturmoil.Theyhavebeenputthroughanordealthatismeanttostripthemoftheiroldidentity,toldthattheyarebadandneedtobefixed,andslowlycometotherealizationthattheirbeliefsystemisthecauseoftheirwrongnessandthatitneedstobechanged.Onceallofthishasbeenreached,thesubjectisgoingtoneedtolearnhowtorebuildtheirself,withthehelpoftheagent.Thisstageallowstheagentthefreedomtoimplanttheideasofthenewsystemsincethesubjectisacleanslateandveryeagertolearnhowtobeandfeelbetter.Therearetwostepsthatareseenduringthisstageincludingharmonyandthefinalconfessionbeforestartingover.

HarmonyTheagentwillusethisstepinordertoconvincethesubjectthatitistheirchoicetomakeachange.Theymighttellthesubjectthattheyhavethechoicetochoosewhatisgoodandmakeachangethatwillhelpthemtofeelbetter.Theagentwillthenintroducethenewbeliefsystemandpresentitinawaythatmakesitthegoodortherightchoice.Duringthisstage,theagentwillstoptheabuseandinsteadmakeapointofofferingthesubjectmentalcalmandphysicalcomfort.Thepointofdoingthisistoaligntheoldbeliefswiththepainandsufferingwhilealigningthenewbeliefswithhappinessandrelief.Thisstageissetupsothatthesubjectisgiventhechoiceofwhichroadtotake,eventhoughitreallyisnotuptothem.Thesubjectmustusethisstagetochoosebetweentheoldbeliefsandthenewbeliefs,effectivelydetermininghowtheyaregoingtofeelfortherestoftheirlives.Bythispoint,thesubjecthasalreadygonethroughtheprocessofdenouncingtheiroldbeliefsduetotheleniencyandtormentthattheyhavegonethrough.Becauseofthis,itisfairlylikelythattheyaregoingtomakethechoiceforthenewsystemofbeliefinordertorelievetheirguilt.Thenewidentitythathasbeenpresentedisdesirableandsafebecauseitiscompletelydifferentthantheoldidentitythatledtothebreakdowninearliersteps.Usinglogicandconsideringthestateofmindthatthesubjectisin,itiseasiertoseethattheonlyidentitythatthesubjectisgoingtochoosefortheirownpeaceofmindandsafetyisthenewone.

FinalConfessionandStartingOverEventhoughthechoiceisreallynottheirsatall,theagenthasstrategicallyworkedthewholetimetoleadthesubjecttofeelingliketheyhavethefreewilltochoosethenewidentity.Ifthebrainwashingprocessisdonecorrectly,thesubjectwillthinklogicallyaboutthenewchoicesanddeterminethatthebestoneistotakeupthenewidentity.Theyhavebeenconditionedtothinkthiswayandintheirnewstateofmind,itistheonethatmakesthemostsense.Therearenootherchoices;choosingthenewidentityallowsthemtoberelievedfromtheguiltthattheyfeelandleadstohappinesswhilechoosingtheoldidentityleadstopainandguilt.Ifforsomereasonthesubjectdiddenythenewidentity,therewouldbeabacktrackinginthewholebrainwashingprocessandtheywouldbeforcedtoundergoitallagaininordertoendupwiththe

desiredresults.Duringthisstageoftheprocess,thesubjectgetstodecidethattheywillchoosegood,whichmeansthattheygettochoosetogowiththenewidentity.Whenthesubjectcontraststheagonyandpainoftheiroldidentitywiththepeacefulnessthatcomeswiththenew,theyaregoingtochoosethenewidentity.Thisnewidentityislikeaformofsalvation.Itisthethingthathelpsthemtofeelgoodandnothavetodealwithguiltandunhappinessanymore.Asthisstagecompletes,thesubjectisgoingtorejecttheiroldidentityandwillgothroughaprocessofpledgingallegiancetotheirnewone,knowingthatitisgoingtoworkatmakingtheirlifebetter.Manytimes,thereareceremoniesandritualsthatoccurduringthisfinalstage.Theconversionfromtheoldidentitytothenewidentityisabigdealsincemuchtimeandenergyhasbeenusedonbothsides.Duringtheseceremonies,thesubjectwillbeinductedintothenewcommunityandembracedwiththenewidentity.Forsomebrainwashingvictimsthereisthefeelingofrebirthduringthisperiod.Youareallowedtoembraceyournewidentityandarewelcomedwithopenarmsintothenewcommunitythatisnowyourown.Insteadofbeingisolatedandalone,youhavemanynewfriendsandcommunitymembersonyourside.Insteadoffeelingtheguiltandpainthathasplaguedyouformanymonthsyouaregoingtofeelhappinessandpeacefulnesswitheverythingthatisaroundyou.Thenewidentityisnowyoursandthebrainwashingtransformationiscomplete.Thisprocesscantakeplaceoveraperiodofmanymonthstoevenyears.Mostpeoplearesetintheiridentityandthebeliefsthattheyhave;itisnotpossibletochangeallofthisinjustafewdaysunlessthepersonwasalreadywillingtochangeandthatwouldmakethebrainwashingtechniquesunnecessary.Isolationwouldalsobenecessarybecauseoutsideinfluenceswillpreventthesubjectfromrelyingontheagentduringthisprocess.Thisiswhymostofthebrainwashingcasesoccurinprisoncampsandotherisolatedinstances;thevastmajorityofpeoplewillnothavethechanceofencounteringbrainwashingduetothefactthattheyarealwayssurroundedbypeopleandtechnologythatwouldhinderthewholebrainwashingprocess.Oncethepersonisinisolation,theprocesstakesalongtimeduetothemanystepsthatmustbetakeninordertochangetheidealsheldbytheindividualformanyyearssothattheywillembracethenewidentityastheirownwhilealsofeelingthatthechoicehasalwaysbeentheirs.Ascanbeseen,therearequiteafewstepsthatmustbetakeninordertogothroughthebrainwashingprocess.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingtohappenjustbyrunningintosomeoneonthestreetandexchangingafewwords.Itrequirestheisolationandtimetoconvincethesubjectthateverythingtheyknowiswrongandthattheyareabadperson.Itthencontinuesonwithtryingtoforceoutaconfessionthatthesubjectisbadandthattheywanttorenounceallofthethingsthattheyhavedonethatarebadduetotheiroldidentity.Finally,thesubjectwillbeledinthedirectionofbelievingthattheycanchangeforthebetteriftheyjustabandontheiroldideasandinsteadembracethepeacefulnessandrightnessthatcomeswiththenewidentitythatispresented.Allofthesestepsmustoccurforthebrainwashingtobeeffectiveandthenewidentitytobeputinplace.

BrainwashingasCourtDefenseThroughouthistory,peoplehavebeenclaimingthattheycommittedterriblewrongsbecausetheyhadbeenbrainwashed.Itwasanexcusethatmanywouldclaimhopingtosavetheirownlivesortogetawaywithamassmurderorsomeothercrimeagainsthumanity.Itmightevenbesomethingassimpleasstealingfromanotherperson.Whatevertheactionwas,brainwashingwasaneasydefensebecauseittooktheresponsibilityoftheactionawayfromtheaccusedanditwasdifficulttoprovewhethersomeonehadbeenbrainwashedornot.Whetherbrainwashingpleascanbeusedasadefenseinthecourtroomisuptosomedebate.Manyexpertsfeelthatbyallowingthisdefenseintothecourtroom,thecourtswouldbecomeoverwhelmedwithfalseclaimsofbrainwashingandtheresourcesforprovingordisprovingthisdefensewouldbemorethanthecourtscouldhandle.Despitethis,therehavebeensomecasesbroughttocourtthatmayshowthevalidityofbrainwashingasadefenseforcrimescommitted.Thefirstexampleofthishappenedin1976.PattyHearst,theheiresstoalargepublishingfortune,usedthedefenseofbrainwashingwhenshestoodtrialforabankrobbery.Intheearly1970s,HearstwaskidnappedbytheSLA,theSymbioneseLiberationArmy,andendedupjoiningthisgroup.Duringthetrial,Hearstreportedthatshehadbeenlockedupinaclosetforatleastafewdaysaftershehadbeenkidnapped.Whileinthecloset,Hearststatedthatshewasafraidofherlife,brutalized,tired,andwasnotfedwhilemembersoftheSLAbombardedherwiththeirideologyagainstacapitalistcountry.Withinthetwomonthsofherkidnapping,Pattyhadchangedhernamewhilealsoissuingastatementsayingthatherfamilywere“pig-Hearsts”andthenappearedonthesecuritytapeofabankrobbingitalongwiththosewhohadkidnappedher.In1976,PattyHearststoodtrialforthisbankrobberyandwasdefendedbyF.LeeBailey.Inthedefense,itwasclaimedthatHearsthadbeenbrainwashedbytheSLA.ThisbrainwashinghadforcedHearsttocommitacrimethatshewouldhaveneverdoneunderanyothercircumstance.Inthementalstatethatshewasunderwiththebrainwashing,shewasnotabletotellthedifferencebetweenrightandwrongandthereforeshouldnotbefoundguiltyofthebankrobbery.Thecourtdidnotagreewiththisanalysisandinsteadfoundherguiltyandplacedherinprisonforsevenyears.Justafewyearslater,PresidentCartercommutedhersentencesosheonlyendedupspendingtwoyearsintotalinprison.

LeeBoydMalvoCaseAnotherwell-knownbrainwashingdefenseistheLeeBoydMalvocase.Thiscaseusedthedefenseofinsanitybybrainwashinganditendedupinthecourtroomsabout30yearsafterthePattyHearstcase.In2002,LeeBoydMalvowasontrialfortherolethatheplayedinthesniperattacksthatoccurredaroundandinWashingtonD.C.Malvo,whowas17atthetime,andJohnAllenMuhammad,42,endedupkilling10peopleandwoundingthreeduringthekillingspree.ThedefensethatwasusedforthiscasewasthattheteenageMalvohadbeenbrainwashedbyMuhammadsothathewouldcommitthecrimes.JustlikeintheHearstcase,thedefenseclaimedthatMalvowouldnothavecommittedthesecrimesifhehadnotbeenunderthecontrolofMuhammad.Accordingtothebackgroundstoryusedbythedefense,MalvohadbeenabandonedbyhismotherontheislandofAntiguaintheCaribbeanwhenhewas15yearsold.MuhammadmettheboyandbroughthimintotheUnitedStatesin2001.Muhammadwasanarmyveteranatthetimeandworkedtofilltheheadoftheteenwithvisionsofaracewarthatwasimpending.Tothatend,Malvowastrainedtobeanexpert

marksman.InadditiontosharingtheseideaswithMalvo,MuhammadisolatedMalvofromotherswhilebeingsteepedinthevitriolicandidiosyncraticbrandofIslamthatMuhammadfollowedalongwithastrictexerciseregimenanddiet.AllofthisisbelievedtohavebeenapartofthebrainwashingprocessontheyoungMalvo.ThedefensearguedthatbecauseofhistimespentwithMuhammad,Malvohadbeenbrainwashedandbecauseofthis,hewasnotcapableoftellingwhatwasrightfromwhatwaswrong.Despitetheeffortsofthedefense,Malvowasfoundtobeguiltyandhadasentenceoflifeinprisonwithoutanychanceofparole.Inaseparatetrial,Muhammadwassentencedtothedeathpenalty.Sofar,itdoesnotseemlikebrainwashingwillgainmuchgroundasaformofdefenseinthecourtroom.Tostartwith,itismuchtoodifficulttoprovethatadefendanthasbeenbrainwashedinthefirstplace.Next,itisveryunlikelythatsomeonehasbeenbrainwashedandinsteadthedefenseisjustusingitasameanstogetalightersentenceortheactionsoftheirclientforgiven.Inaddition,manyjuriesseemtofindtheideaofbrainwashingcompletelyridiculous.Overall,thisdefensewillprobablynotseemuchstrengthgrowinginthecourtroom.

CommonTacticsUsedinBrainwashingBrainwashingisnotalwaysasintenseaswhathasbeendescribedsofarinthischapter.Themethodsdescribedareusedfor“truebrainwashing”andarerarelydonetothesubject.Therearemanyothertypesofbrainwashingthatactuallyhappenonadaytodaybasis.Theymightnotworktomakeyoucompletelygiveupyouroldidentityinfavorofanewone,buttheydoworktohelpshiftyourthoughtsandideasonwhatisgoingonaroundyou.Thissectionisgoingtofocusonsomeofthetacticsthatareoftenusedduringthebrainwashingprocess,regardlessofwhetheritistruebrainwashingornot.Hypnosis-hypnosis,whichwillbediscussedinmoredetailinthenextchapter,isaformofbrainwashinginsomecircumstances.Hypnosisisbasicallytheinductionofahighstateofsuggestibility.Thisstateisoftendisguisedthinlyasmeditationorrelaxation.Duringtheprocessofhypnosis,theagentisabletosuggestthingstothesubjectinhopesofgettingthemtoactorreactinacertainway.Manypeoplearefamiliarwithhypnosisfromthestageshowstheyhaveseen.Itisalsooftenusedasawaytoimprovehealth.PeerPressure-everyonehasaninnateneedtobelong.Thiscouldbewithaparticulargroup,theirfamily,friends,andthecommunity.Withthepeerpressuretacticthereisasuppressionofthedoubtthatthesubjectfeelsalongwithgettingridoftheirresistancetonewideasbyexploitingthisstrongneedtobelong.Ifdoneright,thesubjectmaybemorewillingtotryoutnewthings,belessshyaroundnewpeople,andmayhaveaneasiertimemakingnewfriends.LoveBombing—thesenseoffamilyisverystronginpeople.Thisisthegroupthatyouwerebornintoandthatyouhavesupposedlybeenaroundforyourwholelife.Theyknowyoubetterthananyoneandthosewhohavemissedoutonthiskindofrelationshipmayfindthattheyarefeelingaloneandunwanted.Withlovebombing,theagentisabletocreateasenseofthefamilybytheuseofemotionalbonding,feelingandthroughsharingandphysicaltouch.Thisallowstheagentandthesubjecttobondinafamilialway,makingiteasiertotradeintheoldidentityforthenewone.RejectingOldValues—asmentionedalittlebitearlierinthischapter,theagentisworkingtoconvincethesubjecttodenouncealloftheirownvalues.Thisprocessisacceleratedthroughtheprocessofintimidation,physicalthreat,andothermeans.Attheend,thesubjectwilldenouncethevaluesandbeliefsthattheyonceheldcloseandwillbegintoacceptthenewlifestylethatispresentedtothembytheagent.ConfusingDoctrine—inthistactic,therewillbeanencouragementtoblindlyacceptthenewidentitywhilerejectingotherlogicthatthesubjectwillhave.Inordertodothis,theagentwillgothroughacomplexsetoflecturesaboutadoctrinethatisgoingtobeincomprehensible.Thesubjectwilllearntoblindlytrustwhattheagentissayingthroughthisprocess,whetheritisaboutthedoctrineoraboutthenewidentitythatisbeingformed.Metacommunication—thistacticisemployedwhentheagentworkstoimplantsubliminalmessagesintothemindofthesubject.Thiswillbedonewhentheagentstressescertainwordsorphrasesthatarekeytothenewidentity.Thesephrasesandkeywordswillbeimplantedintoconfusinglonglecturesthatthesubjectwillbeforcedtositthrough.NoPrivacy—privacyisaprivilegethatmanysubjectswillloseuntiltheyhaveconvertedovertothenewidentitythatisprovidedtothem.Notonlyisthistakenawayasamethodtomaketheguiltandwrongnessmoreapparenttothesubject,butitalsotakesawaytheabilitythesubjecthastologicallyevaluatethethingsthattheyarebeingtold.Ifthesubjectisallowedtohaveprivacy,theywillhavetimetoprivately

contemplatetheinformationtheyaregivenandmaydiscoverthatitisuntrueordoesnotholduptowhattheyalreadybelieve.Takingawaythisprivacymeansthattheagentoragentsarealwaysaroundandthesubjectisalwaysbeingledtothenewidentity.Disinhibition—duringthistactic,thesubjectisencouragedbytheagenttogivechildlikeobedience.Thismakesiteasierfortheagenttoshapethemindofthesubject.UnbendingRules—therulesthatareputinplacebytheagentareoftenstrictandwillneverbechanged.Theserulesaremeanttomakeitdifficultforthesubjecttothinkandactontheirown;rather,theywillspendtheirtimedoingexactlywhattheyaretoldtodobytheagent.Therearemanydifferentrulesthatcouldfitintothiscategorysuchastherulesthatwillbefollowedforthedisorientationandregressionprocessallthewaytohowthesubjectisallowedtousemedications,takebathroombreaks,andeatmeals.Theserulesareputinplaceinordertocompletelycontrolthesubjectduringthebrainwashingprocess.VerbalAbuse—verbalabuseisoneofthetacticsthatisusedduringthebreakingdownstage.Oftenthesubjectwillbecomedesensitizedwhentheyarebombardedwithabusiveandfoullanguageallofthetime.Attimes,physicalabusemaysupplementorreplaceverbalabuse.SleepDeprivation—whenapersonisnotgettingtheamountofsleepthattheyrequiretheywilloftenbecomevulnerableanddisoriented.Thiscanhelpcreatetheidealenvironmentthattheagentislookingforduringthebreakingdownandconfessionstagesofthebrainwashingprocess.Inaddition,manytimesthesubjectwillberequiredtodoprolongedphysicalandmentalactivitiesontopoftheinadequatesleepinordertohurrytheprocessevenmore.DressCodes—enforcingadresscodefurtherremovesanyindividualitythatthesubjectmayhaveaswellasthechoicetheyareusedtoofpickingouttheirownclothes.Oftenduringthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectwillbedemandedtowearthedresscodeheldbytherestofthegroup.Chanting—theagentwillworktoeliminateanynon-cultideasthatmaybepresentinthemindofthesubject.Onewaytoaccomplishthisisthroughchantingorrepetitionofthephrasesthatareusedbythosewhofollowthenewidentity.Confession—confessionisdeeplyencouragedinthosewhoaretransformingfromtheiroldidentitytothenewidentity.Duringthisprocess,thesubjectwilldestructtheirownindividualegobyconfessingalloftheirinnermostfeelingsofdoubtandpersonalweaknessestotheagent.Oncetheyareabletoletgoofthesethings,theintroductionofthenewidentityisabletooccur.FinancialCommitment—insomecases,therewillbefinancialcontributionswhichmustbemet.Thiscanhelptheagentinseveralways.First,thefinancialcommitmentallowsanincreaseddependenceofthesubjectonthegroupbecausethesubjectmaybeburningbridgestotheirpast.Theywilldonatedifferentassets,whetheritistheircar,house,money,orsomeotherfinancialcontributioninthehopesthattheywillbeabletogetovertheirshameandguilt.Nowtheyarefinanciallyattachedtothenewidentity.Inaddition,theagentwillbeabletousethesefinancialcontributionstofurthertheirownneeds.PointingtheFinger—whenyouareabletopointthefingeratsomeoneelse,youwillfeelasenseofrighteousness.Thisisyourwayoftellingtheworldthatyouaregoodsimplybypointingoutsomeoftheshortcomingsthataregoingonintheworld.Theagentmaypointoutallofthekilling,racism,andgreedthatareintheworldbeforecontrastingittothegoodofthenewidentitythatthesubjectisbeingledto.Isolation—ifyouareisolatedfromeverythingthatisaroundyou,itbecomesdifficulttogetoutsideopinionsthatmightchangeyourmind.Thisiswhattheagentwillstriveforbecausetheydonotwantalloftheirworktogoaway.Thosewhoarebeingbrainwashedwillbeseparatedfromsociety,friends,family,andanyotherrationalreferencesthatwouldchangetheirwayofthinking.ControlledApproval—theagentisgoingtoworkinordertomaintaintheconfusionandvulnerabilityofthesubjectduringthebreakingdownperiod.Onemethodofdoingthisisthroughcontrolledapproval.Theagentwillalternatelypunishandrewardsimilaractions,makingitdifficultforthesubjecttoknow

whatisrightandwhatiswrong.ChangeofDiet—changingtheamountoffoodthesubjectisallowedtoconsumeisanothertacticusedtocreatedisorientationwhileincreasingthesusceptibilityofthesubjecttoemotionalarousal.Whentheagentdramaticallydecreasestheamountoffoodthatthesubjectisallowedtoconsume,theyaredeprivingthesubject’snervoussystemofthenutrientsthatarenecessarytothrive.Addingdrugstothemixmayalsobeaddedintothiscategory.Games—gamesaresometimesusedinordertoinducemoredependenceonthegroup.Gameswillbeintroducedandmostofthemwillhavereallyobscurerulesthatthesubjectwillnotunderstand.Insomeinstances,thesubjectwillnotbetoldtherulesandtheymustfigurethemoutortheruleswillconstantlychange.Thistacticallowstheagenttogainmorecontrol.NoQuestions—duringthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectisnotallowedtoaskquestions.Questionspromoteindividualthinkingandthisisdangeroustothebrainwashingpractice.Whennoquestionsareallowed,ithelpstheagentaccomplishanautomaticacceptancefromthesubjecttothenewidentity.Guilt—thesubjecthasbeentoldthattheyarebadandthateverythingtheydoisbad.Guiltisacommontacticthatisusedbytheagentinordertomakethesubjectquestiontheirbeliefsandwhatisgoingonaroundthem.Thesinsofthesubject’sformerlifestylewillbeexaggeratedinordertobringabouttheguiltandreinforcetheneedofsalvationinthesubject.Fear—fearisapowerfulmotivatorandcanaccomplishalotmorethantheothertacticsthathavebeenlisted.Agentsmayusefearinordertomaintaintheobedienceandloyaltythataredesiredtothegroup.Todothis,theagentmaythreatenthelimb,life,orsoulofthesubjectforanythingthatisagainstthenewidentitythatisbeingpresented.Thesearejustafewofthetacticsthatcanbeusedduringthebrainwashingprocess.Thepointofeachofthemistoinstilltheideathattheoldidentityofthesubjectiswrongandconvincethemthatthenewidentityispreferable.Therearemanydifferentwaysthatthiscanbedoneandmanywillbemoreeffectivewhenusedasacombination.Whileitispossiblethatbrainwashingcanalterthewaythatsomeonethinksandact,mostexpertsbelievethattruebrainwashingisexaggeratedandcannotbedone.Whilelittleexamplesofbrainwashingmayoccurineverydaylife,themajorityofpeoplewillnotfindthattheirwholebeliefsystemshavebeenchangedthroughthisprocess.

