MIND CONTROL TECHNIQUES

Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion, mind abuse, thought control, or thought reform) refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator(s).” The term has been applied to any tactic, psychological or otherwise, which can be seen as subverting an individual's sense of control over their own thinking, behavior, emotions or decision making. Many religions use mind control techniques in their systems of indoctrination in order to gain and maintain control of the minds of its followers.


Theories of brainwashing and of mind control were originally developed to explain how totalitarian regimes appeared to succeed in systematically indoctrinating prisoners of war through propaganda and torture techniques. These theories were later expanded and modified, by psychologists including Margaret Singer, to explain a wider range of phenomena, especially conversions to religions.

During this century a series of events demonstrated that individual autonomy is much more fragile than was commonly believed. The Russian purge trials of the 1930s manipulated men and women into falsely confessing to crimes and falsely accusing others of having committed crimes (Mindszenty, 1974). The world press expressed bewilderment and amazement at the phenomenon, but, with few exceptions, soon lapsed into silence (Rogge, 1959). The late 1940's and early 1950's saw the effects of the revolutionary universities in China and the subjugation of an entire nation to a thought reform program which induced millions to espouse new philosophies and exhibit new behaviors (Chen, 1960; Hinkle and Wolff, 1956; Hunter, 1951; Lifton, 1961; Meerloo, 1951; Sargant, 1951, 1957, 1973; Schein, 1961).

Next came the Korean conflict in which United Nations' prisoners of war were subjected to an indoctrination program based on methods growing out of the Chinese thought reform program, combined with other social and psychological influence techniques. At that time, the term "brainwashing" was introduced into our vocabulary, "a colloquial term applied to any technique designed to manipulate human thought or action against the desire, will, or knowledge of the individual." (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1975)

The society has become complacent with brainwashing in “traditional” religious organizations; however, people were shocked when the same brainwashing techniques used in “traditional” religious organizations were used by people who themselves were out of control. Following are some examples that gained public awareness. Charles Manson's diabolical control over a group of middle-class youths shocked the world during the early 1970's (Atkins, 1978; Bugliosi, 1974; Watkins, 1979). By the mid-1970's, thousands of families in the United States were puzzled and alarmed about the influence a vast array of new gurus, messiahs, and mind-manipulators had over their offspring. Then, on November 18, 1978 Jim Jones led 912 followers to death in a Guyanese jungle (Reiterman and Jacobs, 1982). Jim Jones's final hours of domination brought the concepts of influence, persuasion, thought reform, and brainwashing to the attention of the world. Of course, these are just some of the many instances of brainwashing. Some of the more traditional religions use brainwashing techniques that seem to go unnoticed by most people.

Robert Jay Lifton investigated the thought-reform procedures used against American POWs returning from the Korean War while involved in their psychiatric evaluation. Lifton's 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of "Brainwashing" in China was a study of coercive techniques that he labelled thought reform or "brainwashing", though he preferred the former term. Others have labeled it also as "mind control." Lifton describes in detail eight methods which he says are used to change people's minds without their agreement. As you read them, think about how these same techniques are being used in traditional religions:

• Milieu Control – The control of information and communication.

• Mystical Manipulation – The manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were planned and orchestrated.

• Demand for Purity – The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection.

• Confession – Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group.

• Sacred Science – The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute.

• Loading the Language – The group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand.

• Doctrine over person – The member's personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.

• Dispensing of existence – The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not.