control techniques unleashed - droppdf...techniques you will be able to apply some of the methods....
TRANSCRIPT
BannedMindControl
TechniquesUnleashed
LearntheDark
SecretsofHypnosis,Manipulation,Deception,
TableofContentsIntroductionChapter1:TypesofMindControlBrainwashingHypnosisManipulationPersuasionDeception
Chapter2:Brainwashing
WhatisBrainwashing?StepsUsedBreakingDownofSelfAssaultonIdentityGuiltSelf-betrayalBreakingPoint
PossibilityofSalvationLeniencyCompulsiontoConfession
ChannelingofGuiltReleasingofGuilt
RebuildingofSelfHarmonyFinalConfessionandStartingOver
BrainwashingasCourtDefenseLeeBoydMalvoCase
CommonTacticsUsedinBrainwashing
Chapter3:HypnosisWhatisHypnosis?InductionSuggestionSusceptibility
ApplicationsHypnotherapyMilitaryApplicationsSelf-hypnosisStageHypnosis
TypesofHypnosis
TraditionalHypnosisEricksonianHypnosisEmbeddedTechniqueNero-LinguisticProgrammingNLPAnchoringNLPFlashNLPReframe
VideoHypnosisSubliminalHypnosis
Chapter4:Manipulation
WhatisManipulation?RequirementstoSuccessfullyManipulateHowtoControlVictimsHarrietBraikerSimon
TechniquesofManipulationBlackmailEmotionalBlackmailPuttingDownTheOther
PersonLyingCreatinganIllusion
Chapter5:PersuasionWhatisPersuasion?ElementsofPersuasionModernPersuasion
MethodsofPersuasionUsageofForceWeaponsofInfluenceReciprocity
CommitmentandConsistencySocialProofLikingAuthorityScarcity
PersuasionTechniquesCreateaNeedAppealingtoSocialNeedsUsingLoadedImagesand
WordsChapter6:DeceptionWhatisDeception?TypesofDeceptionMotivesforDeceptionDetectingDeception
MainComponentsofDeceptionCamouflageDisguiseSimulation
ResearchonDeceptionSocialResearchPsychologicalResearchPhilosophy
Conclusion
IntroductionMindcontrolisanideathathasfascinatedpeopleformanyyears.Storieshavebeentoldbythemediaandinmoviesaboutgroupsofpeoplewhohavebeenbrainwashedorhypnotizedintodoingthingsthattheywouldhaveneverdoneotherwise.Therearepeopleonboth
sidesoftheissue;somebelievethatthereisnosuchthingasmindcontrolandthatitisalljustmadeupwhileothersbelievethattheycouldbemanipulatedbymindcontrolatanymoment.Thisguidebookismeanttoexplainsomeofthedifferenttypesofmindcontrol,howtheywork,andwhetherornottheycanhaveadailylife
application.Chapter1startsouttalkingaboutthedifferenttypesofmindcontrolthatareavailableandwhichwillbediscussedinmoredetailthroughoutthebook.Thesemindcontroltechniquesinvolvebrainwashing,hypnosis,manipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thischapterismeanttogivea
niceintroductiontoeachofthesetypesofmindcontrolinordertosetthestageforthelaterchapters.Chapter2continuesonwithtalkingaboutbrainwashing.Topicssuchaswhatbrainwashingis,thestepsthatareusedduringbrainwashing,howbrainwashinghasbeenusedasacourtdefensethroughouthistory,and
someofthecommontacticsthatcanbeusedduringthebrainwashingprocess.Muchofthischapterisdevotedtodiscussingthedifferentstepsthatareusedduringthebrainwashingprocessessuchasthethreestages;thebreakingdownoftheself,thepossibilityofsalvation,andtherebuildingofthenewself.
Next,chapter3discussesthemindcontroltechniqueofhypnosis.Thefirstsectionspendssometimetalkingaboutwhathypnosisisandincludesinformationontheinduction,suggestion,andsusceptibilitystages.Othertopicsthatarediscussedinthischapterincludetheapplicationsofhypnosis,suchashypnotherapy,andthedifferenttypesof
hypnosisrangingfromtraditionalhypnosistovideohypnosisandevensubliminalhypnosis.Chapter4changescoursealittletodescribesomeofthemindcontroltechniquesthatmightbeoccurringindailylife.Whilethefirsttwotechniqueswouldrequireisolationofthesubjectandthesubjecttobewilling,
theseotherformscansometimesoccurwithoutthesubjectsconsentorevenknowledge.Chapter4talksaboutthefirstofthesewhichismanipulation.Thischapterwillspendsometimediscussingwhatmanipulationisandsomeofthetechniquesthatwillbeusedinmanipulation.Chapter5spendssome
timediscussingthemindcontroltechniqueofpersuasion.Itwilldelveintowhatpersuasionisincludingthedifferentelementsofpersuasionalongwiththemethodsusedtopersuadethesubjectanddifferentpersuasiontechniques.Chapter6isthefinalchapterofthisguidebookandwilltakealookatthemindcontroltechniqueof
deception.Deceptionissomethingthatmanypeoplearefamiliarwithalthoughmanymightnotrecognizeitasaformofmindcontrol.Inthischapter,topicsaboutdeceptionincludingwhatisdeception,themaincomponentsofdeception,andtheusesofdeceptionwillbediscussed.Thereisalotof
informationprovidedintheworldaboutthevariousformsofmindcontrol.Whilesomeofthemwillrequirealotoftimeandefforttochangethemindofthesubject,suchasinthecaseofbrainwashing,otherswilloccurthroughoutdailylife,suchaswithdeception,manipulationorpersuasion.Understandingthesedifferentformsof
mindcontrolcanhelptomakeiteasiertobeincontrolofyourownmindandlimittheinfluencethatothershaveonyourownbeliefsystemsandidentity.Alsobyunderstandingthesevariousmindcontroltechniquesyouwillbeabletoapplysomeofthemethods.However,ifyoudecidetotakethispathmakesureyoudosowithextremecaution,because
mindcontrolifappliedmaliciouslycanbeadangerousthingandgetyouintoserioustrouble.Sowithoutfurtheradolet’sbeginandexplorethefascinatingtopicofmindcontrol.