Chapter3:HypnosisWhilebrainwashingisawell-knownformofmindcontrolthatmanypeoplehaveheardof,hypnosisisalsoanimportanttypethatshouldbeconsidered.Forthemostpart,thosewhoarefamiliarwithhypnosisknowaboutitfromwatchingstageshowsofparticipantsdoingridiculousacts.Whilethisisatypeofhypnosis,thereisalotmoretoit.Thischapterisgoingtoconcentratemoreonhypnosisasaformofmindcontrol.

WhatisHypnosis?Tostartwithisthedefinitionofhypnosis.Accordingtoexperts,hypnosisisconsideredastateofconsciousnessthatinvolvesthefocusedattentionalongwiththereducedperipheralawarenessthatischaracterizedbytheparticipant’sincreasedcapacitytorespondtosuggestionsthataregiven.Thismeansthattheparticipantisgoingtoenteradifferentstateofmindandwillbemuchmoresusceptibletofollowingthesuggestionsthataregivenbythehypnotist.Itiswidelyrecognizedthattherearetwotheorygroupsthathelptodescribewhatishappeningduringthehypnosisperiod.Thefirstoneisknownasthealteredstatetheory.Thosewhofollowthistheoryseethathypnosisislikeatranceorastateofmindthatisalteredweretheparticipantwillseethattheirawarenessissomewhatdifferentfromwhattheywouldnoticeintheirordinaryconsciousstate.Theothertheoryisthenon-statetheories.Thosewhofollowthistheorydonotthinkthatthosewhoundergohypnosisareenteringintodifferentstatesofconsciousness.Rather,theparticipantisworkingwiththehypnotisttoenteratypeofimaginativeroleenactment.Whileinhypnosis,theparticipantisthoughttohavemoreconcentrationandfocusthatcouplestogetherwithanewabilitytointenselyconcentrateonaspecificmemoryorthought.Duringthisprocess,theparticipantisalsoabletoblockoutothersourcesthatmightbedistractingtothem.Thehypnotizedsubjectsarethoughttoshowaheightenedabilitytorespondtosuggestionsthataregiventothem,especiallywhenthesesuggestionscomefromthehypnotist.Theprocessthatisusedinordertoplacetheparticipantintohypnosisisknownashypnoticinductionandwillinvolveaseriesofsuggestionsandinstructionsthatareusedasatypeofwarmup.Therearemanydifferentthoughtsthatarebroughtupbytheexpertsastowhatthedefinitionofhypnosisis.Thewidevarietyofthesedefinitionscomesfromthefactthattherearejustsomanydifferentcircumstancesthatcomewithhypnosisandnoonepersonhasthesameexperiencewhentheyaregoingthroughit.Someofthedifferentdefinitionsofhypnosisbyexpertsincludethefollowing:

1. “Aspecialcaseofpsychologicalregression,”MichaelNash.2. ErnestHilgardandJanetHilgardhavewritteningreatdepthabouthypnosisanddescribeit

hasawayforthebodytodissociatefromitselfinanotherplaneofconsciousness.3. SarbinandCoe,twowell-knownsocialpsychologists,haveusethetermofroletheoryto

describehypnosis.Underthisdefinition,theparticipantisplayingtheroleofbeinghypnotized;theyareactingliketheyarehypnotizedratherthanactuallybeinginthatstate.

4. AccordingtoT.X.Barber,hypnosisisdefinedbasedonthedifferentnonhypnoticbehavioral

parameters.Underthisdefinition,theparticipantwilldefinethetaskmotivationandlabelthesituationthattheyareinashypnosissincetheyhavenootherthingtocallit.

5. Weitzenhofferwroteinsomeofhisearlierwritingsabouthypnosis.Heconceptualizedthat

hypnosisisastateofenhancedsuggestibility.Inmorerecentwritings,hewentontodefinetheactofhypnosisas“aformofinfluencebyonepersonexertedonanotherthroughthemediumoragencyofsuggestion.

6. BrenmanandGillusedthepsychoanalyticconceptof“regressionintheserviceoftheego,”to

helpdescribewhathypnosiswasallabout.Underthisdefinition,theparticipantiswillingtogounderhypnosisandintothealteredstatebecauseithelpsouttheiregoandmakesthemto

feelbetter.7. AccordingtoEdmonstonapersonwhohasundergonehypnosisissimplyinadeepstateof

relaxation.8. SpiegelandSpiegelhavestatedthathypnosisissimplysomethingthathappensbecauseofthe

biologicalcapacityoftheparticipant.9. Ericksonstatesthathypnosisisanaltered,inner-directed,andspecialstateoffunctioning.The

participantisstillabletofunctionandisconsciousofthingsaroundthem,buttheyareinanalteredstatecomparedtotheirnormalstate.

Therearemanydifferentviewsandstatementsthathavebeenmadeabouthypnosis.Somepeoplebelievethathypnosisisveryrealandareparanoidthatthegovernmentandothersaroundthemwilltrytocontroltheirminds.Othersdonotbelieveinhypnosisatallandthinkthatitisjustsleightofhand.Mostlikely,theideaofhypnosisasmindcontrolfallssomewhereinthemiddle.Therearethreestagesofhypnosisthatarerecognizedbythepsychologicalcommunity.Thesethreestagesincludeinduction,suggestion,andsusceptibility.Eachofthemisimportanttothehypnosisprocessandwillbediscussedfurtherbelow.

InductionThefirststageofhypnosisisinduction.Beforetheparticipantundergoesthefullhypnosis,theywillbeintroducedtothehypnoticinductiontechnique.Formanyyearsthiswasthoughttobethemethodusedtoputthesubjectintotheirhypnotictrance,butthatdefinitionhaschangedsomeinmoderntimes.Someofthenon-statetheoristshaveseenthisstageslightlydifferently.Insteadtheyseethisstageasthemethodtoheightentheparticipants’expectationsofwhatisgoingtohappen,definingtherolethattheywillplay,gettingtheirattentiontofocusintherightdirection,andanyoftheotherstepsthatareneededinordertoleadtheparticipantintotherightdirectionforhypnosis.Thereareseveralinductiontechniquesthatcanbeusedduringhypnosis.Themostwell-knownandinfluentialmethodsisBraid’s“eyefixation”techniqueor“Braidism.”TherearequiteafewvariationsofthisapproachincludingtheStanfordHypnoticSusceptibilityScale(SHSS).Thisscaleisthemostusedtoolforresearchinthefieldofhypnosis.TousetheBraidinductiontechniquesyouwillhavetofollowacoupleofsteps.Thefirstoneistotakeanyobjectthatyoucanfindthatisbright,suchasawatchcase,andholditbetweenthemiddle,fore,andthumbfingersonthelefthand.Youwillwanttoholdthisobjectabout8-15inchesfromtheeyesoftheparticipant.Holdtheobjectsomewhereabovetheforeheadsothatitproducesalotofstrainontheeyelidsandeyesduringtheprocesssothattheparticipantisabletomaintainafixedstareontheobjectatalltimes.Thehypnotistmustthenexplaintotheparticipantthattheyshouldkeeptheireyesalwaysfixedontotheobject.Thepatientwillalsoneedtofocustheirmindcompletelyontheideaofthatparticularobject.Theyshouldnotbeallowedtothinkofotherthingsorlettheirmindsandeyeswanderorelsetheprocesswillnotbesuccessful.Afterashorttime,theparticipant’seyeswillbegintodilate.Withalittlemoretimetheparticipantwill

begintoassumeawavymotion.Iftheparticipantinvoluntarilyclosestheireyelidswhenthemiddleandforefingersoftherighthandarecarriedfromtheeyestotheobject,thentheyareinthetrance.Ifnot,thentheparticipantwillneedtobeginagain;makesuretolettheparticipantknowthattheyaretoallowtheireyestocloseoncethefingersarecarriedinasimilarmotionbacktowardstheeyesagain.Thiswillgetthepatienttogointothealteredstateofmindthatisknownashypnosis.WhileBraidstoodbyhisowntechnique,hedidacknowledgethatusingtheinductiontechniqueofhypnosisisnotalwaysnecessaryforeverycase.Infact,researchersinmoderntimeshaveusuallyfoundthattheinductiontechniqueisnotasimportanttotheeffectsofhypnoticsuggestionaspreviouslythought.Overtime,otheralternativesandvariationsoftheoriginalhypnoticinductiontechniquehavebeendeveloped,althoughtheBraidmethodisstillconsideredthebest.

SuggestionThenextstageofhypnosisisknownasthesuggestionstage.WhenhypnosiswasfirstdescribedbyJamesBraid,thetermofsuggestionwasnotused.Instead,Braidreferredtothisstageastheactofhavingtheconsciousmindoftheparticipantfocusononecentralanddominantidea.ThewaythatBraiddidthiswastostimulateorreducethephysiologicalfunctioningofthedifferentregionsontheparticipant’sbody.Lateron,Braidbegantoplacemoreandmoreemphasisontheuseofdifferentnon-verbalandverbalformsofsuggestioninordertogettheparticipantintothehypnoticstateofmind.Thesewouldincludeusing“wakingsuggestions”aswellasself-hypnosis.Anotherwell-knownhypnotist,HippolyteBernheim,continuedtoshifttheemphasisofthephysicalstateoftheprocessofhypnosisovertothepsychologicalprocessthatcontainedverbalsuggestions.AccordingtoBernheim,hypnotismistheinductionofapsychicalconditionthatispeculiarandwhichwillincreasethesusceptibilityofthesuggestiontotheparticipant.Often,hestated,thehypnoticstatethatisinducedwillhelptofacilitatethesuggestion,eventhoughthismightnotbenecessarytostartthesusceptibilityinthefirstplace.Modernhypnotismusesalotofdifferentsuggestionformsinordertobesuccessfulsuchasmetaphors,insinuations,indirectornon-verbalsuggestions,directverbalsuggestions,andotherfiguresofspeechandsuggestionsthatarenon-verbal.Someofthenon-verbalsuggestionsthatmaybeusedduringthesuggestionstagewouldincludephysicalmanipulation,voicetonality,andmentalimagery.Oneofthedistinctionsthataremadeinthetypesofsuggestionthatcanbeofferedtotheparticipantincludesthosesuggestionsthataredeliveredwithpermissionandthosethataremoreauthoritarianinmanner.Oneofthethingsthathavetobeconsideredinregardstohypnosisisthedifferencebetweentheunconsciousandtheconsciousmind.Thereareseveralhypnotistswhoviewthestageofsuggestionasawayofcommunicatingthatisdirectedforthemostparttotheconsciousmindofthesubject.Othersinthefieldwillseeitintheoppositedirection;theyseethecommunicationoccurringbetweentheagentandthesubconsciousorunconsciousmind.ProponentsofthefirstclassofthoughtincludedBernheim,Braid,andotherpioneersoftheVictorianage.Theybelievedthatthesuggestionswerebeingaddressedstraighttotheconsciouspartofthesubjectsmind,ratherthantotheunconsciouspart.Infact,Braidgoesfurtherandactuallydefinestheactofhypnotismasthefocusedattentionuponthesuggestionorthedominantidea.Thefearofmostpeoplethathypnotistswillbeabletogetintotheirunconsciousandmakethemdoandthinkthingsbeyondtheircontrolissimplyimpossibleaccordingtothosewhofollowthistrainofthought.

Thenatureofthemindhasalsobeenthedeterminantofthedifferentconceptionsaboutsuggestion.Thosewhobelievedthattheresponsesgivenarethroughtheunconsciousmind,suchasinthecaseofMiltonErickson,bringupthecasesofusingindirectsuggestions.Manyoftheseindirectsuggestions,suchasstoriesormetaphors,willhidetheirintendedmeaninginordertoconcealitfromtheconsciousmindofthesubject.Subliminalsuggestionisaformofhypnosisthatreliescompletelyonthetheoryoftheunconsciousmind.Iftheunconsciousmindwerenotbeingusedinhypnosis,thiskindofsuggestionwouldnotbepossible.Thedifferencesbetweenthetwogroupsarefairlyeasytorecognize;thosewhobelievethatthesuggestionswillgoprimarilytotheconsciousmindwillusedirectverbalinstructionsandsuggestionswhilethosewhobelievethesuggestionswillgoprimarilytotheunconsciousmindwillusestoriesandmetaphorswithhiddenmeanings.Ineitherofthesetheoriesofthought,theparticipantwillneedtobeabletofocusononeobjectoridea.Thisallowsthemtobeledinthedirectionthatisneededinordertogointothehypnoticstate.Oncethesuggestionstagehasbeencompletedsuccessfully;theparticipantwillthenbeabletomoveintothethirdstage,susceptibility.

SusceptibilityOvertime,ithasbeenobservedthatpeoplewillreactdifferentlytohypnosis.Somepeoplefindthattheyareabletofallintoahypnotictrancefairlyeasilyanddonothavetoputmucheffortintotheprocessatall.Othersmayfindthattheyareabletogetintothehypnotictrance,butonlyafteraprolongedperiodoftimeandwithsomeeffort.Stillotherswillfindthattheyarenotabletogetintothehypnotictranceandevenaftercontinuedeffortswillnotreachtheirgoals.Onethingthatresearchershavefoundinterestingaboutthesusceptibilityofdifferentparticipantsisthatthisfactorremainsconstant.Ifyouhavebeenabletoeasilygetintoahypnoticstateofmind,youarelikelytobethesamewayfortherestofyourlife.Ontheotherhand,ifyouhavealwayshaddifficultyinreachingthehypnoticstateandhaveneverbeenhypnotized,thenitislikelythatyouneverwill.Therehavebeenseveraldifferentmodelsdevelopedovertimetotryanddeterminethesusceptibilityofparticipantstohypnosis.Someoftheolderdepthscalesworkedtoinferwhichleveloftrancetheparticipantwasinthroughtheobservablesignsthatwereavailable.Thesewouldincludethingssuchasthespontaneousamnesia.Someofthemoremodernscalesworktomeasurethedegreeofself-evaluatedorobservedresponsivenesstothespecificsuggestionteststhataregivensuchasthedirectsuggestionsofarmrigidity.AccordingtotheresearchthathasbeendonebyDeirdreBarrett,therearetwotypesofsubjectsthatareconsideredhighlysusceptibletotheeffectsofhypnotism.Thesetwogroupsincludedissociatersandfantasizers.Thefantasizerswillscorehighontheabsorptionscales,willbeabletoeasilyblockoutthestimulioftherealworldwithouttheuseofhypnosis,spendalotoftheirtimedaydreaming,hadimaginaryfriendswhentheywereachild,andalsogrewupinanenvironmentwhereimaginaryplaywasencouraged.Ontheothersideofthingsarethedissociaters.Thisgroupwilloftencomefromabackgroundoftraumaorchildhoodabuse,foundwaystoforgettheunpleasanteventsthatareintheirpast,andcanescapeintoanumbness.Ifapersoninthisgroupdoesdaydream,itismoreinthetermsofgoingblankinsteadofcreatingfantasies.Bothofthesegroupsscoredhighonthetestsofhypnoticsusceptibility.Thetwogroupsthathavethehighestratesofhypnotizabilityincludethosesufferingfromposttraumaticstressdisorderanddissociativeidentitydisorder.

ApplicationsHypnosisasafieldandasanideahasbeenaroundforalongtime.Duetothis,variousapplicationshavebeguntoemergethathelptoputtheprocessofhypnosistogooduse.Infact,thevariousapplicationsofusinghypnosiscrossmanyfieldssuchasentertainment,self-improvement,militaryuses,andmedicaluses.Otherareasthathaverecentlybeguntousehypnotismincluderehabilitation,physicaltherapy,education,sports,andforensics.Evenartistshavebeguntoemployhypnotisminordertoreachcertaincreativepurposes.ThisisshownthemostbyAndreBreton,asurrealistartist,whohasemployedhypnosisamongothertechniquesforhisowncreativepurposes.Oneofthegrowingusesofhypnosisisinthefieldofself-improvement;manypeoplehavechosentodoself-hypnosisinordertohelpthemloseweight,reducestress,andquitsmoking.Thefollowingsectionswilldiscusssomedifferentfieldswherehypnosishasbeengrowingaswellashowtheprocessofhypnosisisworkinginthosefields.