Chapter1:TypesofMindControl
Theideaofmindcontrolhasbeenaroundformanyyearsnow.Peoplehavehadbothfascinationandfearofwhatwouldhappenifsomeonewhereabletocontroltheirmindsandmakethemdothingsagainsttheirwill.Conspiracytheoriesrun
aboundaboutgovernmentofficialsandotherpeopleofpowerusingtheirtalentstocontrolwhatsmallgroupsofpeoplearedoing.Evensomecourtcaseshavebeenbroughtupusingtheexcuseofbrainwashingasanexplanationforwhytheycommittedthecrimetheyareaccusedof.Despitethedramatizationofmindcontrolthathasbeen
portrayedinthemediaandthemovies,thereislittlethatisknownaboutthedifferenttypesofmindcontrolandhoweachofthemwork.Thischapterwillexplorealittlebitaboutthemostcommontypesofmindcontrolasanintroductiontoexplainingmoreaboutthisinterestingtopic.Whiletherearemany
differenttypesofmindcontrolthatcanbeusedtocontroltheintendedvictim,therearefivethataremostcommonlythoughtof.Theseincludebrainwashing,hypnosis,manipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thesewillallbediscussedbelow.
BrainwashingBrainwashingisthefirsttypeofmindcontroltodiscuss.Brainwashingisbasicallytheprocesswheresomeonewillbeconnivedtoabandonbeliefsthattheyhadinthepastinordertotakenewidealsandvalues.Therearealotofwaysthatthiscanbedonealthoughnotallofthemwillbeconsidered
bad.Forexample,ifyouarefromanAfricancountryandthenmovetoAmerica,youwilloftenbeforcedtochangeyourvaluesandidealsinordertofitinwiththenewcultureandsurroundingsthatyouarein.Ontheotherhand,thoseinconcentrationcampsorwhenanewdictatorgovernmentistakingover,theywilloftengothrough
theprocessofbrainwashinginordertoconvincecitizenstofollowalongpeacefully.Manypeoplehavemisconceptionsofwhatbrainwashingis.Somepeoplehavemoreparanoidideasaboutthepracticeincludingmindcontroldevicesthataresponsoredbythegovernmentandthatarethoughttobe
easilyturnedonlikearemotecontrol.Ontheothersideofthings,thereareskepticswhodonotbelievethatbrainwashingispossibleatallandthatanyonewhoclaimsithashappenedislying.Forthemostpart,thepracticeofbrainwashingwilllandsomewhereinthemiddleofthesetwoideas.Duringthepracticeof
brainwashing,thesubjectwillbeconvincedtochangetheirbeliefsaboutsomethingthroughacombinationofdifferenttactics.Thereisnotjustoneapproachthatcanbeusedduringthisprocesssoitcanbedifficulttoputthepracticeintoaneatlittlebox.Forthemostpart,thesubjectwillbeseparatedfromallofthethingsthattheyknow.Fromthere,
theywillbebrokendownintoanemotionalstatethatmakesthemvulnerablebeforethenewconceptsareintroduced.Asthesubjectabsorbsthisnewinformation,theywillberewardedforexpressingideasandthoughtswhichgoalongwiththesenewideas.Therewardingiswhatwillbeusedinordertoreinforcethebrainwashingthatis
occurring.Brainwashingisnotsomethingthatisnewtosociety.Peoplehavebeenusingthesetechniquesforalongtime.Forexample,inahistoricalcontext,thosewhowereprisonersofwarswereoftenbrokendownbeforebeingpersuadedtochangessides.Someofthemostsuccessfulcasesofthese
wouldresultintheprisonerbecomingaveryferventconverttothenewside.Thesepracticeswereverynewinthebeginningandwouldoftenbeenforceddependingonwhowasincharge.Overtime,thetermofbrainwashingwasdevelopedandsomemoretechniqueswereintroducedinordertomakethepracticemore
universal.Thenewertechniqueswouldrelyonthefieldofpsychologysincemanyofthoseideaswereusedtodemonstratehowpeoplemightchangetheirmindsthroughpersuasion.Therearemanystepsthatgoalongwiththebrainwashingprocess.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingtojusthappentoyouwhen
youwalkdownthestreetandtalktosomeonethatyouhavejustmet.Firstoff,oneofthemainrequirementsthatcomewithbrainwashingbeingsuccessfulisthatthesubjectmustbekeptinisolation.Ifthesubjectisabletobearoundotherpeopleandinfluences,theywilllearnhowtothinkasanindividualandthebrainwashingwillnotbe
effectiveatall.Oncethesubjectisinisolation,theywillundergoaprocessthatismeanttobreakdowntheirownself.Theyaretoldthatallthethingstheyknowarefalseandaremadetofeellikeeverythingtheydoiswrong.Aftermonthsofgoingthroughallofthis,thesubjectwillfeelliketheyarebadandtheguilt
isgoingtooverwhelmthem.Oncetheyhavereachedthispoint,theagentwillstarttoleadthemtowardsthenewbeliefsystemandidentitythatisdesired.Thesubjectwillbeledtobelievethatthenewchoicesarealltheirownandsoitismorelikelytostick.Thewholeprocessofbrainwashingcantake
manymonthstoevenyears.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingtohappeninjustaconversationandforthemostpartitwillnotbeabletohappenoutsideofprisoncampsandafewisolatedcases.Chapter2willgointomoredetailofwhatoccursduringthethreemainstagesofbrainwashingandhowthewholeprocessoccurs.
Forthemostpart,thosewhoundergobrainwashinghavedonesowhensomeoneisjusttryingtopersuadethemofanewpointofview.Forexample,ifyouareinanargumentwithafriendandtheyconvinceyouthattheirideasmakesense,youhavetechnicallygonethroughbrainwashing.Sure,itmightnotbeevilandyouwereabletothinkaboutit
alllogically,butyouwerestillconvincedtochangethebeliefsthatyouheldbefore.Itisveryrarethatsomeoneundergoestruebrainwashingwheretheywillhavetheirwholevaluesystemreplaced.Itwillusuallyoccurduringtheprocessofcomingaroundtoanewpointofview,regardlessofwhetherthetacticsusedwereforcibleornot.