HypnotherapyHypnotherapyistheuseofhypnosisasaformofpsychotherapy.Itisusedasamethodtohelpthepatientorsubjectthroughtroublingissuesthatareplaguingthem,especiallywhenothermethodsofself-controlarenoteffective.Licensedpsychologistsandphysiciansmightperformaformofhypnotherapyonwillingpatientsinordertohelpthemtreatposttraumaticstress,compulsivegambling,sleepdisorders,eatingdisorders,anxiety,anddepression.Itisalsopossibletovisitwithacertifiedhypnotherapisttoassistyouintreatingissuessuchasweightmanagementandthecessationofsmoking.Ifyougotoacertifiedhypnotherapist,itisimportanttorememberthattheyarenotpsychologistsorphysicianssotheywilljustbeabletoassistyouwithreachingthehypnoticstateandnotwithcuringyourmoreseriousailments.Itisbestthatyoumakesurewhoeveryouareworkingwithhasbeencertifiedtoprovideyouwiththeseservices,whetheryouchooseahypnotherapistoraphysician.Theprocessofhypnotherapyhasbeenseeninmanydifferentformsinmodernhistory.Allofthemhavehadvaryingdegreesofsuccessdependingontheissuefacedandtheparticipants.Someoftheformsthathavebeenusedinclude:

Cognitive-behavioralhypnotherapy—thisisacombinationofclinicalhypnosisalongwithdifferentelementsoftheCognitive-BehavioralTherapy.Hypnoanalysis—thisisalsoknownasageregressionhypnotherapy.Hypnosistoassistwithdealingwithphobiasandfears.Ericksonianhypnotherapy.Hypnotherapytoassistwithaddictions.Hypnotherapytoassistwithhabitcontrol.Hypnotherapytoassistwithpainmanagementinthosewhosufferfromchronicpain.Hypnotherapytoassistinthepsychologicaltherapythepatientisalreadydealingwith.Hypnotherapytoassistwithrelaxation.Hypnotherapytoassistwithskindiseases.Hypnotherapytoassistwithsoothingpatientswhoareanxiousaboutundergoingsurgery.Hypnotherapytoassistwiththeperformanceofathletesbeforeacompetition.Hypnotherapytoassistwithweightloss.

MilitaryApplicationsInadditiontoassistingpeoplewhodealwithvarioushealthissuesandaddiction,peoplehavelongwonderedifhypnosishasbeenusedbymilitaryandgovernmentalofficialsinordertochangethewaycitizensthinkaboutthings.Sofar,therehasbeenlittleproofthattheAmericanmilitaryiscapableorhasusedhypnosistoreachtheirgoals.Infact,adeclassifieddocumentthatwasobtainedoutoftheFreedomofInformationActarchiverecentlyshowsthattheprocessofhypnosishasbeeninvestigatedfortheuseinmilitaryapplications.Despitetheresearchthathasbeendone,thestudyconcludedthattherereallywasn’tanyevidencethattheprocessofhypnosiswouldbeusefulinamilitaryapplication.Inaddition,therewasnotanyevidencethatclearlyshowedthathypnosisactuallyexistsinregardsasanactualphenomenonoutsideofsubjectexpectancy,highmotivation,andordinarysuggestion.Thedocumentfurthergoesontoexplainhowitwouldbenearlyimpossibleforhypnosistobeusedinamilitaryapplication.Itstates:“Theuseofhypnosisinintelligencewouldpresentcertaintechnicalproblemsnotencounteredintheclinicorlaboratory.Toobtaincompliancefromaresistantsource,forexample,itwouldbenecessarytohypnotizethesourceunderessentiallyhostilecircumstances.Thereisnogoodevidence,clinicalorexperimental,thatthiscanbedone.”Thedocumentgoesontoexplainthatithasbeendifficulttostudytheeffectsandapplicationofhypnosistobeusedinthemilitarybecausenooneisabletosaywithcertaintywhetherhypnosisisauniquestatewithsomeconditionedresponsesorjustaformofsuggestionthathasbeeninducedasaresultofthepositiverelationshipbetweenthesubjectandthehypnotist.

Self-hypnosisTherearesomeinstances,suchaswhenacertifiedhypnotherapistorotherprofessionalisnotavailable,whenyoumaydecidetousetheprocessofself-hypnosis.Thisprocessoccurswhenapersonisabletohypnotizethemselves,oftenusingthetacticofautosuggestion.Theprimaryuseforthistechniqueisforself-improvementandmanypeoplewillperformitinordertoreducetheirstresslevels,quitsmoking,ortogetthemotivationtheyneedtogoonadiet.Whilesomepeoplemaybeabletoself-hypnotizethemselves,manyfindthattheyneedsomesortofassistanceinreachingthealteredstate.Thiscouldincludehypnoticrecordingsorevenmindmachinedevicestohelpthemreachthatstate.Otherareasthatyoucoulduseself-hypnosisforincludeyouroverallphysicalwell-being,torelax,andtogetoverstagefright.

StageHypnosisWhenmostpeoplethinkofhypnosis,theythinkofstagehypnosis.Thisisaformofentertainmentthatwilloccurinatheatreoraclubinfrontofanaudience.Thehypnotistisoftenshownasagreatshowmanandthishelpstoencouragetheideathathypnosisiscompletelyaboutmindcontrol.Inthebeginningoftheact,thehypnotistwillattempttoputthewholeaudienceunderthealteredstatebeforeselectingcertainindividualswhomeetthecriteriatocomeuponthestageandgothroughdifferentembarrassingactswhiletherestofthegroupwatches.Itisunknownwhystagehypnosisissoeffectivealthoughitiscommonlythoughttobeacombinationoftrickery,stagecraft,physicalmanipulation,suggestibility,participantselection,andpsychologicalfactors.Forthemostpart,expertsbelievethattheparticipantisjustplayingalonginawaywiththehypnotistandprovidingagoodshow.Theseindividualsmaybewillingtodothisbecausetheydesiretobeinthe

middleofalltheattention,thepressuretopleaseothers,andtheexcusetogoagainsttheirownsuppressorsoffearmakeiteasytogettheparticipantstoperform.Someofthebooksthathavebeenwrittenbyformerstagehypnotistsreinforcetheideaoftrickeryanddeceptionandsomeareentirelycomposedoffakehypnosiswhereprivatewhisperswhereusedthewholetime.

TypesofHypnosisTherearealotofdifferenttypesofhypnosisthatthesubjectwillbeabletoundergo.Eachofthemwillworkinslightlydifferentwaysandsomeofthemworktohelpwithvariousissues.Somemaybemorefittohelpingthesubjecttorelaxwhileotherscanhelpmorewithweightlossorpainmanagement.Thissectionwilltalkinmoredetailaboutthedifferenttypesofhypnosisthatareavailable.

TraditionalHypnosisThemostcommontypeofhypnosisthatisusedisknownastraditionalhypnosis.Duringthisprocess,theagentissimplymakingsuggestionsdirectlytothesubject’sunconsciousmind.Thistypeofhypnosiswillworkthebestonasubjectwhoisknownforacceptingthethingsthattheyaretoldandtheydonotaskalotofquestions.Ifyougoandvisitacertifiedhypnotistorpurchaseatapetodotheprocessofself-hypnosis,youwillbegoingthroughtheprocessoftraditionalhypnosis.Thereasonthatthistypeofhypnosisissopopularisbecauseitdoesnottakethatmuchexperienceortrainingtolearnhowtodo.Thehypnotistisjustgoingtohavetowriteasimplescriptandtellthesubjectwhattodo.Whilethistechniquewillworkverywellonthosewhoacceptwhatisgoingonaroundthem,itisineffectiveforthosewhothinkcriticallyandanalytically.

EricksonianHypnosisThenexttypeofhypnosistobediscussedisEricksonianHypnosis.Thisoneisalittlemoreindepthbecauseitisgoingtorequiretheuseofmetaphorsandlittlestories.Theseareusedinordertopresenttheideasandsuggestionsthatarerequiredtotheunconsciousmind.Eventhoughthismethodwillrequirealittlemoreexperienceandtrainingtodo,itisaveryeffectiveandpowerfulmethodtouse.Thereasonthatitworkssowellisbecauseitisabletoeliminatetheresistanceandblockagethatthesubjectmayhavetothesuggestions.Therearetwomaintypesofmetaphorsthatwilloftenbeusedinthiskindofhypnosis;isomorphicandinterspersal.Forthemetaphorthatisinterspersalinnature,thecommandthatisexplainedhasbeenimbeddedintothestoryandwouldnotbeeasilydiscoveredbythesubjectoutsideoftheirunconsciousmind.Theothertype,isomorphicmetaphor,isalittlemorecommonandoffersdirectionstotheunconsciousmindsimplybypresentingastorytothesubjectthatwillofferamoralattheend.Theunconsciousmindwillbeabletodrawaonetoonerelationshipconnectingtheelementsthatcomefromthestoryandtheelementsthatcomewiththebehaviororproblemsituation.Anexampleofanisomorphicmetaphoristhestory“BoyWhoCriedWolf.”Manyparentswillusethisstorytoteachtheirchildrenaboutlying,especiallyiftheirchildtellsalotoflies.Afterhearingthestory,theunconsciousmindofthesubjectwouldseeaparallelbetweenthetellingofliesandtheboywhoisinthestory.Theywouldseethattellingliesmightleadtoadisasterandthechildmightbemorewillingtostoplyingintheprocessinordertopreventthatdisasterfromoccurring.

EmbeddedTechniqueAnothertypeofhypnosisiscalledtheembeddedtechnique.Duringthisprocess,thehypnotistwilltellthesubjectaninterestingstory.Thisstoryismeanttohelpdistractandengagetheconsciousmindofthesubject.Itwillalsocontainindirectsuggestionsthatarehiddenwithinthestorybutwhichwillbeacceptedintotheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Throughthisstorythehypnotistwilluseprocess

instructionsinordertodirecttheunconsciousmindofthesubjecttofindthememorythatisneeded.Thismemoryisusuallyaboutlearningexperiencethatisappropriatefromthepast.Thehypnotistwillthenbeabletoapplythatlearningexperiencetohelpthemtomakechangestotheirpresent.

Nero-LinguisticProgrammingWithNeuro-LinguisticProgramming,orNLP,hypnotistshaveagreatselectionofthemethodsthattheyareabletouseinthehypnosisprocess.WhenusingtheprocessofNLP,thehypnotistwillbeabletousethesamethoughtpatternsthatarecreatingtheprobleminthesubject.Thiscansavealotoftimecomparedtogoingthroughtheprocessofsuggestion.Forexample,thethoughtpatternsthatareusedwithstressorexcessiveappetitewillbeusedtohelpeliminatetheproblemthatthesubjectisdealingwith.Ifusedwithacertifiedhypnotistorpsychologist,NLPhasbeenshowntobeveryeffective.TherearemanydifferenttypesofNLPprogrammingthathavebeenutilizedbyhypnotists.SomeofthemostcommonlyusedformsofNLPincludeNLPAnchoring,NLPFlash,andNLPReframe.

NLPAnchoringThefirsttypeofNLPthatwillbediscussedisNLPAnchoring.Agoodwaytothinkabouthowanchoringworksisthinkingaboutanoldsongthatyouknow.Haveyoueversatinacarandheardasongthatyouhavenotheardinalongtime?Didthatsongtriggersomesortoffeelinginyouthatcamefromthepast?Thefirsttimeyouheardthatsong,orsometimedowntheroadwhenyouheardit,youweregoingthroughthesefeelingsandtheunconsciousmindattachedthesefeelingstothatparticularsong.Throughthisprocess,thesongwouldbecometheanchorforthesefeelings.Now,eachtimethatyouhearthisparticularsong,youwilltriggerthebraintohavethesefeelingsalloveragain.Thisisagoodexampleofanchoring.Manyhypnotistshavefoundthatanchoringisausefultechniqueforthemtouseinhypnotizingtheirsubjects.Forexample,ifyouhaveamemoryofbeingrewardedfordoingsomethingrightinthepast,thehypnotistwillbeabletogetintothatparticularmemoryandhelpyoutorecreatethefeelingsthatyouweregoingthroughatthetime.Atthesametime,thehypnotistwillhaveyoudosomesortofaction,suchastouchingyourtwofingerstogetherduringthere-creationoftheprocess.Noweachtimethatyoutouchyourfingerstogether,youwillbeabletofeelthosesamehappyfeelingsagain.Theprocessofanchoringcanworkinordertomotivateyoutoaccomplishsomethingbyassociatinggoodfeelingswithit.Forexample,thismethodisoftenusedtohelppeoplefindthemotivationtheyneedtosticktolosingweightandmaintainingadiet.Thehypnotistwillworkwiththesubjecttocreateapositiveanchorthatisassociatedwiththementalimageofthesubject—inthiscaseitwillbethesubjectthinkingaboutthemselvesinathinandsexybody.Whenthesubjectpicturesthisimageagain,theywilltriggertheanchorandgetthepositivemotivationthattheyneed.Infact,thereisadramaticincreaseinthemotivationforweightlossinthosewhoundergohypnosiscomparedtothosewhodonot.Theprocessofanchoringcanbeusedinavarietyofdifferentinstancestoassistinself-improvementoftheindividual.

NLPFlashNLPFlashisanotherformofhypnosisthatisconsideredtobeextremelypowerfulandonlydonebyacertifiedprofessional.Itisoftenusedinordertochangethoughtsandfeelingsaroundintheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Itcanbeagoodwaytohelpthosewhofeelchronicstressorareaddictedtoasubstance.Inthisprocess,thehypnotistwillswitchthefeelingsofthesubjectaround,insteadofacertainactbringingpleasure,thatactwillstarttobringpainorinsteadofacertainactbringingstress,itwillbringthesubjectrelaxation.Forexample,someonewhoisaddictedtoasubstance,suchascigarettesor

alcohol,willfindafeelingofpleasureandhappinesswhentheyconsumethatsubstance.ThroughthetechniqueofNLPflash,thesefeelingswillgetswitchedaroundresultinginthesubjectfeelingdiscomfortorpainwhentheyconsumethesubstance.Thiscanhelpthemtogetovertheiraddictionmoreeffectively.ThosewhoareundergoingalotofstresshavealsofoundthetechniqueofNLPFlashtoworkwellforthem.Whenapersonisfeelingchronicstress,theymayhavedifficultiesincontrollingtheirbloodpressureandtheirtempersandaregoingtofeeluncomfortablealotofthetime.Sincestressissohardonthebody,therearemanypatientswillingtoundergotheNLPFlashhypnosisinordertoassisttheminrelaxing.Withthistechnique,thesubjectwilllearntheirtriggersofstressandredirectthemsothatthosetriggersstarttoreleasefeelingsofrelaxationintheirmindsinstead.Thistechniquehasalsobeenshowntobeeffectiveinextinguishingtheconditionedresponsesinthemindofthesubject.Anexampleofthisiswithsmoking.Ifyouareasmokerthatenjoysacigarettewhilehavingacupofcoffeeinthemorning,yourunconsciousbrainisgoingtostartpairingthesetwobehaviorstogether.Thismeansthatthesubjectwillgetacravingtohaveacigaretteanytimetheyenjoyacupofcoffee,especiallyinthemorning.WhenthesubjectgoesthroughtheNLPFlashtechnique,theywilllearnhowtodissociatethetwoeventsfromeachother.Thisallowsthesmokertohaveacupofcoffeewithoutalsogettingtheurgetosmokeatthesametime.Thismakesitanevenmoreeffectivetechniquetousewhentryingtostopsmoking.

NLPReframeThethirdformofNLPthathasbeenusedinhypnosisisknownasNLPReframe.Thistechniqueisreallypotentbecauseitworkssowellinassistingthesubjecttochangethewaythattheybehave.Todothisprocess,thehypnotistmustunderstandthatthereisasecondarygain,orapositiveoutcome,thatisaccomplishedbyeachofthebehaviorsthatapersonaccomplishes.Theoutcomethatoccursfromthebehaviorisimportantsincethatisthereasonthesubjectisactinginthefirstplace.Despitetheimportanceoftheoutcome,thebehaviorthatischosentoaccomplishtheoutcomeisreallynotthatimportant.Duringtheprocessofreframe,thehypnotistworkstonegotiateandreasonwiththeunconsciousmindofthesubject.Thegoalistogetittotakeovertheresponsibilityformakingthesubjectsubstituteinsomenewbehaviorthatisavailableandeffectiveataccomplishingtherequiredsecondarygain.Whilethisisallgoingoninthesubconscious,thenewbehaviorwillbemoreacceptabletothesubjectintheirconsciousmind.Forexample,ifthepersonisinthehabitofeatingwhentheyaresadinordertomakethemselvesfeelbetter,thehypnotistisgoingtoperformthismethodtoteachtheunconscioustodosomeotheractivity.Theactofeatingmightbereplacedwithexerciseorreadinganicebook,helpingthesubjecttoloseweight,eathealthierandfeelbetterallaround.

VideoHypnosisWhiletheotherformsofhypnosishavebeenextremelypopularinassistingsubjectstoovercomeobstaclesandchangethewaythattheythinkinordertolivebetterlives,newformsofhypnosisarealwaysbeingdeveloped.Oneofthenewestformsofhypnotherapythathasbeendevelopedisvideohypnosis.Thisformisofferedthroughcommercialmeanssothatpeopleareabletopurchasethemanduseattheirownconvenience.ThetechniquesthatareusedinsomeofthebrandsofvideohypnosisarealsobasedontheNeuro-LinguisticProgrammingtechnologythatwasdiscussedearlier.Thismeansthatthevideohypnosistechniquewillworkbasedonutilizingtheexistingthoughtprocessesthatthesubjecthasratherthanusinghypnoticsuggestionliketraditionalmethods.

Thereasonwhyvideohypnosishasgrownsorapidlyisthatmorethan70%ofpeoplehavefoundthattheylearnthingseasierandmorequicklywhentheyseethingscomparedtowhentheyonlyheartheinformation.Thesubject’smindwilllearntochangethefeelingsthatitishavingaswellasitsvisualassociationsautomaticallyontheconsciouslevelwhilewatchingthevisualmoviesthatarepresented.Whiletherearemanydifferentkindsofvideohypnosisprogramsthatareavailable,Neuro-VISIONisoneofthemostpopularbecauseithasbeendevelopedusingsomeofthebesttechniquesintheindustry.Thistypeofvideomethodworkstotraintheunconsciousmindofthesubjectthroughdigitaloptics,whichisahightechsimulationprocessonthecomputer.Thiswillfreethesubjectoftheirtensions,urges,andcompulsions.Throughthisprocess,thesmokerwillfindthatstoppingsmokingiseasy,thedieterwilllosetheirappetite,andthosewhofeelstresswillbegintorelaxmore.Itwilloftentakeatleastafewsessionsofvideohypnosistoseeresults,althoughtherearethosewhofindthatjustoneviewingwillstarttoshowsomeoftheresultsthattheywant.

SubliminalHypnosisThefinaltypeofhypnosisthatwillbediscussedinthischapterissubliminalhypnosis.Oftenthesubliminalhypnosismessageswillbeplacedonarecordingforthesubjecttolistento.Therecordingwillhavetwotracksandeachonewilltalktoadifferentpartofthemind.Onetrackwillcontainacoversoundthatwillbeheardthroughtheconsciousmindofthesubject.Thecoversoundisoftensomethingthatiseasyforthebraintolistentosuchasnaturesoundsormusic.Theothertrackwillcontaindirectsuggestionsthatwillbeheardthroughtheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Thesesuggestionspresentonthesecondtrackwillberepeatedoverandoverthroughoutthewholesession.Subliminalprogramshavetheabilitytobeplayedatanytimeandinanyplace.YoucouldbelisteningtothesemessageswhileyouareworkingorevenwhilewatchingTV.ThebestpartisyouwillnothavetostopthetaskthatyouaredoingandsitdownandrelaxlikewhatisrequiredwithNLPortraditionalhypnosis.Insomecases,subliminalprogramswillbeaddedtoyourregularhypnoticprograms.Theuseofsubliminalprogrammingisnotthatprevalent.Mostpeoplewillnotchoosethismethodtochangetheirhabitsandbehaviors.ResearchhasshownthatsubliminalprogramsarenotreallythateffectiveandsotheywillnotbeabletoreplaceNLPorhypnosis.Bysomeaccounts,itcouldtakemorethan80hoursoflisteningtothesubliminalmessagebeforeithasaneffectandmanytimeseventhatwillnotbeenoughformostpeople.AccordingtoJoelWeinberger,aprofessorattheAdelphiUniversityandapsychologist,regularaudiosubliminaltapesthatcanbepurchasedatstoresoronlinejustdonotwork.Subliminalpsychodynamicsmayworkaslongasthereissomeformofvisualspresent.Thepopularoptionsavailableonlycontainauditorycomponents.Theauditoryisnotenoughtomakethismethodworkonits’own.Subliminalsuggestionwillneedtobepairedwithotherformsofhypnotherapyinordertohavetheeffectivenessthatisdesired.Despitetheportrayalofhypnosisbythemedia,itisnotanevilplotthatismeanttotakeoverthemindsofunwillingsubjects.Infact,ifthesubjectisnotwillingtoundergohypnosis,itisprettymuchimpossibletogetthemtogointothealteredstate.Often,theuseofhypnosisistohelpothersimprovetheirlives.Thiscouldbeintheformofweightmanagement,stoppingsmoking,improvingotherhealthconditions,andassistingwithchronicpainmanagement.Eachofthetechniquesisalsoimportantinhelpingthesubjecttogettotheiroverallgoal.Whileallofthemcanbeeffective,theprofessionalthatyouchoosetoworkwithaswellastheissueathandwillbeusedtodeterminewhichofthesemethodswillbestfityourneedsand

assistinimprovingyourlife.

Chapter4:ManipulationBrainwashingandhypnosisarethetwoformsofmindcontrolthateasilycometomind.Whilethesetwoareimportanttounderstandingthefunctioningofmindcontrolandhowitallworks,theyarenottheonlyoptionsthatareavailable.Infact,thereareothersthatcanbeusedandareoftenmoreeffectiveintheshorttermthaneitherbrainwashingorhypnosis.Theseparticulartacticsareonesthatcanbeusedineverydaysituations,forexamplelikeinnormalconversationsapersonmayhavewithothers.Whileitisnotlikelythatapersonwillbemanipulatedorpersuadedtochangemajorbeliefsthroughnormalconversations,theycanbeconvincedtochangelittlethingssuchasbeingpersuadedtopurchasecookiesfromalocalgirlscoutortovoteacertainwayinanelection.Themainthingtorememberaboutthenextthreeformsofmindcontrolisthattheyaremorelikelytooccurinapersons’dailylifewiththepeoplethattheyknowandtrust.Obviously,apersonisnotgoingtoputtheirsubjectintoisolationorforcethemintoanalteredstateofmindaswithbrainwashing.Insteadtheywillemploydifferenttechniquesinanefforttochangethewaytheirsubjectthinks.Thethreetypesofmindcontrolthatfitintothiscategoryincludemanipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thischapterisgoingtodiscussmanipulationandhowitcanworktochangetheway“thesubject”thinks.Whilemanipulationmaynotputthepersonwhoisemployingthetacticinharms’wayorcauseanyimmediatedanger,itissetuptoworkinadeceptiveandunderhandedwaytochangethebehavior,viewpointandperceptionthattheintendedsubjecthasinregardstoaparticulartopicorsituation.

WhatisManipulation?Thefirstquestionthatisoftenaskediswhatmanipulationis?Inthisguidebookwewilldiscussmanipulationinthetermsofpsychologicalmanipulation,whichisasocialinfluencethatworkstochangethebehaviorsorperceptionofothers,orthesubject,throughabusive,deceptive,orunderhandedtactics.Themanipulatorisgoingtoworktoadvancetheirowninterests,usuallyattheexpenseofanother,somostoftheirmethodswouldbeconsidereddeceptive,devious,abusive,andexploitative.Whilesocialinfluenceitselfisnotalwaysnegative,whenapersonorgroupisbeingmanipulated,ithasthepossibilityofcausingthemharm.Socialinfluence,suchasinthecaseofadoctorworkingtopersuadetheirpatientstostartadoptinghealthyhabits,isusuallyperceivedtobesomethingthatisharmless.Thisistrueofanysocialinfluencethatiscapableofrespectingtherightofthoseinvolvedtochooseandisnotundulycoercive.Ontheotherhand,ifsomeoneistryingtogettheirownwayandisusingpeopleagainsttheirownwill,thesocialinfluencecanbeharmfulandisgenerallylookeddownupon.Psychologicaloremotionalmanipulationisseenasaformofpersuasionandcoercion.Therearemanycomponentsthatcanbeincludedinthisformofmindcontrolsuchasbullyingandbrainwashing.Forthemostpart,peoplewillseethisasabusiveordeceptiveinnature.Thosewhodecidetoemploymanipulationwilldosoinordertoattempttocontrolthebehaviorofthosearoundthem.Themanipulatorwillhavesomeendgoalinmindandwillworkthroughvariousabuseformsinordertocoercethosearoundthemintohelpingthemanipulatorgettothefinalgoal.Oftenemotionalblackmailwillbeinvolved.Thosewhopracticemanipulationwillusemindcontrol,brainwashing,orbullyingtacticstogetotherstocompletethetasksforthem.Thesubjectofthemanipulatormaynotwanttoperformthetask,butfeelthattheyhavenootheroptionduetotheblackmailorothertacticused.Mostpeoplewhoaremanipulativelacktheappropriatecaringandsensitivitytowardsotherssotheymaynotseeanissuewiththeiractions.Othermanipulatorsjustwanttogettotheirfinalgoalandarenotconcernedwithwhohasbeenbotheredorhurtalongtheway.Inaddition,manipulativepeopleareoftenafraidtogetintoahealthyrelationshipbecausetheyareafraidotherswillnotacceptthem.Someonewhohasamanipulativepersonalitywilloftenhavetheinabilitytotakeresponsibilityfortheirownbehaviors,problems,andlife.Sincetheyarenotabletotaketheresponsibilityfortheseissues,themanipulatorwillusethetacticsofmanipulationtogetsomeoneelsetotakeovertheresponsibility.Manipulatorsareoftenabletousethesametacticsthatarefoundinotherformsofmindcontrolinordertogettheinfluencetheywantoverothers.Oneofthemostcommonlyusedtacticsisknownasemotionalblackmail.Thisiswherethemanipulatorwillworktoinspiresympathyorguiltinthesubjecttheyaremanipulating.Thesetwoemotionsarechosensincetheyareconsideredthetwostrongestofallhumanemotionsandarethemostlikelytospurothersintotheactionthatthemanipulatorwants.Themanipulatorwillthenbeabletotakecompleteadvantageofthesubject,usingthesympathyorguiltthattheyhavecreatedtocoerceothersintocooperatingorhelpingthemreachtheirfinalgoal.Often,themanipulatorwillnotonlybeabletocreatetheseemotions,theywillbeabletoinspiredegreesofsympathyorguiltthatarewayoutofproportionforthesituationthatisgoingon.Thismeansthattheycantakeasituationsuchasmissingoutonapartyseemlikethesubjectismissingoutonafuneralorsomethingthatisactuallyimportant.

Emotionalblackmailisjustoneofthetacticsthatisemployedbymanipulators.Oneoftheothertacticsthathasbeensuccessfulformanymanipulatorsistouseaformofabusethatisknownascrazymaking.Thistacticisusuallyaimedwiththehopeofcreatingself-doubtinthesubjectbeingmanipulated;oftenthisself-doubtwillbecomesostrongthatsomesubjectsmaystarttohavefeelingsthattheyaregoingcrazy.Attimes,themanipulatorwilluseformsofpassive-aggressivebehaviorinordertobringaboutcrazymaking.Theymightalsochoosetoshowsupportorapprovalofthesubjectverbally,butthengivenon-verbalcuesthatshowcontradictorymeanings.Themanipulatorwilloftenactivelytrytounderminecertaineventsorbehaviorswhileshowingtheirsupportoutloudforthatsamebehavior.Ifthemanipulatoriscaughtintheact,theywillusedenial,justification,rationalization,anddeceptionofillintentinordertogetoutofthetrouble.Oneofthebiggestissueswithpsychologicalmanipulatorsisthattheyarenotalwaysabletorecognizewhatothersaroundthemmayneedandtheywilllosetheabilitytomeetorevenconsidertheseneeds.Thisdoesnotexcusethebehaviorthattheyaredoing,butoftentheneedsofothersarenotconsideredorarenotaprioritytothemanipulatorsotheyareabletoperformmanipulativetaskswithoutfeelingguiltorshame.Thiscanmakeitdifficulttostopthebehaviorandexplaininarationalwaywhythemanipulatormuststop.Inaddition,themanipulatormayfindthatitisdifficultforthemtoformmeaningfulandlonglastingfriendshipsandrelationshipsbecausethepeopletheyarewithwillalwaysfeelusedandwillhavedifficultyintrustingthemanipulator.Theissuegoesbothwaysintheformationofrelationships;themanipulatorwillnotbeabletorecognizetheneedsoftheotherpersonwhiletheotherpersonwillnotbeabletoformtherequiredemotionalconnectionsortrustwiththemanipulator.

RequirementstoSuccessfullyManipulateAsuccessfulmanipulatormusthavetacticsathandthatwillmakethemsuccessfulatusingpeopletogettotheirownfinalgoal.Whilethereareseveraltheoriesonwhatmakesasuccessfulmanipulator,wewilltakealookatthe3requirementsthathavebeensetoutbyGeorgeK.Simon,asuccessfulpsychologyauthor.AccordingtoSimon,themanipulatorwillneedto:

1. Beabletoconcealtheiraggressivebehaviorsandintentionsfromthesubject.2. Beabletodeterminethevulnerabilitiesoftheirintendedsubjectorvictimsinorderto

determinewhichtacticswillbethemosteffectiveinreachingtheirgoals.3. Havesomelevelofruthlessnessreadilyavailablesothattheywillnotneedtodealwith

anyqualmsthatmayariseduetoharmingthesubjectsifitcomestothat.Thisharmcanbeeitherphysicaloremotional.

Thefirstrequirementthatthemanipulatorhastoaccomplishinordertosuccessfullymanipulatetheirsubjectsistoconcealtheiraggressivebehaviorsandintentions.Ifthemanipulatorgoesaroundtellingeveryonetheirplansoralwaysactsmeantoothers,nooneisgoingtostickaroundlongenoughtobemanipulated.Rather,themanipulatorneedstohavetheabilitytoconcealtheirthoughtsfromothersandactlikeeverythingisnormal.Often,thosewhoarebeingmanipulatedwillnotrealizeit,atleastnotinthebeginning.Themanipulatorwillbesweet,actliketheirbestfriend,andperhapshelpthemoutwithsomeissueoranother.Bythetimethesubjectisawareoftheissue,themanipulatorhasenoughinformationonthemtocoercethesubjectintocontinuingon.Next,themanipulatorwillneedtohavethecapabilityofdeterminingwhatthevulnerabilitiesoftheir

intendedvictimorvictimsare.Thiscanhelpthemtodeterminewhichtacticsneedtobeusedinordertoreachtheoverallgoal.Sometimesthemanipulatormaybeabletodothisstepthroughalittlebitofobservationwhileothertimestheyaregoingtoneedtohavesomekindofinteractionwiththesubjectbeforecomingupwiththefullplan.Thethirdrequirementisthatthemanipulatorneedstoberuthless.Itisnotgoingtogowellifthemanipulatorputsinalltheirworkandthenworriesabouthowthesubjectisgoingtofairintheend.Iftheydidcareaboutthesubject,itisnotlikelythattheywouldbegoingthroughwiththisplanatall.Themanipulatorisnotgoingtocareaboutthesubjectatallanddoesnotreallycareifanyharm,eitherphysicaloremotional,befallsthesubjectaslongastheoverallgoalismet.Onereasonthatmanipulatorsaresosuccessfulisthatthesubjectoftendoesnotrealizetheyarebeingmanipulateduntillateronintheprocess.Theymaythinkthateverythingisgoingalongjustfine;perhapstheythinkthattheyhavemadeanewfriendinthemanipulator.Bythetimethesubjectrealizestheyarebeingusedornolongerwantstobeapartoftheprocess,theyarestuck.Themanipulatorwillbeabletousemanydifferenttactics,includingemotionalblackmailtogettheirwayintheend.

HowtoControlVictimsOneofthethingsthatthemanipulatorneedstobeabletoaccomplishtoseesuccessistocontroltheirsubjects.Thereareseveraldifferenttheoriesthatareavailabletohelpexplainhowthemanipulatorwillbeabletodothis.TwoofthetheoriesthatwillbediscussedinthissectionincludethosestartedbyHarrietBraikerandSimon.

HarrietBraikerHarrietBraikerisaclinicalpsychologistwhohaswrittenaself-helpbook.Inherbook,shehasdefinedfivebasicwaysthatthemanipulatorisabletocontroltheirsubjects.Theseinclude:

PositivereinforcementNegativereinforcementPartialorintermittentreinforcementPunishmentTraumaticlearningthatonlyprovidesonetrial

Thefirsttwotacticsthatarediscussedincludepositivereinforcementandnegativereinforcement.Inpositivereinforcementthemanipulatorwilluseavarietyoftacticssuchaspublicrecognition,facialexpressions(likeasmileoraforcedlaugh),attention,gifts,approval,money,excessiveapologizing,superficialsympathywhichmayincludecrocodiletears,superficialcharm,andpraise.Thepointofutilizingthiskindofreinforcementistogivethepersonareasontowanttobeyourfriend.Ifyougivesomeoneagiftorsomemoney,theymightbemorewillingtohelpyououtwhenthetimecomes.Ifyoucanmakethesubjectfeelsorryforyou,thentheywillhavetherequiredsympathytobeonyoursidelater.Theothertypeofreinforcementthatcanbeusedisnegativereinforcement.Inthistacticthemanipulatorwillremovethesubjectfromasituationthatisnegativeasarewardfordoingsomethingelse.Anexampleofthiswouldbe“Youwon’thavetodoyourhomeworkifyouallowmetodothistoyou.”Eachofthesehasparticularstrengthsandweaknessesthatallowthemanipulatortogetwhattheywantoutofthesubject.Often,themanipulatorwilluseacombinationofdifferenttacticsinordertogetthethingsthattheywant.

Partialorintermittentreinforcementcanalsobeusedbyamanipulator.Thisformofreinforcementisusedinordertoeffectivelycreateaclimateofdoubtandfearinthesubject.Anexampleofthiscomesingambling.Whilethegamblermaywinattimes,theyarestillgoingtolosesomeformofmoneyoverall,especiallyiftheyplayforalongtime.Butthewinningisoftenenoughtokeepthesubjectpersistingonthesamepath,longaftertheyarenotabletodoso.Themanipulatorwillusethistactictoprovidereinforcementtothesubjectatenoughintervalstokeepthesubjectcomingback.Punishingisanothermethodthatisusedinordertocontrolthesubjectofthemanipulator.Therearealotofdifferentactionsthatcanfitintothiscategory.Theyincludeplayingthesubject,crying,sulking,usingtheguilttrip,emotionalblackmail,swearing,threats,andintimidation,usingthesilenttreatment,yelling,andnagging.Thepointofusingthismethodistomakethesubjectfeelliketheyhavedonesomethingwrong.Thesubjectwillfeelbadandwanttomakethingsright,fallingrightbackinwiththemanipulator.Finally,thelastmethodthatBraikermentionsinherworkisthetraumaticonetriallearning.Thisiswherethemanipulatorwillexplodeforthelittlestthingsinthehopesofconditioningortrainingthesubjectintonotwantingtocontradict,confront,orupsetthemanipulator.Someofthetacticsthatmightbeusedinthismethodincludeexplosiveanger,verbalabuse,andotherbehaviorthatisintimidatingandusedtoestablishsuperiorityanddominanceoverthesubject.

SimonSimonhasalsocomeupwithalistoftacticsthatmanipulatorsmustuseinordertosuccessfullycontroltheirvictims.SomeofthesearesimilartothoselistedbyBraikerbutwithsomemoredetails.Thesewouldinclude:

Lying:manipulatorsarereallygoodatlyingtotheirsubjects.Often,thesubjectswillfindthatitisdifficulttotellwhentheyarebeingliedtoatthetime.Whenthesubjectfindsoutabouttheapparentlie,itisusuallytoolatetodoanythingaboutit.Theonlywaythatthesubjectcanmakesurethattheyarereducingtheirchancesofbeingliedtoarewatchingoutfordifferentpersonalitytypesthatareexpertsintheartofcheatingandlying.Themanipulatorwilllieaboutanythinginordertogettheirwayandforthemostparttheirsubjectswillnothaveanyideathatitisgoingonuntilitistoolatetodoanythingaboutit.

Omissionlying:thisoneissimilartothemethodlistedabovewithafewslightdifferences.Omissionlyingisalittlemoresubtlebecausethemanipulatorwilltellsomeofthetruthbutwillwithholdcertainkeyissuesthatshouldhavebeenrevealed.Insomecasesthismightbecalledpropaganda.Themanipulatormightsaythattheyneedtoborrowsomemoneytogetgastogobuygrocerieswheninrealitytheyneedthemoneytogopickupsomedrugsorotherillegalsubstance.Whiletheydidusethemoneytopurchasegas,justliketheysaid,theyleftoutanimportantpart.Thesubjectprobablywouldnothavegiventhemoneyiftheyknewtheendofthestoryandnowtheymaybecaughtupinsomethingillegal.

Denial:manipulatorsareexpertsatdenial.Noneofthemwilladmitthattheyhavedonesomethingwrong,evenwhenalloftheevidenceispointingtowardsthem.Theywillalwaysdenyeverythingandoftenmakethesubjectlooktobetheoneatfault.

Rationalization:thisiswhenthemanipulatorwillmakeupanexcusethatmakesthemlookgood.Theymightsaytheyonlydidtheactbecausetheyweretryingtohelpthesubject.Thistacticisalsorelatedtothetechniqueofspinning.

Minimization:thisisablendoftherationalizationandthedenialtactics.Themanipulatorwilltelleveryonethattheirbehaviorisreallynotasirresponsibleorharmfulasthesubjectthought.Anexampleofthiswouldbewhenthemanipulatorsaysthataninsultortaunttheyperformedwasjustajokeandthatthesubjectshouldnottakeitsoseriously.

Selectiveattentionorinattention:duringthistactic,themanipulatorworkstoavoidgivingattentiontoanythingthatwilldistractthemfromtheirfinalgoal.Theywilltrivializeitandmakeitseemnotthatimportanttothem,whichitreallyisn’t.Anexampleofthiswouldbewhenthemanipulatorsays“Idon’twanttohearit.”

Diversion:manipulatorsarenotonlygoodatlyingtotheirsubjects;theyarealsoexpertsatavoidinggivingstraightanswerstoquestionsthataregiventothem.Ifsomeoneasksthemaquestionthattheydonotlikeorwantstoknowoutrightiftheyarelyingtothem,themanipulatorwilltrytopushtheconversationinanotherdirection.Oftenthemanipulatorwillbrieflygiveavagueanswertothequestionbeforemovingtheconversationtoanothertopic.

Evasion:thistacticisverysimilartodiversionwithafewdifferences.Inthistactic,themanipulatorwillanswerthequestionsthataregiventothem,buttheywilluseweaselwords,vagueresponses,ramble,andprovideirrelevantresponsestothequestion.Theywillleavethesubjectwithmorequestionsthananswerswhentheyaredone.

Intimidation:Themanipulatorwillalwaystrytokeepthevictimonthedefensiveinordertomakesurethattheyremainonthesameteamthroughouttheprocess.Oftenthisisdonebyusingveiled,implied,indirect,orsubtlethreatstothesubject.