HypnosisThenexttypeofmindcontrolthatiswell-knownishypnosis.Therearealotofdifferentdefinitionsofwhathypnosisis.AccordingtotheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,hypnosisisacooperativeinteractionwherethehypnotistwillprovidesuggestionsthattheparticipantwillrespondto.
Manypeoplehavebecomefamiliarwiththetechniquesofhypnosisthankstopopularperformanceswhereparticipantsaretoldtodoridiculousorunusualtasks.Anotherformofhypnosisthatisgaininginpopularityisthekindthatusesthispracticeforitstherapeuticandmedicalbenefits,especiallywhenitcomestothereductionof
anxietyandpain.Insomeinstances,hypnosishasbeenabletoreducedementiasymptomsinafewpatients.Asyoucansee,therearealotofdifferentreasonsthathypnosisthatcanbeused.Thepointwhereitstartstobecomemindcontroliswhenthehypnotistisabletorecommendsuggestionsthatcanbeharmfulorchangethewaythatthe
participantactsintheirsurroundings.Formostpeople,whentheyhearabouthypnosistheythinkaboutapersononstagewhoisswingingawatchbackandforthinordertoputtheparticipantinatrance.Ifyouhavebeentoastageshowforentertainment,youmayhavesomeimagesinyourheadoftheridiculousacts
thattheparticipantsperformed.Inreality,thosewhoaregoingthroughwhatisconsideredrealhypnosisaregoingthroughaprocessthatisverydifferentfromthisimage.“Thehypnotistdoesnothypnotizetheindividual.Rather,thehypnotistservesasasortofcoachortutorwhosejobistohelpthepersonbecomehypnotized,”said
JohnKihlstrom.Thismeansthatthehypnotistworkstogettheparticipantintoanalteredstateofmindsothattheyaremoreopentosuggestionsthataregiven.Manyofthepeoplewhoundergohypnosissaythattheyareinasleep-liketrancekindofstate.Despitethesethoughts,whileunderhypnosisthe
participantisinastatethatincludesvividfantasies,heightenedsuggestibility,andfocusedattention.Thisnewstatemakesthemmoresusceptibletothesuggestionsthatthehypnotistwillbegivingtothem.Itishardtodetailtheeffectsthathypnosiscanhaveonsubjectssincetheexperienceswillvaryquite
abitforeachpersonwhoundergoesit.Somesubjectswillreportfeelingliketheyaredetachedfromthewholeexperience,somewillfeelextremelyrelaxedduringthehypnosis,andstillotherswillfeelthattheactionstheyaredoingwilloccuroutsideoftheirconsciouschoices.Ontheothersideofthings,individualswillstatethattheyarefully
awareoftheirsurroundingsandwillevenbeabletocarryoutconversationsduringtheirhypnoticstate.SomeexperimentsthathavebeendonebyErnestHilgardshowsthathypnosiscanbeusedinordertoaltertheperceptionsofthesubjects.TheexperimentconductedbyHilgardincludedan
instructionofthesubjecttonotfeelanypainintheirarm.Aftertheyweretoldthis,thesubjecthadtheirarmplacedinsomeicewater.Thosewhodidthisexperimentandwerenothypnotizedneededtotaketheirarmsoutofthewaterinjustafewsecondssincetheyfeltpain.Thosewhowerehypnotizedwerecapableofleavingtheirarmsinthewaterforafew
minuteswithoutexperiencingpain.Whilemoreresearchwillneedtobedone,thisstudyshowshowstrongmindcontrolcanbewhenusingthetechniqueofhypnosis.Therearemanydifferentapplicationsdemonstratedthroughresearchthathypnosiscanbeusedforincluding:
Treatingchronicpainsuchasthatfoundwithrheumatoidarthritis.Treatingandreducingthepainthatcomesduringchildbirth.Reducingthesymptomsthatareassociatedwithdementia.
SomeADHDpatientshaveseenreductionintheirsymptomsafterusinghypnotherapy.Reducingcasesofvomitingandnauseainchemotherapypatients.Controllingofpainduringdental
procedures.Eliminatingandreducingskinconditionssuchaspsoriasisandwarts.AlleviatingsymptomsthatareassociatedwithIrritableBowelSyndrome.
Thesearejustafewofthe
usesthathavebecomecommonwithhypnosis.Whilemanypeopleareunderthemisconceptionthatusinghypnosisisusedtocontrolthesubjectandmakethemperformhorrificactsordenouncetheirownbeliefs,themostcommonusesarethoseforimprovingthehealthoftheindividuals.Mostexpertsarein
agreementthattheeffectofhypnosisasaformofmindcontrolisnotreallyareality.Whileitmaybepossibletoconvincethemindtomakeafewchangesinthehabitsandbehaviorofthesubject,itisnotlikelythatthesubjectwillchangetheirwholesystemofbeliefsjustthroughthisprocess.Manyofthepeoplewhoarecertifiedinthisprofession
willuseittoassistthesubjectinself-improvementandpainmanagementratherthanfortryingtotakeovertheirminds.
ManipulationManipulationisanotherformofmindcontrolthatcanbeusedinvariouswaystodeterminethewaytheindividualwillthink.Inthisguidebook,manipulationwillrefertopsychologicalmanipulation.Thisisatypeofsocialinfluencethatworkstochangethebehaviororperceptionof
others.Thisisdoneusingabusive,deceptive,andunderhandedtactics.Thisformofmindcontrolisusedtoadvancetheinterestsoftheonemanipulating,oftenattheexpenseofothers.Themethodsthatareusedareoftenconsidereddeceptive,devious,abusive,andexploitative.Manypeoplewillrecognizewhentheyarebeingmanipulatedor
whenothersarebeingmanipulatedaroundthem,buttheydonotrecognizethisasaformofmindcontrol.Thiscanoftenbeadifficultformofmindcontroltoavoidduetothefactthatthemanipulationwillusuallyoccurbetweenthesubjectandsomeonetheyknowwell.Manipulationleavesthesubjectfeelinglikethey
havenochoiceinthematter.Theywillhavebeentoldoutrightliesorhalf-truthsanddidnotrealizethefullextentofthesituationuntilitistoolate.Iftheyfindoutaboutthesituationaheadoftime,theagentwillbeabletoblackmailandusethesubjectinordertogettothefinalgoal.Thesubjectessentiallybecomesstuckbecausetheagentwillhave
craftedeverythingoutinsuchawaythattheywillnotgetintrouble,thesubjectcantaketheblameorgethurtifitcomestothat,andtheagentwillmakeittotheirfinalgoal.Themostdifficultthingaboutthisisthattheagentisincapableoffeelingtheneedsoftheirsubjectoranyotherperson;theyarenotgoingtocareifthe
subjectgetsharmedintheprocesswhetheritisemotionalorphysicalharm.Whilethesubjectwillbeemotionallyinvestedinthesituation,theagentwillbeabletowalkaway(aslongastheymeettheirfinalgoal)withoutfeelinganyremorseorregretatwhatoccurredalongtheway.Thiscanbeadangerousformofmindcontrol
becausetheagentisgoingtobeanexpertatit,beingabletoblackmail,threaten,anddowhateverelseisnecessary;attimestheymayevenbeabletoturnthingsaroundsothesubjectfeelsliketheyaregoinginsane.
PersuasionPersuasionisanotherformofmindcontrolthatissimilartomanipulationinthatitworksinordertoinfluencethebehaviors,motivations,intentions,attitudes,andbeliefsofthesubject.Therearemanydifferentreasonsthatpersuasioncouldbeusedineverydaylifeandoftenitisanecessaryformof
communicationinordertogetpeopleofdifferingideasonthesamepage.Forexample,inbusiness,theprocessofpersuasionwillbeusedinordertochangeaperson’sattitudetowardsomeobject,idea,oreventthatisgoingon.Duringtheprocess,eitherwrittenorspokenwordswillbeusedinordertoconveyreasoning,feelings,orinformationtotheother
person.Anothertimethatpersuasioncanbeusedistomeetapersonalgain.Thiswouldincludetrialadvocacy,whengivingasalespitch,orduringanelectioncampaign.Whilenoneoftheseareconsideredbadorevil,theyarestillusedinawaytoinfluencethelistenertoactorthinkinacertain
way.Oneinterpretationofpersuasionisthatitusesone’spositionalorpersonalresourcestochangetheattitudesorbehaviorsofothers.Therearealsoseveraldifferenttypesofpersuasionthatareknown;theprocessofchangingthebeliefsorattitudesthroughappealstoreasonandlogicisknownassystematicpersuasion;theprocess
wherebeliefsandattitudesarechangedbecauseofanappealtoemotionsorhabitsisknownasheuristicpersuasion.Persuasionisaformofmindcontrolthatisusedinsocietyallofthetime.Whenyoutalktosomeoneaboutpoliticsyoumighttrytopersuadethemtothinkthesamewaythatyoudo.Whenyouare
listeningtoapoliticalcampaign,youarebeingpersuadedtovoteacertainway.Whensomeoneistryingtosellyouanewproduct,thereisalotofpersuasionthatisgoingon.Thisformofmindcontrolissoprevalentthatmostpeopledonotevenrealizethatitisoccurringtothematall.Theissuewilloccurwhensomeonetakesthetimetopersuade
youintobelievingidealsandvaluesthatdonotmatchuptoyourownsystemofvalues.Therearealotofdifferentkindsofpersuasionthatareavailable.Notallofthemhaveanevilintent,butallofthemaregoingtoworktogetthesubjecttochangetheirmindsaboutsomething.Whenapoliticalcandidatecomes
ontelevision,theyaretryingtogetthesubject,orthevoter,tovoteacertainwayontheballotonelectionday.Whenyouseeacommercialontelevisionoronline,thecompanywhopresentedthatadvertisementistryingtogetthesubjecttopurchasethatproduct.Allofthesearetypesofpersuasionthatarebentattryingtogetthesubjecttochange
thewaythattheythink.
DeceptionFinally,deceptionisalsoconsideredaformofmindcontrolbecauseoftheeffectthatitcanhaveonthesubject.Deceptionisusedinordertopropagateinthesubjectbeliefsineventsandthingsthatjustarenottrue,whethertheyarecompleteliesorjustpartiallies.Deceptioncaninvolvealotofdifferent
thingsincludingsleightofhand,propaganda,anddissimulation,concealment,camouflage,distraction.Thisformofmindcontrolissodangerousbecausethesubjectoftendoesnotknowthatanymindcontrolisgoingonatall.Theyhavebeenconvincedthatonethingistruewhenthecompleteoppositeisright.Thiscanget
dangerouswhenthedeceitishidinginformationthatcouldkeepthesubjectsafe.Often,deceptionisseenduringrelationshipsandwillusuallyleadtofeelingsofdistrustandbetrayalbetweenthetwopartners.Whendeceptionoccurs,therehasbeenaviolationoftherelationalrulesandcanmakeitdifficultforthepartnertotrusttheother
foralongtime.Itcanbeparticularlydamagingbecausemostpeopleareusetotrustingthosearoundthem,especiallyrelationalpartnersandfriends,andexpectthemtobetruthfultothemforthemostpart.Whentheyfindoutthatsomeonetheyareclosetoisdeceivingthem,theymayhaveissueswithtrustingothersandwillnothavethesenseofsecurity
thattheyareusedto.Deceptioncancausealotofissuesinarelationshiporwithintheagentandsubject.Thesubjectwillhavealotofissuestrustingtheagentinthefutureoncetheyfindoutaboutthedeception.Therewillbetimeswhenthedeceptionwillbedoneinordertohelpouttherelationship.Thesewould
includethingssuchasnottellingaspousewhensomeonesayssomethingmeanaboutthem.Othertimesthedeceptionismorespitefulorharmfulinnaturesuchaswhentheagentishidingimportantinformationfromthesubjectorisevendeceivinginthepersonthattheyreallyare.Nomatterwhattypeofdeceptionisbeingdeployed,mostpeople
agreethatdeceptionisharmfulandshouldnotbedone.