GuiltTrip:manipulatorsliketousetheguilttripasaformofintimidationinordertogetthesubjecttodowhattheywant.Themanipulatorwilltrytomakethesubjectfeelguiltyinsomeway,suchasbysayingthatthesubjecthasittooeasy,istooselfish,orjustdoesnotcareaboutthemanipulatorenough.Thiswillresultinthevictimstartingtofeelbadforthemanipulator.Thesubjectwillthenbekeptinasubmissive,anxious,orself-doubtingposition,makingiteasierforthemanipulatortostillusethem.

Shaming:thewholegoalofthemanipulatoristomakethesubjectfeelbadorhavesympathyforthemsothatthesubjectkeepsgoingalongwiththeplan.Onewaythatthemanipulatorcandothisisbyusingput-downsandsarcasminordertoshamethesubject.Thistacticwillmakethesubjectfeelunworthy.Mostoftheshamingtacticsusedwillbeverysubtleandwouldincludethingssuchassubtlesarcasm,rhetoricalcomments,unpleasanttoneofvoice,orafierceglance.

Playingasavictim:nomatterwhat,themanipulatorwantstolookliketheyarethevictim,eventhoughtheyaretheoneincontrol.Whenthemanipulatoractsliketheyarethevictimoftheircircumstancesorthebehaviorofsomeoneelse,theywillbeabletoevokecompassion,sympathy,andpity.Mostpeoplewillnotbeabletostandbyandwatchassomeonesuffersandthemanipulatorwillfindthatitiseasytogetthesesamepeopletocooperatewiththem.

Vilifyingthesubject:thisisoneofthemostpowerfultacticsthatcanbeusedbecauseitwillalmostinstantlyputthesubjectontheroleofdefensewhileatthesametimehidingthemanipulatorsaggressiveintents.Themanipulatorwilltrytoturnthecircumstancesaroundso

thatthesubjectlooksliketheyarethevillainandtheonewhohascausedallofthetrouble.Thesubjectwillthenwanttofindwaystochangethisoutlookandgetonthesideofthemanipulatoragain,makingiteasytobeused.

Servantrole:manipulatorswilloftenhidetheirownagendasbymakingitlookliketheworktheyaredoingisforsomenoblecause.Theyonlysaidthemeanthingaboutyouroutfitbecausetheprincipalwantstostartsprucingupthelookoftheschoolandtheywantedtohelpout.Theterm“justdoingmyjob,”wouldalsofitunderthiscategory.

Seduction:manipulatorscanuseseductiontogetthethingsthattheywant.Sometoolsthatfitintothiscategorywouldincludeintensesupport,flattery,praiseandcharm.Thisisdoneinordertogetthesubjecttolowertheirdefenses.Aftertime,thesubjectwillbegintogivetheirloyaltyandtrusttothemanipulatorwhowilluseitastheyplease.

Projectingtheblame:themanipulatorwillspendalotoftimeblamingothersfortheproblemstheyarehaving.Oftenitishardtodetectwhenthisisgoingonsonooneisabletocallthemoutonit.

Feigninginnocence:ifthemanipulatoriscaughtintheactofreachingtheirownagenda,theywilltrytosuggestthatifharmwasdone,itwascompletelyunintentional.Theymayevencompletelydenythattheydidanythinginthefirstplace.Whencaught,themanipulatorwillplacealookofindignationorsurpriseontheirfaces.Thepointofthistoolistomakethevictimquestiontheirownsanityandjudgmentsinceitlooksliketheywerewrong.

Feigningconfusion:anotherthingthatmighthappenifthemanipulatoriscaughtisthattheymightplaydumb.Thiswillhappenifthemanipulatortriestopretendthattheydonothaveanyideawhatthesubjectistalkingabout.Theymightalsoactliketheyareconfusedwhenacriticalissueisbroughtuptothem.

Brandishinganger:whenthemanipulatorusesanger,itistogetthesubjecttofeelsorryorsympathyforthem.Ifdoneintherightway,themanipulatorwillbeabletoshocktheirsubjectbackintosubmission.Often,themanipulatorisnotreallyangry;theyarejustputtingonanactinordertogetwhattheywant.

Ascanbeseen,therearealotoftoolsthatthemanipulatorcanuseinordertogettotheirfinalgoals.Often,thesetacticswillbeusedinsuchawaythatthesubjectwillnotrealizewhatisgoingoninthebeginninganditwilltakesometimeforthemtocatchon.Oncetheydo,themanipulatorwillbeabletoemploysomeofthetechniquesthatwillbediscussedinthenextsectioninordertokeepthesubjectgoingintherightdirection.Themanipulatorisskilledatusingacombinationoftheseskillstogetthethingsthattheywantanditdoesnotmattertothemhowmuchtheyharmtheotherpersonintheprocess.

TechniquesofManipulationAsdiscussedbefore,amanipulatorisgoingtoworkinordertoreachtheirfinalgoal.Inordertoreachthisfinalgoal,themanipulatorwilluseanytechniquethattheycaninordertogetpeopletodowhattheywant.Thefivemostcommontechniquesthatwillbeusedbyamanipulatortoreachtheirfinalgoalsincludeblackmail,emotionalblackmail,puttingdowntheotherperson,lying,andcreatinganillusion.Thesewilleachbediscussedintheprecedingsections.

BlackmailBlackmailisthefirsttechniquethatwouldbeutilizedbyamanipulator.Blackmailisconsideredanactthatinvolvesthreatsthatareunjustifiedinordertomakeacertaingainorcausealosstothesubjectunlessthemanipulator’sdemandismet.Itcanalsobedefinedastheactofcoercionthatinvolvesthreatsofprosecutionasacriminal,threatsoftakingthesubject’spropertyormoney,orthreatsofcausingphysicalharmtothesubject.Thereisalonghistoryofthewordblackmail;originallyitwasatermthatmeantpaymentsthatthesettlersrenderedtotheareathatwasborderingScotlandtothechieftainsincharge.ThispaymentwasmadeinordertogivethesettlersprotectionfromthemaraudersandthievesthatweregoingintoEngland.IthassincechangedtomeansomethingelseandincertaininstancesitisanoffenseintheUnitedStates.Forthepurposesofthissection,blackmailismoreofathreat,eitherphysicaloremotional,tothesubjectinordertocoercethemintodoingwhatthemanipulatorwants.Blackmailisalsoconsideredextortioninsomecases.Althoughtherearetimeswhenthetwoareconsideredsynonymous,therearesomedifferences.Forexample,extortioniswhensomeonetakesthepersonalpropertyofanotherbythreateningtodofutureharmifthepropertyisnotgiven.Ontheotherhand,blackmailiswhenthreatsareusedinordertopreventthesubjectfromengaginginlawfulactivities.Attimes,thesetwoeventsaregoingtoworktogether.Thepersonmaythreatensomeoneandrequiremoneyinordertobekeptatbayandnotcausethesubjectharm.Themanipulatorisgoingtobeabletousethistechniqueinordertogetwhattheywant.Theyaregoingtotakethetimetolearnthingsofpersonalnatureabouttheirsubjectandthentheycanusethatasaformofblackmailagainstthem.Theymightblackmailtheirsubjectbythreateningtospillanembarrassingsecretorbyruiningtheirchancesofgettinganewjoborpromotion.Orthemanipulatormightworkinamoremenacingwaybythreateningtophysicallyharmtheirsubjectorthesubject’sfamilyiftheydonotagreetogoalongwiththemanipulator.Whatevertheblackmailmaybe,itisusedtohelpthemanipulatortogettotheirfinalgoalwiththeassistanceofthesubject.

EmotionalBlackmailAnothersimilartacticthatmaybeusedbythemanipulatorisknownasemotionalblackmail.Duringthistechnique,themanipulatorwillseektoinspiresympathyorguiltintheirsubject.Thesetwoemotionsarethestrongestonesforhumanstofeelandtheywilloftenbeenoughtospurthesubjectintotheactionthatthemanipulatorwants.Themanipulatorisgoingtotakeadvantageofthisfactinordertogetthethingthattheywant;theywillusethesympathyortheguiltthattheyinspireinordertocoercethesubjectintocooperatingorhelpingthem.Thedegreeofsympathyorguiltwilloftenbeblownoutofproportion,makingthesubjectevenmorelikelytohelpoutinthesituation.Thepointofusingthistypeofblackmailistoplaymoreontheemotionsofthesubject.Inregularblackmail,thesubjecthasathreattodealwith,mostlyintermsofphysicalharmtothemselvesor

someonetheylove.Withemotionalblackmail,themanipulatorwillworktoinspireemotionsthatarestrongenoughtoincitethesubjecttoaction.Whilethesubjectmaythinkthattheyarehelpingoutoftheirownfreewill,themanipulatorhasworkedtoensurethattheysubjectisassistingandwillbringouttheemotionsagainwheneveritisneeded.

PuttingDownTheOtherPersonThereareotheroptionsavailabletothemanipulatoriftheywouldliketogettheirsubjecttoassistinreachingthefinalgoal.Onetechniquethathasquiteabitofsuccessiswhenthemanipulatorisabletoputdowntheirsubject.Innormalcases,ifthemanipulatorusesverbalskillsinordertoputtheirsubjectdown,theywillrunahighriskofmakingthesubjectfeelasifapersonalattackhasbeenplacedonthem.Whenthesubjectfeelsliketheyareattacked,theywillbristleandnotbewillingtoassistthemanipulatorinthewaythattheywant.Instead,thesubjectwillnotlikethemanipulatorandwillstayasfarawayfromthemaspossible,makingitverydifficultforthemanipulatortoreachtheirfinalgoal.Thisiswhythemanipulatorisnotgoingtojustgoaroundandputdowntheirsubject.Theyhavetobemorediscreetabouttheprocessandfindawaytodoitwithoutraisingredflagsormakingthesubjectfeelliketheyarebeingattacked.Onewaythatthiscanbedoneisthroughhumor.Humorisabletolowerbarriersthatmightotherwiseshowupbecausehumorisfunnyandmakespeoplefeelgood.Themanipulatorisabletoturntheirinsultintoajoke.Despitethefactthattheputdownhasbeenturnedintoajoke,itwillworkjustaseffectivelyasifthejokewerenotpresentwithoutleavingthevisiblescarsonthesubject.Often,themanipulatorwilldirecttheirputdownintotheformofthirdperson.Thishelpsthemtomaskwhattheyaresayingmoreeasilyalongwithprovidinganeasywaytodenycausingharmifitcomesbacktohauntthemlateron.Forexample,theymightstarttheirputdownwith“Otherpeoplethink…”Ifthesubjectisstillabletoguessthatthecommentsweremadeatthem,thenthemanipulatorwouldenditwithathrowawaylinethatmightincludesomethinglike“presentcompanyexcepted,ofcourse.”Theideaoftheputdownistomakethesubjectfeelliketheyaresomehowlessthanthemanipulator.Itraisesthemanipulatoruptoanewlevelandleavesthesubjectfeelinglikesomethingiswanting.Thesubjectismorelikelytowanttomakethingsbetterandtofixanywrongthattheyhavedone.Thiswillputthemanipulatorinapositionofpower,andtheywillbeabletomoreeasilygetthesubjecttoassistthem.

LyingNomatterwhattheendgoalofthemanipulatoris,lyingissomethingthattheyareanexpertinandwhichtheywilldoallofthetimetogetwhattheywant.Thereareseveraldifferenttypesofliesthatcanbeusedbythemanipulatorthatwillhelpthemtoreachtheirfinalgoals.Oneisthattheytellcompleteliesandothersincludeomittingpartsofthetruthfromtheirsubjects.Whenthemanipulatorlies,itisbecausetheyknowthatthelieisgoingtofurthertheiragendamuchmoreeffectivelythanthetruthwould.Tellingsomeonethetruthmightmakethemnotwanttohelpthemanipulatoroutandthatwouldgocompletelyagainsttheirplans.Instead,themanipulatorwilltellalietogetthesubjectconvincedtodosomethingforthemandbythetimethesubjectfindsoutaboutthelie,itistoolatetofixtheissue.Themanipulatormightalsodecidetoomitpartofthetruthinthestoriesthattheyaretelling.Withthismethod,theyaregoingtotellpartsofthetruth,butwillkeepcertainthingsoutthatareunsavoryorwhich

mighthindertheprogressthatisbeingmade.Thesekindsofliescanbejustasdangerousbecauseitwillbecomeincreasinglydifficulttotellwhatthetruthofthestoryisandwhatthelieis.Itisimportanttorealizethatwhenyouaredealingwiththemanipulator,anythingthattheytellyoumaybealie.Itisnotagoodideatotrustanythingthatthemanipulatorissayingsincetheyarejusttryingtoabuseandusetheirsubjectsinordertoreachthatfinalgoal.Themanipulatorisgoingtodoandsayanythingpossible,evenlying,togetwhattheywantandtheyarenotgoingtofeelsorryaboutit.Aslongastheygetwhattheywant,theyarenottooconcernedabouthowitisaffectingthesubjectorothersaroundthem.

CreatinganIllusionInadditiontolying,themanipulatorisgoingtobeanexpertatcreatingillusionsthatarecapableofbringingabouttheirfinalgoalmoreeffectively.Theywillworktocreateapicturethattheywantandthenconvincethesubjectthatthisillusionisactuallyreality;whetherornotitisdoesnotmattertothemanipulator.Inordertodothis,themanipulatorisgoingtobuilduptheevidencethatisneededtoprovethepointthatworkstotheirgoal.Tostarttheillusion,themanipulatorisgoingtoplanttheideasandtheevidenceintothemindsofthesubject.Oncetheseideasareinplace,themanipulatorwillbeabletostepbackforafewdaysandletthemanipulationoccurinthesubjectsmindoverthattime.Afterthattimethemanipulatorwillhavemoreofachanceofgettingthesubjecttogoalongwiththeplan.Manipulationisaformofmindcontrolthatisdifficultforthesubjecttoavoid.Unlikebrainwashingandhypnosisthatwasdescribedinthepreviouschapters,manipulationisabletooccurindailylifeandinsomeinstancesitcanoccurwithoutthesubjecthavingmuchknowledgeorcontrolofit.Themanipulatorisgoingtoworkdiscretelyinordertoreachtheirfinalgoalwithoutgettingthesubjectsuspiciousandderailtheprocess.Themanipulatorwillnotworryaboutwhotheyarehurtingorhowothersmightfeelandmostofthemarenotcapableofunderstandingtheneedsoftheirsubjects.Theyjustknowthattheywantsomethingandthatthesubjecttheyhavechosenisgoingtohelpthemtogettotheirgoal.Thetechniquesthatarediscussedinthischapteraremeanttohelpexplainwhatgoesonduringtheprocessofmanipulationandhowthemindofthemanipulatorwillwork.Itisoftenbesttoattempttosteerclearofanyonewhomightbeamanipulatorsothatyouareabletoavoidthiskindofmindcontrol.

Chapter5:PersuasionPersuasionisanotherformofmindcontrolthatisgoingtobediscussed.Whiletheremightnotbeasmuchmediahypeaboutthisformofmindcontrolasthereiswithbrainwashingandhypnosis,itcanbejustaseffectiveifdonecorrectly.Theissuewiththisformisthattherearejustsomanydifferentformsofpersuasionthatarepresentindailylifethatitcanbedifficultforanyonesourcetogetthroughtothesubjectandmakeadifference.Whilepersuasionworkstochangethethoughtsandthebeliefsofthesubjectliketheotherformsofmindcontrol,itseemslikeeveryoneistryingtopersuadeyouaboutsomethingsoitbecomeseasiertoignorethepersuasionthatiscomingtowardsthesubject.Forexample,thecommercialsontelevision,whenanargumentisgoingon,orevenwhenaconversationisgoingonthereissomeformofpersuasionthatisoccurring.Peoplewilloftenusepersuasiontotheiradvantagewithoutnoticing.Thischapterisgoingtogointomoredetailsaboutpersuasionandhowitcanbeeffectivelyusedasaformofmindcontrol.

WhatisPersuasion?Tostartwithisthedefinitionofpersuasion.Whenpeoplethinkaboutpersuasion,theywilloftencomeupwithmanydifferentanswers.Somemaythinkofthecommercialsandadvertisingthattheyseeallaroundthemthaturgethepurchaseofacertainproductoveranother.Othersmaythinkaboutpersuasioninthetermsofpoliticsandhowthecandidatesmaytrytoswaythevoters’opinioninordertogetanothervote.Bothoftheseareexamplesofpersuasionbecausethemessageistryingtochangethewaythatthesubjectisthinking.Persuasioncanbefoundindailylifeandit’saverypowerfulforceaswellasmajorinfluenceonthesubjectandsociety.Advertising,massmedia,legaldecisions,andpoliticsallwillbeinfluencedbyhowpersuasionworksandinturnitwillworkonpersuadingthesubjectaswell.Ascanbeseen,therearesomekeydifferencesbetweenpersuasionandtheotherformsofmindcontrolwhichhavebeendiscussedsofarinthisguidebook.Brainwashingandhypnosiswillrequirethesubjecttobeinisolationinordertochangetheirmindsandidentity.Manipulationwillalsoworkonjustonepersontogettothefinalgoal.Whilepersuasioncanbedoneonjustonesubjecttochangetheirmind,itisalsopossibletousepersuasiononalargerscaleinordertopersuadeawholegrouporevensocietytochangethewaythattheyarethinking.Thiscanmakeitevenmoreeffective,andperhapsdangerous,becauseithastheabilitytochangethemindsofmanypeopleallatonceratherthanthemindofjustasinglesubject.Manypeoplefallunderthefalseimpressionthattheyareimmunetotheeffectsofpersuasion.Theythinkthattheywouldbeabletoseeanysalespitchthatisthrowntheirway,whethertheagentisactuallysellingaproductorsomenewidea,andthenbeabletocomprehendthesituationthatisgoingonandfindtheconclusionthroughtheirownlogic.Insomescenariosthisisgoingtobetrue;noonefallsforeverythingtheyhearallofthetimewhentheyuselogic,especiallyifitgoescompletelyagainsttheirbeliefs,nomatterhowstrongtheargumentmaybe.Inaddition,mostsubjectswillbeabletoavoidthemessagesaboutpurchasingtelevisionsandfancycarsorthenewestproductonthemarket.Manytimestheactofpersuasionisgoingtobemuchmoresubtleanditcanbemoredifficultforthesubjecttoformtheirownopinionsaboutwhattheyarebeingtold.Whentheactofpersuasionisbroughtup,mostpeoplearegoingtoseeitinanegativelight.Theywillthinkofasalesmanoraconmanwhoistryingtoconvincethemtochangealloftheirbeliefsandwhoisgoingtopushandbotherthemuntilthechangeoccurs.Whilethiscertainlyisonewaytothinkaboutpersuasion,thisprocesscanoftenbeusedinapositivewayratherthanjustanegativeway.Forexample,publicservicecampaignscanurgepeopletoquitsmokingorrecyclecanbeformsofpersuasionthatareabletoimprovethelivesofthesubject.Itisallinhowtheprocessofpersuasionisused.