Chapter2:Brainwashing
Thischapterisgoingtofocusontheprocessofbrainwashingandallthecomponentsthatcomewithit.Throughthemediaandthemoviesthatareseen,manypeopleseebrainwashingasanevilpracticethatisdonebythosewhoaretryingto
corrupt,influence,andtogainpower.Somewhoreallybelieveinthepowerofbrainwashingbelievethatpeopleallaroundthemaretryingtocontroltheirmindsandtheirbehavior.Forthemostpart,theprocessofbrainwashingoccursinamuchmoresubtlewayanddoesnotinvolvethesinisterpracticesthatmostpeopleassociatewithit.
Thischapterwillgointoalotmoredetailaboutwhatbrainwashingisandhowitcaninfluencethesubject’swayofthinking.
WhatisBrainwashing?Brainwashinginthisguidebookwillbediscussedintermsofitsuseinpsychology.Inthisrelation,brainwashingisreferredtoasamethodofthoughtreformthroughsocialinfluence.Thiskindofsocialinfluenceisoccurringallthroughoutthedaytoeveryperson,regardlessofwhetherthey
realizeitornot.Socialinfluenceisthecollectionofmethodsthatareusedinordertochangeotherpeople’sbehaviors,beliefs,andattitudes.Forexample,compliancemethodsthatareusedintheworkplacecouldtechnicallybeconsideredaformofbrainwashingbecausetheyrequireyoutoactandthinkaspecificwaywhenyouareonthejob.
Brainwashingcanbecomemoreofasocialissueinitsmostsevereformbecausetheseapproachesworkatchangingthewaysomeonethinkswithoutthesubjectconsentingtoit.Forbrainwashingtoworkeffectively,thesubjectisgoingtoneedtogothroughacompleteisolationanddependencyduetoitsinvasive
influenceonthesubject.Thisisoneofthereasonsthatmanyofthebrainwashingcasesthatareknownaboutoccurintotalisticcultsorprisoncamps.Thebrainwasher,ortheagent,mustbeabletogaincompletecontrolovertheirsubject.Thismeansthattheymustcontroltheeatinghabits,sleepingpatterns,andfulfillingtheotherhuman
needsofthesubjectandnoneoftheseactionscanoccurwithoutthewilloftheagent.Duringthisprocess,theagentwillworktosystematicallybreakdownthesubject’swholeidentitytobasicallymakeitnotworkrightanymore.Oncetheidentityisbroken,theagentwillworktoreplaceitwiththedesiredbeliefs,attitudes,andbehaviors.
Theprocessofbrainwashingisstillupfordebatewhetherornotitwillwork.Mostpsychologistsholdthebeliefsthatitispossibletobrainwashasubjectaslongastherightconditionsarepresent.Eventhen,thewholeprocessisnotassevereasitispresentedinthemedia.Therearealsodifferentdefinitionsof
brainwashingthatmakeitmoredifficulttodeterminetheeffectsofbrainwashingonthesubject.Someofthesedefinitionsrequirethattheremustbesomesortofthreattothephysicalbodyofthesubjectinordertobeconsideredbrainwashing.Ifyoufollowthisdefinition,theneventhepracticesdonebymanyextremistcultswouldnot
beconsideredtruebrainwashingasnophysicalabuseoccurs.Otherdefinitionsofbrainwashingwillrelyoncontrolandcoercionwithoutphysicalforceinordertogetthechangeinthebeliefsofthesubjects.Eitherway,expertsbelievethattheeffectofbrainwashing,evenundertheidealconditions,isonly
ashorttermoccurrence.Theybelievethattheoldidentityofthesubjectisnotcompletelyeradicatedwiththepractice;rather,itisputintohidingandwillreturnoncethenewidentityisnotreinforcedanymore.RobertJayLiftoncameupwithsomeinterestingthoughtsonbrainwashinginthe1950safterhe
studiedprisonersoftheChineseandKoreanWarcamps.Duringhisobservations,hedeterminedthattheseprisonersunderwentamultistepprocesstobrainwashing.Thisprocessbeganwithattacksonthesenseofselfwiththeprisonerandthenendedwithasupposedchangeinbeliefsofthesubject.Thereare10stepsthatLifton
definedforthebrainwashingprocessinthesubjectsthathestudied.Theseincluded:
1. Anassaultontheidentityofthesubject
2. Forcingguiltonthesubject
3. Forcingthesubjectintoself-betrayal
4. Reachinga
breakingpoint5. Offeringthe
subjectleniencyiftheychange
6. Compulsiontoconfess
7. Channelingtheguiltintheintendeddirection
8. Releasingthesubjectofsupposedguilt
9. Progressingto
harmony10. Thefinal
confessionbeforearebirth
Allofthesestagesmusttakeplaceinanareathatisincompleteisolation.Thismeansthatallofthenormalsocialreferencesthatthesubjectisusedtocomingincontactwithareunavailable.Inaddition,mindcloudingtechniques
willbeemployedinordertoexpeditetheprocesssuchasmalnutritionandsleepdeprivation.Whilethismightnotbetrueofallbrainwashingcases,oftenthereisapresenceofsomesortofphysicalharmwhichcontributestothetargethavingdifficultyinthinkingindependentlyandcriticallyliketheynormallywould.
StepsUsedWhileLiftonseparatedthestepsofthebrainwashingprocessinto10steps,modernpsychologistsorganizeitintothreestagesinordertobetterunderstandwhatgoesonforthesubjectduringthisprocess.Thesethreestagesincludethebreakingdownoftheself,introducingtheideaofsalvationtothe
subject,andtherebuildingoftheselfofthesubject.Understandingeachofthesestagesandtheprocessthathappenswitheachofthemcanhelpyoutounderstandwhatisgoingontotheidentityofthesubjectwiththisprocess.
BreakingDownofSelf
Thefirststageofthebrainwashingprocessisthebreakingdownoftheself.Duringthisprocess,theagentwantstobreakuptheoldidentityofthesubjectinordertomakethemfeelmorevulnerableandopentothedesirednewidentity.Thisstepisnecessaryinordertocontinueontheprocess.Theagentisnotgoingto
beverysuccessfulwiththeirendeavorsifthesubjectisstillfirmlysetintheirresolveandtheiroldidentity.Breakingupthisidentityandmakingthepersonquestionthethingsaroundthemcanmakeiteasiertochangetheidentityinthelatersteps.Thisisdonethroughseveralstepsincludingassaultontheidentityofthesubject,briningon
guilt,self-betrayal,andthenreachingthebreakingpoint.
AssaultonIdentityTheassaultontheidentityofthesubjectisbasicallythesystematicattackonthesubjects’senseofself,ortheiregooridentityalongwiththeircoresystemofbelief.Itmakesthesubjectquestionwho
theyarebymakingthemthinkthateverythingtheyhaveeverknowniswrong.Theagentwillspendagreatdealoftimedenyingeverythingthatthesubjectis.Inprisonercamps,forexample,theagentwillsaythingslike“Youarenotdefendingfreedom,”“Youarenotaman,”and“Youarenotasoldier.”Thesubjectwillbeunderattackslikethese
constantlyfordaysuptomonths.Thisisdoneinordertoexhaustthesubjectssothattheybecomedisoriented,confused,andexhausted.Whenthesubjectreachesthiskindofstate,theirbeliefswillstarttoseemlesssolidandtheymightstarttobelievethethingsthattheyaretold.
Guilt
Oncethesubjecthasgonethroughtheassaultontheiridentity,theywillenterthestageofguilt.Thesubjectwillbeconstantlytoldthattheyarebadwhilegoingthroughthisnewidentitycrisisthathasbeenbroughton.Thisisdoneinordertobringalargesenseofguiltontothesubject.Thesubjectwillbeconstantlyunderattackfor
anyofthethingsthattheyhavedone,regardlessofhowbigorsmalltheactsmaybe.Therangeoftheattackscanvaryaswell;thesubjectcouldbecriticizedfortheirbeliefsystemstothewaythattheydressandevenbecausetheyeattooslowly.Overtime,thesubjectisgoingtostarttofeelshamearoundthemallofthetimeandtheywill
feelthatallthethingstheyaredoingarewrong.Thiscanhelptomakethemfeelmorevulnerableandlikelytogoalongwiththenewidentitytheagentwantstoproduce.
Self-betrayalNowthatthesubjecthasbeenledtobelievethattheyarebadandthatalloftheiractionsare
undesirable,theagentisgoingtoworktoforcethesubjecttoadmitthattheyarebad.Atthispoint,thesubjectisdrowningintheirownguiltandfeelingverydisoriented.Throughthecontinuanceofthementalattacks,thethreatofsomegreatphysicalharm,oracombinationofthetwo,theagentwillbeabletoforcethesubjecttodenouncehisoldidentity.
Thiscanincludeawidevarietyofthingssuchasgettingthesubjecttodenouncetheirownpeers,friends,andfamilywhosharethesamebeliefsystemasthem.Whilethisprocessmaytakeawhiletooccur,onceitdoes,thesubjectwillfeellikehebetrayedthosethathefeelsloyalto.Thiswillalsoincreasetheshameaswellasthelossofidentitythat
thetargetisalreadyfeeling,furtherbreakingdowntheidentityofthesubject.
BreakingPointBythispoint,thesubjectisfeelingverybrokendownanddisoriented.TheymaybeaskingquestionssuchasWhereamI?WhoamI?andWhatshouldIdo?Thesubjectisinanidentity
crisisatthispointandisgoingthroughsomedeepshame.Sincetheyhavebetrayedallofthebeliefsandthepeoplethathehasalwaysknown,thesubjectisgoingtogothroughanervousbreakdown.Inpsychology,thisjustmeansacollectionofseveresymptomsthatoftenindicatealargenumberofsupposed
psychologicaldisturbances.Someofthesymptomscaninvolvegeneraldisorientation,deepdepression,anduncontrolledsobbing.Thesubjectmayhavethefeelingsofbeingcompletelylostalongwithhavingaloosegriponreality.Oncethesubjectreachesthisbreakingpoint,theywillhavelosttheirsenseofselfandthe
agentwillprettymuchbeabletodowhatevertheywantwiththematthispointsincethesubjecthaslosttheirunderstandingofwhatisgoingonaroundthemandwhotheyare.Alsoatthispoint,theagentwillsetupthevarioustemptationsthatarenecessaryinordertoconvertthesubjecttowardsanewbeliefsystem.Thenewsystem
willbesetupinawaytooffersalvationtothesubjectfromthemiserythattheyarefeeling.
PossibilityofSalvationAftertheagenthasbeeneffectiveatbreakingdowntheselfofthesubject,itistimetomoveontothenextstep.Thisstepinvolves
offeringthesubjectthepossibilityofsalvationonlyiftheyarewillingtoturnawayfromtheirformerbeliefsystemandinsteadembracethenewonethatisbeingoffered.Thesubjectisgiventhechancetounderstandwhatisaroundthem,aretoldthattheywouldbegoodagainandthattheywouldfeelbetteriftheywouldjustfollowthenewdesired
path.Therearefourstepsthatareincludedinthisstageofthebrainwashingprocess;leniency,compulsiontoconfession,channelingoftheguiltandreleasingoftheguilt.
LeniencyLeniencyisthe“Icanhelpyou”stage.Thesubjecthasbeenbrokendownandforcedtoturnawayfrom
thepeopleandthebeliefsthattheyhaveheldontoforsomanyyears.Theyhavebeentoldthattheyarebadandthateverythingtheydoiswrong.Thesubjectisgoingtofeellostandallaloneintheworld,shamefulatallofthebadthingsthattheyhavedoneandwonderingwhichwaytheycanturn.Whentheyreachthisstage,theagentisableto
offerthemsomeformofreleasebyofferingtohelpthem.Thiswilloftenbeintheformofareprievefromtheabusethesubjecthasincurredorsomeothersmallkindness.Forexample,theagentcanofferalittleextrafoodoradrinkofwatertothesubjectoreventakeafewmomentstoaskthesubject
personalquestionsabouthomeandlovedones.Inthesubject’scurrentstate,thesesmallactsofkindnesswillseemlikeabigdeal,resultinginthesubjectfeelingabigsenseofgratitudeandrelieftowardstheagent.Oftenthesefeelingsarewayoutofproportionincomparisontotheofferingthathasbeenmade.Insomeinstances,thesubject
mayfeelliketheagenthasdonetheactofsavingtheirliferatherthanjustofferingasmallservice.Thisdistortionofeventsworksinthefavoroftheagentasthesubjectisnowgoingtogaintiesofloyaltywiththeagentratherthanthingsofthepast.