ElementsofPersuasionAswiththeotherformsofmindcontrol,therearecertainelementstobewatchedoutforwhenitcomestopersuasion.Theseelementshelptodefineexactlywhatpersuasionissothatitismorerecognizable.AccordingtoPerloffin2003,persuasionisdefinedas“Asymbolicprocessinwhichcommunicationstrytoconvinceotherpeopletochangetheirattitudesorbehaviorsregardinganissuethroughthetransmissionofamessageinanatmosphereoffreechoice.”Thisisoneofthethingsthatmakepersuasiondifferentfromtheotherformsofmindcontrol;thesubjectisoftenallowedtomaketheirownfreechoicesinthematterevenifthetacticsofpersuasionaregoingtoworktoshiftthesubject’smindinaparticulardirection.Thesubjectisabletochoosewhichwaythey

wanttothink,iftheywanttopurchaseaproductornot,oriftheythinktheevidencebehindthepersuasionisstrongenoughtochangetheirminds.Thereareafewelementsthatarepresentinpersuasionthathelptodefineitevenfurther.Theseelementsinclude:

Persuasionissymbolicwhichmeansthatitutilizessounds,images,andwordstogetthepointacross.Persuasionwillinvolvetheagentdeliberatelyattemptingtoinfluencethesubjectorgroup.Self-persuasionisakeypartofthisprocess.Thesubjectisusuallynotcoercedandinsteadtheyaregiventhefreedomtochoosetheirowndecision.Therearemanywaysthatpersuasivemessagescanbetransmittedincludingfacetoface,internet,radio,andtelevision.Thecommunicationcanalsooccurnonverballyorverbally.

Let’slookateachofthesepointsinalittlemoredetail.Thefirstelementofpersuasionisthatitneedstobesymbolic.Inordertopersuadesomeonetothinkoractinacertainway,youneedtobeabletoshowthemwhytheyshouldchangetheirthoughts.Thisisgoingtoincludetheuseofwords,sounds,andimagestogetthenewpointacross.Youcanusewordstostartupadebateorargumenttoshowyourpoint.Picturesareagreatwaytoshowtheevidencethatisneededtopersuadesomeonetogoonewayortheother.Somenonverbalcuesarepossible,buttheyarenotgoingtobeaseffectiveasusingthewordsandimages.Thesecondkeyisthatpersuasionisgoingtobeusedinadeliberatewayinordertoinfluencethewayothersareactingorthinking.Thisoneisprettyobvious,ifyouarenotpurposelytryingtoinfluenceothers,youarenotusingpersuasiontogetthemtochange.Thepersuaderisgoingtotrydifferenttacticsinordertogetthesubjecttothinkthesamewaythattheydo.Thiscouldbesomethingassimpleasjusthavingadebatewiththemorpresentingevidencethatsupportstheirpointofview.Ontheotherhand,itcouldgetmuchmoreinvolvedandincludemoredeceptiveformstochangethesubject’smind.Moreaboutthetechniquesthatareusedinpersuasionwillbediscussedlaterinthischapter.Theuniquethingaboutpersuasionisthatitallowsthesubjecttohavesomeformoffreewill.Thesubjectisallowedtomaketheirownchoiceinthemanner.Forthemostpart,nomatterhowhardsomeonetriestopersuadethemofsomething,theydonothavetogoforit.Thesubjectmightlistentoathousandcommercialsaboutthebestcartopurchase,butiftheydonotlikethatbrandorarenotinneedofanewvehicleatthattime,theyarenotgoingtogooutandpurchaseit.Ifthesubjectisagainstabortion,itisnotgoingtomatterhowmanypeoplecomeoutandsayhowgreatabortionis,thesubjectisnotlikelytochangetheirmind.Thisallowsmuchmorefreedomofchoicethanwhatisfoundintheotherformsofmindcontrol,whichmightexplainwhymanypeopledonotseethisasatypeofmindcontrolwhenasked.Persuasionisaformofmindcontrolthatcanoccurinmanydifferentways.Whilebrainwashing,hypnosis,andmanipulationhavetooccuronafacetofacebasis,andinsomecasesincompleteisolation,persuasioniscapableofoccurringinotherways.Youcanfindexamplesofpersuasionallovertheplaceincludingwhenyouaretalkingtopeopleyouknow,ontheInternet,andthroughradioandtelevision.Itisalsopossibletoprovidepersuasivemessagesthroughnonverbalandverbalmeans;althoughitismuchmoreeffectivewhenverbaltechniquesareused.

ModernPersuasionOvertime,persuasionhasbeenabletoevolveandchangefromitsoriginalbeginnings.Persuasionhas

beenaroundformanyyears;infactithasbeenaroundsincethetimeofancientGreece.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheartandprocessofpersuasionisexactlythesameasitwaswaybackthen.Infact,therehavebeenquiteafewchangesmadetotheartofpersuasionandhowitisusedinmoderntimes.Someofthekeyelementsofmoderndaypersuasionwillbediscussedinthissection.RichardM.Perloffhasspentquiteabitoftimestudyingmodernpersuasion,howitisused,andhowitcanaffectsocietyasawhole.HewroteabookcalledTheDynamicsofPersuasion:CommunicationandAttitudesinthe21stCentury,whichoutlinesthefivewaysthattheuseofmodernpersuasionisdifferentfromhowitwasusedinthepast.Thesefivewaysinclude:

Thenumberofmessagesthatareconsideredpersuasivehasgrownbyleapsandbounds:InthetimesofancientGreece,persuasionwasusedjustinwritingandindebatesamongtheelites.Theoccurrenceofpersuasionwasnotabigthingandyouwouldnotseeitveryoften.Inmoderntimes,itisdifficulttogetanywherewithoutsomemessageofpersuasionfollowingyouaround.Thinkofthedifferenttypesandsourcesofadvertisementsthatareoutthere;theaverageadultintheUnitedStateswillcomeacrossupto3000oftheseeachday.Inadditiontothat,therearealwayspeopleknockingonyourdoortryingtogetyoutobuysomething,believetheirideas,ortrysomethingnewout.Persuasionismuchmoreapartofmodernlifethanithasbeenatanyothertimeinhistory.

Persuasiontravelsreallyquickly:backinthetimesofancientGreece,itcouldtakeweeksorlongerforapersuasivemessagetogetfromonepointtoanother.Thislimitedtheimpactofpersuasionbecausemostpeoplewouldnotbeabletogetthemessage.Mostactsofpersuasionhadtobedoneinthecontextoffacetofacecommunication.Inmoderntimes,persuasivemessagescancoveralargedistanceinhardlyanytimeatallthankstotheuseoftheinternet,radio,andtelevision.Politicalcandidatescanreachconstituentsallatonceinjustsecondsandanymessagecanbespreadeasily.Persuasiontakesonamuchlargerrolewhenitcanbespreadsoquickly.

Persuasioncanmeanalotofmoney:nowthatcompanieshavediscoveredthepowerofpersuasion,theyaredoingeverythingtheycantomakeitworkforthem.Themoreeffectivetheyareatpersuadingconsumerstopurchasetheirproductsthemoremoneytheywillmake.Somecompaniesareinbusinesssolelybecauseofthepersuasiveprocess,suchaspublicrelationscompanies,marketingfirms,andadvertisingagencies.Othercompanieswillbeabletousethepersuasivetechniquesofferedbythesecompaniesinordertoreachandsurpassthesalesgoalsthattheyset.

Persuasionhasbecomemoresubtlethaninthepast:inthebeginningsofpersuasion,theagentwouldannouncetheirviewsoutloudforthewholegrouptohearinthehopesofgettingthemalltochangetheirminds.Thosedaysareoverandtheprocessofpersuasionhasbecomemuchmorediscrete.Whileitispossibletofindactsofpersuasionthatarestillveryloudandinyourface,suchasinsomeformsofadvertising,manyothersarefollowingamoresubtleroute.

Anexampleofthisiswhenbusinessescraftacertainimageofthemselves,suchasbeingfamilyfriendly,inordertogetconsumerstopurchasetheirproducts.Youmightalsonoticethatinsteadofgettingintoadebatewithyourfriendovergoingtoaparty,theywillusepeerpressureorjustlistafewfactstotryandgetyoutocomewiththem.Despitebeingmoresubtle,persuasionisstillaseffectivetodayasithaseverbeen.

Theprocessofpersuasionhasbecomemorecomplex:alongwithpersuasionbeingmoresubtleandsometimeshardertopointout,itisalsogoingalongtheroadofbecomingmorecomplex.Thesubjectbeingtargetedismorediversethaninthepastandtheyhavealotmorechoicestomake.Forexample,whereonceapersonjustwenttotheonestoreintowntopurchaseeverythingtheyneed,nowtheyareabletopickfromdifferentstoresfortheirneedsfromthehardwarestoretothegrocerystoreandtheclothingstore.Ontopofthat,thereisoftenmorethanoneoptionavailableforeachoftheseshoppingcategoriesinthearea.Allthesechoicesmakeitmoredifficultfortheagenttofindagoodpersuasivemessagefortheconsumeroranyothersubject.

MethodsofPersuasionPersuasionmethodscanoftengounderothernamesandbereferredtoinsuchwaysaspersuasionstrategiesandpersuasiontactics.Thereisnotjustonemethodthatcanbeusedtopersuadesomeonetothinkoractinacertainway.Theagentmaybeabletotalktothesubjectwhilepresentingevidenceinordertoswitchthesubject’smind,theymaybeabletousesomesortofforceorpulltheyhaveagainstthesubject,andtheycanperformsomesortofserviceforthesubject,oruseanothertactic.Thissectionwillgointomoredetailsaboutthedifferentmethodsofpersuasionthatareavailableandhoweachofthemmightbeeffectiveintheprocessofpersuasion.

UsageofForceDependingonthesituation,theagentmaydecideitisagoodideatousesomeforceinordertopersuadethesubjecttothinktheirway.Thismayhappeniftheideasdonotmatchupcorrectly,regulartalkingisnotworking,orwhentheagentisbecomingfrustratedorupsetwiththeturnoftheconversation.Oftenforceisusedasatypeofscaretacticbecauseitgivesthesubjectlesstimetothinklogicallyaboutwhatisgoingoncomparedtowhenanormalconversationoccurs.Usuallyforcewillbeusedwhentheagenthashadlesssuccessusingtheothermeansofpersuasionthatareavailable,althoughstartingwiththeuseofforceissometimesdoneaswell.Atothertimes,forcemaybeusediftheagentfeelsliketheyarelosingcontrolorwhenthesubjectisabletopresentcontradictoryevidencetotheagentandtheagentbecomesangry.Oftenitisnotthebestideatouseforcewhenitcomestotheprocessofpersuasion.Thisisbecausemanysubjectswillseetheuseofforceasathreatduetothefactthattheagentwillnotgiveotheroptionstotherequestthattheyaremaking.Thewholeappealofpersuasionisthatitoffersthesubjectthechoiceofpaths,butonceforceisbroughtintothemix,thatfreedomofchoiceisgoneandthesubjectismorelikelytofeelthreatened.Oncethesubjectfeelsthreatened,theyarelesslikelytolistenandconsideranythingthattheagentissayingandsotheprocesswillnotgoanyfurther.Duetothesereasons,theuseofforceisgenerallydiscouragedandavoidedintheartofpersuasion;unliketheotherformsofmindcontroldiscussed.

WeaponsofInfluenceAnothermethodthatcanbeusedinordertopersuadethesubjecttoleanaspecificwayistousetheweaponsofinfluencethatareavailable.ThesesixinfluencesweredevelopedbyRobertCialdiniinhisbookInfluence.Thisbookdiscussestheartofpersuasionanddefinesthesixweaponsofinfluencethatcanmaketheagentsuccessfulintheirgoals.Thesixweaponsofinfluencearereciprocity,commitmentandconsistency,socialproof,liking,authority,andscarcity.Thesesixweaponsofinfluenceareveryimportanttotheagentsincetheyareapartoftheprocessofchangeintheirsubjects.Eachofthesesixweaponswillbediscussedbelow.

ReciprocityThefirstweaponofinfluenceistheprincipleofreciprocity.Thisprinciplestatesthatwhenoneperson,theagent,providestheotherperson,thesubject,withsomethingofvalue,thesubjectisgoingtoattempttorepaytheagentinkind.Thisbasicallymeans,whentheagentperformssometypeofservicetothesubject,thesubjectwillfeelthattheyhaveanobligationtoperformasimilarservicetotheagentatsometime.Whilethetwoservicesmightnotbeidentical,theyhavethesamekindofvaluesothattheobligationofeachisequaledout.

Theactofreciprocationendsupproducingasenseofobligationinthesubject,whichtheagentwillthenbeabletouseasapowerfultoolwhentheywanttousepersuasion.Theruleofreciprocityisveryeffectivebecauseithelpstheagentgetthesubjectintotherightframeofmindfortheactofpersuasionbyinstillingandoverpoweringthesubjectwithasenseofobligation.Theagentmaybemorelikelytogetthesubjectconvincedtodooractacertainwaybecausethesubjectwillhavethatsenseofobligationhangingoverthem.Anotheraddedbenefitfortheagentinusingreciprocityisthatitisnotjustamoralstandingthatwillputtheobligationonthesubject;itisalsoastandingthatisheldupbysocialcodes.Theagentisnotgoingtoneedtoworryaboutwhetherthesubjecthastherightmoralcodetoreturnthefavor.Ifthesubjectdoesnotfeeltheneedtodoso,theagenthassometoolsavailabletospurthemintoaction.Asasociety,peopledonotlikeindividualswhoarenegligentinreturningafavororpaymentwhentheyareofferedafreegiftorservice.Iftheagentdoesnotfeellikethesubjectisgoingtoreciprocatetothem,theywillbeabletoturnthemintotheirsocialgroup.Theycandothisbytellingotherfriendsorcoworkersabouthowtheydidafavorforthesubjectbutthesubjectneverreturneditwhenitwasneeded.Nowtheagenthasforcedsocialstandardsonthesubjectthroughthetellingofthefavor,makingitevenmorelikelythattheywillbeabletopersuadethesubjectintodoingsomething.Forthemostpart,thesubjectwillbehappytoreciprocatetotheagentwithoutneedinganyoutsideforces.Whenthefavorisgranted,thesubjectwillbegintolookforwaysthattheycanrepaytheagentsothatthescoreisevenandtheydonotseemgreedyorselfish.Theagentwillthenbeabletoprovideaneasysolutiontothesubjectonhowtorepaythisdebt;thesubjectwillfeelgratitudeathavingthiseasysolutionandwillbemorelikelytogothewaythattheagentwants.

CommitmentandConsistencyThenextweaponofinfluencethatistobediscussedisthatofcommitmentandconsistency.Theagentisgoingtoneedtousebothoftheseiftheywishtopersuadeanyonetochangetotheirpointofview.Whenthingsareconsistent,theyareeasiertounderstandandcanhelpthesubjecttomaketheirdecisionsbetter.Itdoesnotdowellfortheagenttoalwayschangethefactsthattheyareusingortochangeotherinformationthatisneededinordertohelpthesubjectprocesstheinformation.Ratherthanhelpingwiththeprocessofpersuading,constantlykeepingawayfromconsistencyisgoingtomaketheagentlooklikealiarandsomeonewhocannotbetrusted,resultinginthefailureofthepersuasionprocess.Consistencyisoneofthemostimportantaspectsofthepersuasionprocess.Thisisbecause:

Consistencyisvaluedhighlyinsociety:peopleliketohavethingsstayacertainwaymostofthetime.Whilethereisalotofvarietyindailylife,peoplefeelsafeknowingthatoverallthingswillstayprettyconsistent.Itallowsthemtorememberwhathasgoneon,knowwhattoexpect,andbepreparedifanychangesdohappentooccur.Ifconsistencywerenotavailable,thingswouldbeverydifficulttoplanandtherewouldalwaysbeissuesofchaosgoingaround.Ifyouwishtopersuadeasubjectofaparticularthing,thenyoumustmakesurethatyourfactsareconsistentandmakesensetothem.

Consistencyresultsinbenefitingthedailylifeapproachofmostpeople.Haveyouevertriedtoplanadayoutwhensomethingunexpectedcomesup?Itcanmakethingsalmostimpossibletodoandwillendupfeelinglikeadisaster.Peoplelikeconsistencybecauseitallowsthemtoknowwhattoexpectandwhattodo.Theyknowwhenitistimetoeat,whenitistimefor

work,andwhenotherthingswillhappenthroughouttheday.

Consistencyprovidesashortcutthatisveryvaluablethroughthecomplicationspresentinmodernexistence.Lifeisdifficultenoughwithouthavingtoaddinotherthingsthatdonotmakesince.Whenpeopleareabletohaveconsistentlives,itmakesthingsawholeloteasier.

Consistencyisagreattoolbecauseitallowsthesubjecttheabilitytomaketherightdecisionsandtoprocessinformation.Iftheagentwantstobesuccessfulintheirendeavorsofpersuadingthesubject,theyneedtomakesurethattheirmessageisconsistent.Thereisnoroomforfalseevidencethatcanshowuplaterandruinthewholeprocess.Keepthefactstruthfulandconciseanditismuchbetterforpersuadingthesubject.Somethingthattiesinwithconsistencyistheactofcommitment.Inordertoknowthatthesubjectisactuallypersuadedandthattheefforthaspaidoff,itisimportanttohavesomekindofcommitmentinplace.Inadvertising,thiscanmeanthatthesubjectisgoingtopurchasetheproductorinpoliticsitcanmeanthatthesubjectwillvoteforaparticularcandidate.Thecommitmentthatismadewillvarydependingonthenatureofthepersuasion.Accordingtotheconceptofconsistency,ifapersoncommits,eitherinwritingororally,theyaremuchmorelikelytohonorthecommitmentthattheyhavemade.Ithasbeenfoundthatthisisevenmoretrueintermsofwrittencommitmentssincethesubjectwillbemoreconcretepsychologicallyandthereissomehardproofthattheyagreedtothecommitment.Thismakesalotofsense;manypeoplewillpromiseorallythattheywillfixsomethingordosomething,justtoturnaroundandnotdoit.Sure,somepeoplewilldowhattheysaid,andtheyaremorelikelytodoitifpromisingorallythannotpromisingatall,butoftenitisstilldifficulttogettheresultsthatyouwantinthisway.Inaddition,thereisnowaytobackitupsinceanoralagreementwilljustbecomeahesaidshesaiddisagreementandnoonewillwin.Ontheotherhand,iftheagentisabletoproduceawrittencommitmentfromthesubject,theyhavetheprooftheyneedthatthethinghasbeendone.Thereasonthatitissoimportantfortheagenttogetthesubjecttoagreetoacommitmentisbecauseoncethesubjecthascommittedtothenewstance,theyhavemoreofatendencytoactinawaythatisfittingtothatcommitment.Afterthatpoint,thesubjectwillcontinueonandbegintoengageinself-persuasionforthecause.Theywillprovidethemselvesalongwithotherswithvariousjustificationsandreasonstosupportthecommitmentinordertoavoidanyissueswiththeagent.Iftheagentisabletogetthesubjecttothatpoint,theagentwillhavealotlessworktodealwith.

SocialProofPersuasionisaformofsocialinteractionandthereforeisgoingtoneedtofollowthesocialruleswhereitisoccurring.Thesubjectisgoingtobeinfluencedbythepeoplewhoarearoundthem;theyaregoingtobemorelikelytowanttodowhatothersaredoingratherthandotheirownthing.Thesubjectwillbasetheirbeliefsandactionaccordingtowhatothersaredoingaroundthem,howthesesamepeopleact,andhowtheybelieve.Forexample,ifthesubjectgrowsupinacity,theyaremorelikelytoactlikeotherswhoarefromthatarea;ontheotherhand,thosewhogrowupinacommunitythatisveryreligiousmayspendalotoftheirtimepraying,learning,andhelpingothers.Underthisbeliefthesaying“thepowerofthecrowd,”canbeveryeffective.Thesubjectisgoingtowanttoknowwhatotherpeoplearoundthemaredoingatalltimes.Ithasbecomealmostanobsessioninthiscountrytobeabletodowhatothersaredoinginordertofitin,despitethefactthatpeoplewillsayhowtheywanttobedifferentandbeanindividual.