CompulsiontoConfessionOncetheagenthasbeen
abletogainthetrustoftheirsubject,theywilltrytogetaconfessionoutoftheprocess.Thisstageisoftenknownasthe“Youcanhelpyourself.”Duringthisstageofthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectstartstoseethedifferencesbetweenthepainandguiltthattheyfeltduringtheidentityassaultandthereliefthattheyarefeelingfromthesudden
leniencythatisoffered.Ifthebrainwashingprocessiseffective,thesubjectmayevenstarttofeeladesiretoreciprocatesomeofthekindnessthathasbeenofferedtothembytheagent.Whenthisoccurs,theagentwillbeabletopresenttheideaofconfessionasapossiblemeanstorelievingthesubjectofthepainandguiltthattheyarefeeling.
Thesubjectwillthenbeledthroughaprocessofconfessingallofthewrongsandsinsthattheyhavedoneinthepast.Ofcourse,thesewrongsandsinswillbeinrelationtohowtheyaffectthenewidentitythatisbeingcreated.Forexample,ifthesubjectisaprisonerofwar,thisstepwillallowthemtoconfessthewrongsthat
theydidbydefendingfreedomorfightingagainsttheregimeoftheothercountry.Evenifthesearenotnecessarilywrongsorsins,theygoagainstthenewideologythattheregimeisalwaysrightandsotheymustbeconfessed.
ChannelingofGuiltOncethesubjectentersthechannelingofguiltstep,
theyhavebeenundergoingtheassaultoftheirselfformanymonths.Bythetimethesubjectreachesthispointinthebrainwashingprocess,theyareabletofeeltheguiltandtheshamethathasbeenputonthem,butithasprettymuchlostitsmeaning.Theyarenotabletotellyouexactlywhattheyhavedonewrongtomakethemfeelthisway;theyjust
knowthattheyarewrong.Theagentwillbeabletousetheblankslateofthesubjectinordertoexplainwhytheyareinthepainthattheyarefeeling.Theagentwillbeabletoattachthesenseofguiltthatthesubjectisfeelingtowhatevertheywant.Iftheagentistryingtoreplaceasystemofbeliefs,theywilltaketheoldsystemand
convincethesubjectthatthosebeliefsarewhataremakingthemfeeltheguilt.Thisisthestagewherethecontractbetweentheoldbeliefsandthenewbeliefsareestablished;basically,theoldbeliefsystemhasbeenestablishedtocorrespondwiththepsychologicalagonythatthesubjecthasbeenfeelingwhilethenewbeliefsystemhasbeen
establishedtocorrespondwiththeabilitytoescapethatagony.Thechoicewillbethesubjects’,butitisprettyeasytoseethattheywouldchoosethenewsysteminordertostartfeelingbetter.
ReleasingofGuiltInthisstep,thesubjecthascometorealizethattheiroldvaluesandbeliefsare
causingthempain.Bythistimetheyareworndownandtiredoffeelingtheguiltandshamethathasbeenputonthemformanymonths.Theystarttorealizethatitisnotnecessarilysomethingthattheyhavedonethatmakesthemfeelthisway;rather,itistheirbeliefsthatarecausingtheguilt.Theembattledsubjectisabletofeelsomerelieffromthe
factthatthereissomethingthattheycandoabouttheguilt.Theywillalsofeelrelievedbecausetheynowhavecometotheunderstandingthattheyarenotthebadperson,ratheritisthepeoplethattheyhavebeenaroundandtheirbeliefsystemthatisthetrueculpritthatiscausingthemalaisewhichissomethingthattheycanfixinordertobecomegood
again.Thesubjecthaslearnedthattheyhaveameansofescapesimplybyescapingthewrongbeliefsystemthattheyhaveheldandembracingthenewonethatisbeingoffered.Allthatthesubjectwillhavetodoinordertoreleasetheguiltthattheyarefeelingistodenouncetheinstitutionsandpeoplethatareassociatedwiththeoldbeliefsystemandthen
theywillbereleasedfromtheguilt.Thesubjectnowhassomecontroloverthisstage.Theywillbeabletorealizethatthereleaseofguiltisuptothemcompletely.Allthesubjectwillneedtodoforthisstageinordertobereleasedfromthewrongnessistoconfesstoanyoftheactstheyhavecommittedthatare
associatedwiththeoldbeliefsystem.Oncethefullconfessionisdone,thesubjectwillhavecompletedthefullpsychologicalrejectionoftheirformeridentity.Theagentwillneedtostepinatthispointinordertoofferanewidentitytothesubjectandhelpthemtorebuildtheiridentityintothedesiredone.
RebuildingofSelfBythisstep,thesubjecthasgonethroughalotofstepsandemotionalturmoil.Theyhavebeenputthroughanordealthatismeanttostripthemoftheiroldidentity,toldthattheyarebadandneedtobefixed,andslowlycometotherealizationthattheirbeliefsystemisthecause
oftheirwrongnessandthatitneedstobechanged.Onceallofthishasbeenreached,thesubjectisgoingtoneedtolearnhowtorebuildtheirself,withthehelpoftheagent.Thisstageallowstheagentthefreedomtoimplanttheideasofthenewsystemsincethesubjectisacleanslateandveryeagertolearnhowtobeandfeelbetter.Therearetwosteps
thatareseenduringthisstageincludingharmonyandthefinalconfessionbeforestartingover.