Anexamplethatisgivenabouthowpeoplewilldosomethingbecauseothersaredoingitcanbefoundwithaphone-a-thon.Ifthehostsayssomethinglike“Operatorsarewaiting,pleasecallnow,”thesubjectmayfeellikethereareoperatorswhoaresittingaroundwithnothingtodobecausenooneiscallingthem.Thiswillmakethesubjectlesslikelytocallbecausetheyfigureifsomeoneelseisn’tcallingthentheyshouldn’teither.Ifthehostjustchangesupafewwordsandinsteadsays“Ifoperatorsarebusy,pleasecallagain,”therecanbeaverydifferentresult.Thesubjectisnowgoingtoassumethattheoperatorsarebusywiththecallsofmanyotherssubjectssotheorganizationmustbegoodandlegitimate.Thesubjectwillbemuchmorelikelytocallinwhetherornottheygetthroughrightawayorhavetobeputonhold.Thepersuasiontechniqueofsocialproofisthemosteffectiveinsituationswherethesubjectisuncertainofwhattheywilldoorwhenthereseemtobemanysimilaritiesinthesituations.Inambiguousoruncertainsituationsthathavemultiplechoicesorpossibilitiestobemade,thesubjectwilloftenchoosetoconformtowhatothersaroundthemaredoing.Thisisbecausethechoicesaresosimilarthatanyofthemwillwork,buttheywillassumethatthechoicetheothersaremakingistheonethatisright.Theotherwaythatsocialproofcanbeusediswhentherearesomesimilaritiesoccurring.Forexample,thesubjectismuchmorelikelytoconformandchangearoundthosewhoaresimilartotheminsomeway.Ifthereissomeonewhoissimilartothesubjectthatisincharge,thesubjectislikelytolistenandfollowthemmorethanifthepersoninchargeisverydifferentfromthesubject.Theagentwillbeabletousetheideaofsocialprooftohelpwiththeirprocessofpersuasion.Thefirstwaytheycandothisiswatchingthewordingthattheyaresaying.Withtheexamplegivenofthegameshow,bothofthequotesweresayingthesamething,butbyswitchingupthewordingtheycameupwithtwodifferentmeanings.Neitherofthemwerealie;theywerejusteffectiveatelicitingadifferentkindofresponse.Iftheagentisabletowatchthewaythattheywordthings,theycanelicittherightresponseoutoftheirsubjectsandconvincethesubjecttofollowthesameideasandbeliefs.Inaddition,theagentwillfindthatthereismoresuccessiftheyareabletogetthosewhoaresimilartothemtoshareintheideas.Thisiswhypoliticianswilltrytocampaigntogroupswiththesimilarideastothem.Iftheyneedtoreachalargergroup,theywillmodifytheirideasinordertomakethemmoreappealingtothesenewgroups.

LikingTheagentisgoingtoworkveryhardinordertogetthesubjecttolikethem.Thereisaverysimplereasonorthis;ifthesubjectlikestheagent,theyaremuchmorelikelytosayyestothem.Therearetwomainfactorsthatwillcontributetohowwellthesubjectlikestheagent.Thefirstoneisphysicalattractivenessandthesecondissimilarity.Forthefirstone,iftheagentismoreattractivephysicallytothesubject,theyaregoingtohavethefeelingofbeingmorepersuasivesincetheyareabletogetwhattheywantmoreeasilywhilealsochangingtheattitudesofothers.Thisattractivenessfactorhasbeenproveneffectiveinsendingfavorablemessagesandimpressionsofothertraitsthattheagentmayhaveincludingintelligence,kindness,andtalent.Thisallworkstogethertomakeitmorelikelythatanattractivepersonwillbeabletomoreeasilypersuadethesubject.Thesecondfactor,similarity,isalittlesimpler.Theideastatesthatifthesubjectissimilartotheagent,theyaremuchmorelikelytoanswerintheaffirmativetowhattheagentisasking.Thisprocessisprettynaturalandmostofthetimethesubjectwillnothavetothinkaboutwhetheritistherightthingtodowhen

theylikeandaresimilartotheagent.

AuthorityOneofthewaysthattheagentwillbesuccessfulinpersuadingthesubjectistobecomeanauthority.Thereisatendencyinmostpeopletobelievethatsomethinganexpertsaysonasubjectistrue.Thesubjectismorelikelytoenjoylisteningtoanagentthatistrustworthyandknowledgeable;thismeansthatiftheagentcanbringthesetwothingstothetable,thentheyarealreadyonthewaytogettingtheirsubjecttolistenandbelievethem.Therehavebeenstudiesdonetoshowhowthisauthoritytechniquecanworkinpersuadingthesubjecttolistentowhattheagenthastosay.ThestudydonewasknownastheMilgramstudyandwasactuallyawholeseriesofexperimentsstartedin1961.Theparticipantsconsistedoftwosubjectsandeachwasplacedintodifferentrooms.Thefirstsubjectwasthenattachedtoaharnessthatwaselectricandwhichcouldadministertheshock.Thesecondsubjectwasinstructedbytheagent,whowasdressedupinascientist’scoatandlookedofficial,toaskthefirstsubjectquestionsandthentopunishthemwheneveraquestionwasansweredincorrectly.Thesecondsubjectwasaskedbytheagenttodeliverelectricalshocksthatcamefromapanelthatwasunderthesecondsubject’scontrol.Afterdeliveringashock,thesecondsubjecthadtopickthenexthighestvoltagetousethenexttimeandwouldcontinuetodothisuntilthehighestvoltageof450voltswasreached.Onethingthatwasnotknowntothesecondsubjectwasthatthefirstsubjectwassimplyanactorwhowasfakingthepain;thisfirstsubjectwasnotactuallybeingharmedintheprocess.Thisexperimentwasconductedinordertoseehowwellthesecondsubjectwouldobeysomeoneinauthority,nottoharmsomeoneonpurpose.Thestatementthatwentalongwiththisstudywas“Whenanauthoritytellsordinarypeopleitistheirjobtodeliverharm,howmuchsufferingwilleachsubjectbewillingtoinflictonanentirelyinnocentpersoniftheinstructionscomefromabove?”Accordingtothisstudy,mostofthesecondsubjectswerewillingtoprovideasmuchpaintothefirstsubjectaswasavailable.Thisledtotheconclusionthatmostsubjectsarewillingtoplacepainuponothersiftheyaretoldtodosobyanauthorityfigureofsomesort.Ofcourse,whenitcomestopersuasion,painisnotsomethingthatisnecessaryatalltimesinordertochangethewaythatpeoplethink.Thisstudywasjustanillustrationofhowthesubjectisgoingtoreacttotheagentiftheagentisabletoprovetheyaresomesortofauthoritarianperson.Keepingthisinmindcanhelptheagenttoreachtheirownagenda.

ScarcityScarcityisanotherformofpersuasionthatpeoplemaybefamiliarwithbutwhichisoftenunderestimated.Whenaproductorideahasalimitedavailability,itismorelikelytobeassignedahighervalue.AccordingtoCialdini“peoplewantmoreofwhattheycannothave.”Whilethismightsoundlikeitisdescribingachildwhoistryingtogetintothecookiejarwhentheyaretoldno,itcanalsodescribehowregularadultswillact.Whenthereistheissueofscarcitytoconsider,thecontextisgoingtomatteraswell.Thissimplymeansthatwithinspecificcontexts,theideaofscarcitymightactuallybeanadvantage.Theagentofpersuasionwillbeabletousetheideaofscarcitytotheiradvantage.Theywillneedtofindawaytomakethesubjectbelievethattheitemisscarcebyexplainingwhythatitemissospecialandwhatitdoesthatnothingelseisabletodo.Theagentisgoingtohavetoworktheirsubjectintherightway.Theagentcanalsochoosetogotheotherway;ratherthanexplainingwhatthecustomerwillgainby

theitemoridea,theycanexplainwhattheywilllosebynothavingtheitem.Forexample,theagentcouldsaysomethinglike“youwilllose$5”ratherthangoingwith“youcouldsave$5”.Thisisjustanotherwaythattheagentwillbeabletomakesomethingsoundlikeitisscarcer.Therearetworeasonswhythisprincipleofscarcityworks.Firstoff,whenitemsorproductsaredifficulttoobtain,theywillusuallygainmorevalue.Themorevalueanitemhasthebetterqualityitwillseemtohave,evenifthisisnottrue.Thesecondthingisthatwhensomethingisnotasavailableasitoncewas,thesubjectwillbegintorealizethattheyaregoingtolosethechanceatacquiringitinthefuture.Oncethisbeginstohappen,thesubjectwillbegintoassigntheserviceoritemthatisscarceahighervaluesimplysinceitisgoingtobecomehardertoacquire.Theideathatisbehindthisprincipleisthatthesubjectisgoingtowantthethingsthatareoutoftheirreach.Ifsomethingiseasytoget,noonewillwantitasmuchaswhentheitemismoredifficult.Iftheagentisabletoplanttheideathattheirthoughts,beliefs,oritemsarescarceanddifficulttocomeby,theywillhaveamuchhigherchanceofseeingsuccessintheirpersuasionefforts.

PersuasionTechniquesIftheagentwantstobesuccessfulinpersuadingthesubjectintosomething,theyaregoingtohavetocomeupwithsometechniquesthatwillhelpthemout.Everydaythesubjectisgoingtobeconfrontedwithdifferentformsofpersuasion.Foodmakerswillworktogetthesubjecttopurchasethenewproductsormoreoftheoldwhilestudioswilladvertisetheirlatestblockbusters.Sincepersuasioncanbefoundalmostanywhere,itisgoingtobeabigchallengetotheagenttofindawaytoimpresstheirpointofviewonthesubject.Thetechniquesthatcomewithpersuasionhavebeenobservedandstudiedformanyyears,allthewaybacktoancienttimes.Thishasbeendonebecauseinfluenceissousefultoawidevarietyofdifferentpeople.Theformalstudyofthesetechniqueshasgrownstartingintheearly20thcentury.Sincetheultimategoalofusingpersuasionistoconvincethesubjecttotakethepersuasiveargument,internalizeit,andthenadoptitasanewattitude,thereisalotofvalueindiscoveringwhichtechniquesofpersuasionarethemostsuccessful.Thethreepersuasiontechniquesthatprovidethemostvaluetotheagentandwhichwillbediscussedinthissectionarecreatinganeed,appealingtothesocialneeds,andusingloadedimagesandwords.

CreateaNeedOnewaythattheagentisgoingtobeabletogetthesubjecttochangetheirwayofthinkingistocreateaneedortheycanappealtoaneedthatalreadyexistedinthesubject.Thistypeofpersuasionwillappealtothesubjectifdonecorrectly;thismeansthatfortheagenttobesuccessfultheywillneedtoappealtothefundamentalneedsofthesubjectsuchastheirneedforself-actualization,self-esteem,love,food,andshelter.Thereasonthatthismethodisgoingtoworksowellfortheagentisbecausethesubjectisactuallygoingtoneedthesethings.Foodisnotsomethingthattheywillbeabletosurvivewithoutforverylong.Iftheagentisabletopersuadethesubjectthattheirstoreisthebestorbyswitchingtheirbeliefstheywouldbeabletogetmorefoodorshelter,thereisahigherchanceforsuccess.

AppealingtoSocialNeedsNext,theagentcouldappealtothesocialneedsofthesubject.Whilesocialneedsarenotaseffectivetouseastheprimaryneeds,theyarestillanimportanttoolthatcanbeused.Peopleliketobewantedandpartofthecrowd.Theyliketheprestigethatsomeitemsareabletogivethemandtofeelliketheybelonginahighersocialstanding.Theideaofappealingtothesocialneedsofthesubjectcanbefoundinmosttelevisioncommercialsthatareon;inthesecommercialstheviewerwillbeencouragedtobuyanitemsothattheycanbecomewell-knownorbejustlikeeveryoneelse.Whentheagentappealstothesocialneedsofthesubject,theyareabletoreachanewareathatmightinterestthesubject.

UsingLoadedImagesandWordsWhenitcomestopersuasion,thechoiceofwordsthataremadecanmakeallofthedifference.Therearemanydifferentwaystosaythesamethingbutonewaymightspurthesubjectintoactionwhiletheotherwillnot.Sayingtherightwordstherightwayisgoingtomakeallofthedifferencewhenitcomestousingpersuasion.Theexampleaboutthephone-a-thonearlierinthischapterisagoodexampleofhowwordscanbeusedtopersuadesubjectstojumpintoaction.Persuasionisapowerfultoolofmindcontrolthatisoftenunderestimatedandoverlooked.Perhapsthisis

becauseitoffersmoreofachoicetothesubjectcomparedtotheotherformsofmindcontrol.Intheotheroptions,thesubjectisforcedintosubmission,sometimesinisolation,bytheagentandendsupnothavingmuchofachoiceinwhatisgoingonintheprocess.Intermsofpersuasion,thefactsarepresentedsothatthesubjectisabletomakeuptheirownmind,evenifthefactsareplacedinacertainwaytoshowtheminthebestlight.

Chapter6:DeceptionThenexttypeofmindcontrolthatwillbediscussedisdeception.Thismindcontroltechniqueisgoingtohavesomesimilaritiestomanipulationinthefactthatmanipulatorswillusealotofdeceptioninordertogettotheirfinalgoal.Thischapterwillgointomoredetailsabouthowdeceptionworks,thetechniquesinvolvedinit,andsomeoftheresearchthathasbeenfound.

WhatisDeception?Tostartwithisthedefinitionaboutwhatdeceptionis.Deception,alongwithsubterfuge,mystification,bluff,deceit,andbeguilement,isanactusedbytheagenttopropagatebeliefsinthesubjectaboutthingsthatarefalsehoodsorwhichareonlypartialtruths.Deceptioncaninvolvealotofdifferentthingssuchasconcealment,camouflage,distraction,sleightofhand,propaganda,anddissimulation.Theagentwillbeabletocontrolthemindofthesubjectbecausethesubjectisgoingtotrustthem.Thesubjectwillbelievewhattheagentissayingandmightevenbebasingfutureplansandshapingtheirworldbasedonthethingsthattheagenthasbeentellingthem.Iftheagentispracticingtheprocessofdeception,thethingstheyhavebeentellingthesubjectwillbefalse.Trustcaneasilyberuinedoncethesubjectfindsout,whichiswhytheagentmustbetalentedattheprocessofdeceptionandgoodatturningthingsaroundiftheywanttocontinueonwiththeirsubject.Often,deceptionwillcomeupintermsofrelationshipsanditcanleadtofeelingsofdistrustandbetrayalbetweenthetwopartnerswhoareintherelationship.Thisisbecausedeceptionviolatestherulesofmostrelationshipsandisalsoseentohaveanegativeinfluenceontheexpectationsthatcomewiththatrelationship.Mostpeopleexpecttobeabletohaveatruthfulconversationwiththeirpartner;iftheyhavelearnedthattheirpartnerisdeceptive,theywouldhavetolearnhowtousemisdirectionanddistractioninordertogetthereliableandtruthfulinformationthattheyneed.Thetrustwouldalsobegonefromtherelationship,makingitdifficulttobuildtherelationshipbackuptowhereithadoncebeen.Thesubjectwouldalwaysbequestioningthethingsthattheagentwastellingthem,wonderingifthestoryweretrueorsomethingmadeup.Becauseofthisnewmistrust,mostrelationshipswillendoncethesubjectfindsoutaboutthedeceptionoftheagent.

TypesofDeceptionDeceptionisaformofcommunicationthatreliesonomissionsandliesinordertoconvincethesubjectoftheworldthatbestfitstheagent.Sincethereiscommunicationinvolved,therewillalsobeseveraldifferenttypesofdeceptionthatcouldbeoccurring.AccordingtotheInterpersonalDeceptionTheory,thereare5differenttypesofdeceptionthatarefound.Someofthesehavebeenshownintheotherformsofmindcontrol,showingthattherecanbesomeoverlapping.Thefivemainformsofdeceptioninclude:

Lies:thisiswhentheagentmakesupinformationorgivesinformationthatiscompletelydifferentfromwhatisthetruth.Theywillpresentthisinformationtothesubjectasfactandthesubjectwillseeitasthetruth.Thiscanbedangeroussincethesubjectwillnotrealizethattheyarebeingfedfalseinformation;ifthesubjectknewtheinformationwasfalse,theywouldnotlikelybetalkingtotheagentandnodeceptionwouldoccur.

Equivocations:thisiswhentheagentwillmakecontradictory,ambiguous,orindirectstatements.Thisisdonetoleadthesubjecttogetconfusedandtonotunderstandwhatisgoingon.Itcanalsohelptheagenttosavefaceifthesubjectcomesbacklaterandtriestoblamethemforthefalseinformation.

Concealments:thisisoneofthemostcommontypesofdeceptionthatareused.Concealmentsarewhentheagentomitsinformationthatisrelevantorimportanttothecontext,intentionally,ortheyengageinanybehaviorthatwouldhideinformationthatisrelevanttothesubjectforthatparticularcontext.Theagentwillnothavedirectlyliedtothesubject,buttheywillhavemadesurethattheimportantinformationthatisneedednevermakesittothesubject.

Exaggeration:thisiswhentheagentwilloverstateafactorstretchthetruthalittlebitinordertoturnthestorythewaythattheywouldlike.Whiletheagentmaynotbedirectlylyingtothesubject,theyaregoingtomakethesituationseemlikeabiggerdealthanitreallyisortheymaychangethetruthalittlebitsothatthesubjectwilldowhattheywant.

Understatements:anunderstatementistheexactoppositeoftheexaggerationtoolinthattheagentisgoingtodownplayorminimizeaspectsofthetruth.Theywilltellthesubjectthataneventisnotthatbigofdealwheninfactitcouldbethethingthatdeterminesifthesubjectgetstograduateorgetsthatbigpromotion.Theagentwillbeabletogobacklaterandsayhowtheydidnotrealizehowbigofadealitwas,leavingthemtolookgoodandthesubjecttolookalmostpettyiftheycomplain.

Thesearejustafewofthetypesofdeceptionthatmightbefound.Theagentofdeceptionisgoingtouseanymethodthatisattheirdisposalinordertogettotheirfinalgoal,muchlikewhatoccursintheotherformsofmindcontrol.Iftheyareabletoreachtheirgoalusinganothermethodagainstthesubject,thentheyaregoingtodoitsothelistaboveisinnowayexclusive.Theagentofdeceptioncanbereallydangerousbecausethesubjectwillnotbeabletotellwhatthetruthisandwhatanactofdeceptionis;theagentisgoingtobesoskilledatwhattheydothatitwillbealmostimpossibletodeterminewhatisthetruthandwhatisnot.

MotivesforDeceptionResearchershavedeterminedthattherearethreemainmotivesthatarepresentindeceptionsfoundincloserelationships.Thesewouldincludepartnerfocusedmotives,self-focusedmotives,andrelationshipfocusedmotives.Let’slookatthepartnerfocusedmotivesfirst.Inthiskindofmotive,theagentisgoingtousedeceptioninordertoavoidcausingharmtothesubject,ortheirpartner.Theymayalsousethedeceptioninordertoprotectthesubject'srelationshipwithanoutsidethirdparty,toavoidhavingthesubjectworryaboutsomething,ortokeeptheself-esteemofthesubjectintact.Often,thiskindofmotivationfordeceptionwillbeviewedasrelationallybeneficialaswellassociallypolite.Thiskindofdeceptionisnotasbadassomeoftheothers.Iftheagenthearsaboutsomethingbadthatthesubject’sbestfriendsaidaboutthem,theagentmaychoosetokeepittothemselves.Whilethisisaformofdeception,ithelpsthesubjectkeepthatfriendshipwhilepreventingthesubjectfromfeelingbadforthemselves.Thisistheformofdeceptionthatisfoundthemostfrequentlyinrelationshipsandmightalsonotcausethatmuchdamageiffoundout.Mostcoupleswouldchoosetoutilizethisformofdeceptioninordertoprotecttheirpartner.Nextistheself-focusedmotiveofdeception.Thisoneisnotconsideredtobeasnobleasthefirstoneandisthereforemorelookeddownuponthantheothermethods.Insteadofworryingaboutthesubjectandhowtheyarefeeling,theagentisgoingtojustthinkabouthowtheyfeelandabouttheirownself-image.Inthismotive,theagentisusingthedeceptioninordertoprotectorenhancetheirownself-image.Thisformofdeceptionisusedinordertoshieldtheagentfromcriticism,embarrassment,oranger.Whenthisdeceptionisusedintherelationship,itisusuallyperceivedtobeamoreseriousissueandtransgressionthanwhatisfoundwiththepartner-focuseddeception.Thisisbecausetheagentischoosingtoactinaselfishwayratherthanworkingtoprotecttherelationshiportheotherpartner.

Finally,therelationshipfocusedmotiveofdeception.Thisdeceptionwillbeusedbytheagentinthehopeoflimitinganyharmthatmightcometotherelationshipsimplybyavoidingrelationaltraumaandconflict.Dependingonthesituation,thisformofdeceptionwillsometimeshelptherelationshipandatothertimesitmightbethecauseofharmingtherelationshipbecauseitisgoingtomakethingsmorecomplicated.Forexample,ifyouchoosetohidehowyouarefeelingaboutsupperbecauseyoudonotwanttogetinafight,thismighthelptherelationship.Ontheotherhand,ifyouhadanaffairandchoosetokeepthisinformationtoyourself,itisonlygoingtomakethingsmorecomplicatedintheend.Regardlessoftheintentionofdeceptionintherelationship,itisnotrecommended.Theagentiswithholdinginformationthatmightbeimportanttothesubject;oncethesubjectfindsoutaboutit,theywillstarttolosetrustintheagentandwonderwhatelsetheagentishidingfromthem.Thesubjectisnotgoingtobetooconcernedforthereasonbehindthedeception,theywilljustbeupsetthatsomethinghasbeenkeptfromthemandtherelationshipwillbegintohaveacrack.Itisoftenbesttostickwiththepolicyofhonestyintherelationshipandsurroundyourselfwithpeoplewhodonotpracticedeceptioninyoursocialgroup.

DetectingDeceptionIfthesubjectisinterestedinavoidingdeceptionintheirlifeinordertoavoidthemindgamesthatcomewithit,itisoftenagoodideatolearnhowtodetectwhendeceptionisgoingon.Often,itisdifficultforthesubjecttodeterminethatdeceptionisoccurringunlesstheagentslipsupandeithertellsaliethatisobviousorblatantortheycontradictsomethingthatthesubjectalreadyknowstobetrue.Whileitmaybedifficultfortheagenttodeceivethesubjectforalongperiod,itissomethingthatwillcommonlyoccurineverydaylifebetweenpeoplewhoknoweachother.Detectingwhendeceptionoccursisoftendifficultbecausetherearenotreallyanyindicatorsthatarecompletelyreliabletotellwhendeceptionhappens.Deception,though,iscapableofplacingalargeloadonthecognitivefunctioningoftheagentsincetheyaregoingtohavetofigureouthowtorecallallofthestatementsthattheyhavemadetothesubjectsothatthestoryremainsbelievableandconsistent.Oneslipupandthesubjectwillbeabletotellthatsomethingisnotright.Becauseofthestrainofkeepingthestorystraight,theagentismuchmorelikelytoleakoutinformationtotipoffthesubjecteitherthroughnonverbalorverbalcues.Researchersbelievethatdetectingdeceptionisaprocessthatiscognitive,fluid,andcomplexandwhichwilloftenvarydependingonthemessagethatisbeingexchanged.AccordingtotheInterpersonalDeceptionTheory,deceptionisaniterativeanddynamicprocessofinfluencebetweentheagent,whoworkstomanipulatetheinformationhowtheywantitsothatitisdifferentfromthetruth,andthesubject,whowillthenattempttofigureoutifthemessageisvalidornot.Theagent’sactionsaregoingtobeinterrelatedtotheactionsthatthesubjecttakesaftertheyreceivethemessage.Duringthisexchange,theagentisgoingtorevealthenonverbalandverbalinformationthatwillcuethesubjectintothedeceit.Atsomepoints,thesubjectmaybeabletotellthattheagenthasbeenlyingtothem.Itisnotalwayspossibletotellwhentheagentisbeingdeceptive.AccordingtoAlertVrij,anoteddeceptionscholar,therearenotanynonverbalbehaviorsthatareassociatedwithdeceptionuniquely.Whiletherearesomenonverbalbehaviorsthatcanbecorrelatedwiththeactofdeception,thesecuescanalsooccurwhenotherbehaviorsarepresentsoitisdifficulttodetermineiftheagentisusingdeceptionunlesstheydoanoutrightlie.Anotherscholarofdeception,MarkFrank,proposesanotherideaofdeceptionthatincludeshowitcanbe

detectedatthesubject’scognitivelevel.Whendeceptionoccurs,itrequiresaconsciousbehaviorthatisdeliberateonthepartoftheagentsothelisteningtowordsandpayingattentiontothebodylanguagethatisgoingonarebothcriticalwhentryingtodeterminingifsomeoneisdeceivingyou.Ifsomeoneoffersupaquestionandtheagentisnotwillingtoansweritdirectly,insteadusingsomeformofdisturbance,hasapoorstructureoflogic,repeatswordsalot,anduseslesstimetalkingforthatparticularquestion,theyaremostlikelylying.Basically,therearenotmanysignsthatcanbeconsideredwhentryingtofigureoutwhendeceptionisoccurring.Thereareafewnonverbalsignsthatmightbepresentwhensomeoneisdeceiving,buttheymightalsohavesomeotherissuesuchasnervousnessorbeingshy.

MainComponentsofDeceptionWhileitmaybedifficulttodeterminewhichfactorsshowwhendeceptionisoccurring,therearesomecomponentsthataretypicalofdeception.Oftenthesubjectwillnotrealizethatthesecomponentshaveoccurredunlesstheagenthastoldanoutrightlieorbeencaughtintheactofdeceiving.Thesearecomponentsthatwillberecognizedlateroniftheagentisusingtheprocessofdeceptionintherightway.Thethreemaincomponentsofdeceptionincludecamouflage,disguise,andsimulation.

CamouflageThefirstcomponentofdeceptioniscamouflage.Thisiswhentheagentisworkingtohidethetruthinanotherwaysothatthesubjectwillnotrealizethattheyaremissingtheinformation.Oftenthistechniquewillbeusedwhentheagentuseshalf-truthswhentheyaretellinginformation.Thesubjectwillnotrealizethatthecamouflaginghasoccurreduntillaterwhenthesetruthsarerevealedinsomeway.Theagentwillbeskilledincamouflagingthetruthsothatitisreallydifficultforthesubjecttofindoutaboutthedeceptionbychance.

DisguiseDisguiseisanothercomponentthatcanbefoundintheprocessofdeception.Whenthisoccurs,theagentisworkingtocreateanimpressionofbeingsomethingorsomebodyelse.Thisiswhentheagentishidingsomethingaboutthemselvesfromthesubjectsuchastheirrealname,whattheydoforajob,whotheyhavebeenwith,andwhattheyareuptowhentheygoout.Thisgoesfurtherthanjustchangingtheoutfitthatsomeonewearsinaplayoramovie;whendisguiseisusedintheprocessofdeception,theagentistryingtochangetheirwholepersonainordertotrickanddeceivethesubject.Thereareseveralexamplesthatcanillustratetheuseofdisguiseintheprocessofdeception.Thefirstisinrelationstotheagentdisguisingthemselves,usuallyasanotherperson,sothattheyarenotrecognizable.Theagentmaydothisinordertogetbackintoacrowdofpeoplethatdoesnotlikethem,changetheirpersonalitiestomakesomeonelikethem,orforanotherreasontofurthertheirgoals.Insomecases,theworddisguisecanrefertotheagentdisguisingthetruenatureofaproposalinthehopesofhidinganeffectormotivationthatisunpopularwiththatproposal.Oftenthisformofdisguiseisfoundinpropagandaorpoliticalspin.Disguisecanbeharmfulbecauseitishidingthetruenatureofwhatisgoingon.Iftheagentishidingwhotheyarefromthesubject,itcanbereallydifficultforthesubjecttodeterminewhotheyreallyare.Wheninformationiswithheldfromthesubject,itcloudsthewaythattheyareabletothinksincetheydonothavetherightinformationtomakelogicalchoices.Whilethesubjectmaythinkthattheyaremakinglogicalchoicesoftheirownfreewill,theagenthastakenawaykeyinformationthatmaychangethesubject’smind.

SimulationThethirdcomponentofdeceptionisknownassimulation.Thisconsistsofshowingthesubjectinformationwhichisfalse.Therearethreetechniquesthatcanbeusedinsimulationincludingdistraction,fabrication,andmimicry.Inmimicry,orthecopyingofanothermodel,theagentwillbeunconsciouslydepictingsomethingthatissimilartothemselves.Theymayhaveanideathatissimilartosomeoneelse’sandinsteadofgiving

credit,theywillsaythatitisalltheirs.Thisformofsimulationcanoftenoccurthroughauditory,visual,andothermeans.Fabricationisanothertoolthattheagentmayusewhenusingdeception.Whatthismeansisthattheagentwilltakesomethingthatisfoundinrealityandchangeitsothatitisdifferent.Theymaytellastorythatdidnothappenoraddinembellishmentsthatmakeitsoundbetterorworsethanitreallywas.Whilethecoreofthestorymaybetrue,yestheydidgetabadgradeonatest,itisgoingtohavesomeextrathingsputinsuchastheteachergavethemabadgradeonpurpose.Therealityisthattheagentdidn’tstudyandthatiswhytheygotthebadgradeinthefirstplace.Finally,distractionisanotherformofsimulationindeception.Thisiswhentheagenttriestogetthesubjecttofocustheirattentiononsomethingotherthanthetruth;usuallybybaitingorofferingsomethingthatmightbemoretemptingthanthetruththatisbeingconcealed.Forexample,ifthehusbandischeatingandthinksthewifeisstartingtofindout,hemaybringhomeadiamondringtodistractherfromtheissueforashortwhile.Theissuewiththistechniqueisthatitoftendoesnotlastlongandtheagentmustfindanotherwaytodeceivethesubjectinordertokeeptheprocessgoing.

ResearchonDeceptionDeceptionhasbecomeamajorpartofeverydaylife.Whethertheagentmeanstocauseharmornot,therearemanyinstanceswheredeceptionwillcreepintorelationshipsofallsorts.Theagentmaydeceivetheirbossinordertogetmoretimetofinishaproject;aspousemaydeceivetheirpartnerinordertonothurttheirfeelings.Whilemanycasesarenottocauseharm,theyarestillpresentinsociety.Becauseofthisprevalence,therehasbeenresearchdonetotryanddeterminewhyitoccursandwhomaybemorelikelytoperformtheacts.

SocialResearchSociallytherehasbeensomeresearchdonetoseetheeffectsofdeceptiononsociety.Thereareseveralmethodologiesfoundinsocialresearch,suchasinpsychology,whichdealdirectlywithdeception.Inthesemethodologies,theresearchersaregoingtointentionallymisinformormisleadtheirparticipantsintermsofwhatisreallygoingonintheexperiment.Thiskeepsthesubjectsunawareastowhatisgoingonandwillhelptodeliverbetterresults.Astudythatwasdonein1963byStanleyMilgramshowshowdeceptionwillworkonpeople.Theagentstoldthesubjectsthattheywouldbehelpingoutinastudythatdealtwithlearningandmemory;inrealitythisstudywaslookingathowwillingthesubjectsweretoobeyingcommandsofsomeonewhoisincharge,evenwhenthatobeyingmeantthattheywouldhavetoinflictpainupononeoftheothersubjects.Whilethepersonwhowasreceivingthepainwasjustanactoranddidnotreallygetharmedintheexperiment,itwasfoundthatthesubjectswouldinflictthehighestavailablepainontheactoriftoldtodosobytheauthority.Attheendofthisstudy,thesubjectsweretoldwhatthestudy’struenaturewasandpeopleweregivenassistanceinordertoinsuretheyleftinastateofwell-being.Theuseofdeceptioninthisrolehasraisedalotofissueswithresearchethics.CurrentlyitisbeingregulatedbytheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationandotherprofessionalbodiestoensurethatthesubjectsarebeingtreatedfairlyandarenotreceivingundoharmintheprocess.

PsychologicalResearchPsychologicalresearchisthebranchthatwillusedeceptionthemostbecausethisisnecessarytodeterminetheresultsthatwouldactuallyhappen.Therationalebehinddoingthisdeceptionstatesthathumansareverysensitivetothewaythattheymightappeartoothers,aswellastothemselves,andtheself-consciousnessthattheyfeelmaydistortorinterferewiththewaythesubjectwouldbehaveinnormalcircumstancesoutsideofdoingtheresearchwheretheywouldnotfeelscrutinized.Thedeceptionismeanttomakethesubjectsfeelmoreateasesothattheagentisabletogetmoreaccurateresults.Forexample,theagentmightbeinterestedtofindoutwhatconditionsmightmakeastudentcheatonatest.Iftheagentasksthestudentoutright,itisnotverylikelythatthesubjectswouldadmittocheatingandtherewouldbenowayfortheagenttofigureoutwhoistellingthetruthandwhoisnot.Inthiscase,theagentwouldhavetousedistractioninordertogetanaccurateideaofhowoftencheatingoccurs.Theagentmightinsteadsaythestudyistofindouthowintuitivethesubjectis;thesubjectmightevenbetoldduringtheprocessthattheymayhavetheopportunitytolookatsomeoneelse’sanswersbeforetheygivetheirown.Attheendofthisresearchthatinvolvesdeception,itisrequiredthattheagenttellsthesubjectwhatthetruenatureofthestudyisandwhythedeceptionwasnecessary.Also,mostagentswillalsoprovideaquicksummaryoftheresultsthatoccurredbetweenalloftheparticipantswhentheresearchis

alldone.Althoughdeceptionisusedalotinthesekindsofresearchstudies,theyareboundbytheethicalguidelinessetoutbytheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,therearesomedebatesaboutwhetherdeceptionissomethingthatshouldbepermittedatall.Somebelievethatallowingdeceptionisnotnecessaryanditiscausingharmtothesubjectswhoareparticipating.Othersbelievethattheresultswouldbeskewedifthesubjectsknewtheexactnatureofthestudyaheadoftime.Oftenthebiggestissuewithusingdeceptioninastudyisnottheactualdeceptionitself.Rather,itistheunpleasanttreatmentthatisusedinastudyofthissort,aswellastheimplicationsofwhatisgoingtohappeninthestudythatisunpleasant.Thisisusuallytheunderlyingreasonwhysomeareagainstusingthesekindsofstudiesandwhyitisconsideredtobeunethicalinnature.Anotherargumentagainsttheethicsofusingdeceptioninthesekindsofstudiesisthatthesubjecthasalreadygiventheirinformedconsenttoparticipateinthestudy.Theyhavebeenreadtherulesandregulationsthatgoalongwiththestudyandfeelliketheyareinformedenoughabouttheendresultsthatarewantedinordertosignawaiverinordertobegin.Itisarguedthatiftheagentisdeceivingthesubjectandleavingoutimportantinformationaboutthestudy,regardlessofifitisinthebestinterestofthestudy,thenthesubjectreallyisnotinformedtostartwith.Becauseofthis,thesubjectshouldnotbeparticipatinginthestudysincetheydidnotexplicitlygiveconsenttotheactualstudybeingconducted.Regardlessoftheargumentsthatareoutthereonthistopic,therehavebeensomeinterestingfindingswhenthesubjectsaredeceivedaboutthenatureofthestudy.Forexample,inregardstothestudymentionedaboveaboutcheating;ifthesubjectshadbeentoldaboutthetruenatureofthestudyitisnotlikelythatmostofthemwouldhavecheated.Thiswouldbebecausenoneofthemwouldwanttobeseenasdishonestorfalsetoothersaroundthem.Thedeceptionallowedtheresearcherstoseewhatwouldhappeninarealworldapplication.Inaddition,ifthesubjectsofthememorytestmentionedearlierintheguidebookknewthetruenatureaboutthatstudy,theywouldnothavebeenaslikelytolistentotheauthorityfigureandadministertheresultsthattheydid.Despitetheobjectionsthathavebeenformedaboutusingdeceptioninresearch,theuseofdeceptionhasprovidedresearcherswithalotofinterestingresults.Theseresultsmaynothavebeenpossiblewithouttheuseofdeceptionsincethesubjectmayhavereactedinadifferentwaytothestudy.

PhilosophyPsychologymaybethemainreasonthatdeceptionisusedinresearch,butthereisalsoalotofdeceptionthathasshownupinmodernphilosophy.Infact,deceptionisaveryregularoccurrenceinphilosophy.Forexample,inthemeditationsofDescartesthatwerepublishedin1641,thenotionofDeusdeceptorwasintroduced;thisnotionwassomethingthatwasabletodeceivetheego,whenitwasthinkinglogically,aboutwhatwasgoingoninreality.Thisnotionwentontobeusedaspartofhishyperbolicdoubt;thisiswherethesubjectthenbeginstodoubteverythingthatisavailabletodoubtbecausetheyhavebeendeceivedinthepast.Often,skepticalargumentswillusethisDeusdeceptorastheirmainstayinordertoputintodoubtorquestiontheknowledgeofrealitythatonepersonholds.Themainpartoftheargumentstatesthateverythingthesubjectknowsmaybewrongsinceitiseasytodeceivethesubject.Thisisjustoneofthecasesofdeceptionfoundinphilosophy.Manyworkshavebeenwrittenonthistopictryingtoexplainexactlywhatitis,howitaffectsthesubject,andwaysthatthesubjectmaybeabletoavoidcomingincontactwithit.Therehasalsobeenalotofresearchdonetryingtodeterminewhen

deceptionmaybefineandwhenitcanbeharmful.Thisisupforconsiderabledebate;somepeoplebelievethatalldeceptionisbadwhileothersseedeceptioninordertosavesomeone’sfeelingsasfineinsomecasessuchasahusbandwithholdingthefactthatsomeonesaidsomethingmeanabouttheirwife.

ConclusionThisguidebooktooksometimetoexplorethedifferenttypesofmindcontrolthatarepresentintheworldtodayaswellassomeofthemethodsandtechniquesthatgoalongwitheachkind.Eachofthemindcontroltechniquesworkinadifferentway.Brainwashingworkstoconvincethesubjecttochangetheirwholeidentitywiththeuseofisolation,shaming,andeventuallyofferingawaytofeelbetterthatconformstothenewdesiredidentity.Hypnosisallowsthesubjecttoenteranewalteredstateofmindwheretheywillbemorelikelytobeperceptiveandopentonewideas.Ontheotherhand,manipulationanddeceptionwillalterthecurrentthoughtprocessofthesubjectusingsubterfugeasaprimarytactic,whilepersuasioninvolvesinfluencingaperson'sbeliefs,attitudes,intentions,motivationsorbehaviors.Exceptforbrainwashinganddeception,mindcontrolisatoolthatcanbeusedinapositivewaytoachieveone'sgoalsorobjectives.Italldependsonthetypeofmindcontrolthatisinvolvedandtheintentoftheindividualwhowantstoapplyit.Italsodependsonwhetherthetargetorsubjectofmindcontrolwillbenefitfromit.

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