HarmonyTheagentwillusethisstepinordertoconvincethesubjectthatitistheirchoicetomakeachange.Theymighttellthesubjectthattheyhavethechoicetochoosewhatisgoodand
makeachangethatwillhelpthemtofeelbetter.Theagentwillthenintroducethenewbeliefsystemandpresentitinawaythatmakesitthegoodortherightchoice.Duringthisstage,theagentwillstoptheabuseandinsteadmakeapointofofferingthesubjectmentalcalmandphysicalcomfort.Thepointofdoingthisistoaligntheoldbeliefswith
thepainandsufferingwhilealigningthenewbeliefswithhappinessandrelief.Thisstageissetupsothatthesubjectisgiventhechoiceofwhichroadtotake,eventhoughitreallyisnotuptothem.Thesubjectmustusethisstagetochoosebetweentheoldbeliefsandthenewbeliefs,effectivelydetermining
howtheyaregoingtofeelfortherestoftheirlives.Bythispoint,thesubjecthasalreadygonethroughtheprocessofdenouncingtheiroldbeliefsduetotheleniencyandtormentthattheyhavegonethrough.Becauseofthis,itisfairlylikelythattheyaregoingtomakethechoiceforthenewsystemofbeliefinordertorelievetheirguilt.Thenewidentitythathas
beenpresentedisdesirableandsafebecauseitiscompletelydifferentthantheoldidentitythatledtothebreakdowninearliersteps.Usinglogicandconsideringthestateofmindthatthesubjectisin,itiseasiertoseethattheonlyidentitythatthesubjectisgoingtochoosefortheirownpeaceofmindandsafetyisthenewone.
FinalConfessionandStartingOverEventhoughthechoiceisreallynottheirsatall,theagenthasstrategicallyworkedthewholetimetoleadthesubjecttofeelingliketheyhavethefreewilltochoosethenewidentity.Ifthebrainwashingprocessisdonecorrectly,
thesubjectwillthinklogicallyaboutthenewchoicesanddeterminethatthebestoneistotakeupthenewidentity.Theyhavebeenconditionedtothinkthiswayandintheirnewstateofmind,itistheonethatmakesthemostsense.Therearenootherchoices;choosingthenewidentityallowsthemtoberelievedfromtheguiltthattheyfeelandleadsto
happinesswhilechoosingtheoldidentityleadstopainandguilt.Ifforsomereasonthesubjectdiddenythenewidentity,therewouldbeabacktrackinginthewholebrainwashingprocessandtheywouldbeforcedtoundergoitallagaininordertoendupwiththedesiredresults.Duringthisstageoftheprocess,thesubjectgetsto
decidethattheywillchoosegood,whichmeansthattheygettochoosetogowiththenewidentity.Whenthesubjectcontraststheagonyandpainoftheiroldidentitywiththepeacefulnessthatcomeswiththenew,theyaregoingtochoosethenewidentity.Thisnewidentityislikeaformofsalvation.Itisthethingthathelpsthemtofeelgoodandnot
havetodealwithguiltandunhappinessanymore.Asthisstagecompletes,thesubjectisgoingtorejecttheiroldidentityandwillgothroughaprocessofpledgingallegiancetotheirnewone,knowingthatitisgoingtoworkatmakingtheirlifebetter.Manytimes,thereareceremoniesandritualsthatoccurduringthisfinal
stage.Theconversionfromtheoldidentitytothenewidentityisabigdealsincemuchtimeandenergyhasbeenusedonbothsides.Duringtheseceremonies,thesubjectwillbeinductedintothenewcommunityandembracedwiththenewidentity.Forsomebrainwashingvictimsthereisthefeelingofrebirthduringthisperiod.Youareallowedtoembraceyour
newidentityandarewelcomedwithopenarmsintothenewcommunitythatisnowyourown.Insteadofbeingisolatedandalone,youhavemanynewfriendsandcommunitymembersonyourside.Insteadoffeelingtheguiltandpainthathasplaguedyouformanymonthsyouaregoingtofeelhappinessandpeacefulnesswith
everythingthatisaroundyou.Thenewidentityisnowyoursandthebrainwashingtransformationiscomplete.Thisprocesscantakeplaceoveraperiodofmanymonthstoevenyears.Mostpeoplearesetintheiridentityandthebeliefsthattheyhave;itisnotpossibletochangeallofthisinjust
afewdaysunlessthepersonwasalreadywillingtochangeandthatwouldmakethebrainwashingtechniquesunnecessary.Isolationwouldalsobenecessarybecauseoutsideinfluenceswillpreventthesubjectfromrelyingontheagentduringthisprocess.Thisiswhymostofthebrainwashingcasesoccurinprisoncampsandotherisolatedinstances;thevast
majorityofpeoplewillnothavethechanceofencounteringbrainwashingduetothefactthattheyarealwayssurroundedbypeopleandtechnologythatwouldhinderthewholebrainwashingprocess.Oncethepersonisinisolation,theprocesstakesalongtimeduetothemanystepsthatmustbetakeninordertochange
theidealsheldbytheindividualformanyyearssothattheywillembracethenewidentityastheirownwhilealsofeelingthatthechoicehasalwaysbeentheirs.Ascanbeseen,therearequiteafewstepsthatmustbetakeninordertogothroughthebrainwashingprocess.Itisnotsomethingthatisgoingto
happenjustbyrunningintosomeoneonthestreetandexchangingafewwords.Itrequirestheisolationandtimetoconvincethesubjectthateverythingtheyknowiswrongandthattheyareabadperson.Itthencontinuesonwithtryingtoforceoutaconfessionthatthesubjectisbadandthattheywanttorenounceallofthethingsthattheyhave
donethatarebadduetotheiroldidentity.Finally,thesubjectwillbeledinthedirectionofbelievingthattheycanchangeforthebetteriftheyjustabandontheiroldideasandinsteadembracethepeacefulnessandrightnessthatcomeswiththenewidentitythatispresented.Allofthesestepsmustoccurforthebrainwashingtobeeffectiveandthenew
identitytobeputinplace.
BrainwashingasCourtDefenseThroughouthistory,peoplehavebeenclaimingthattheycommittedterriblewrongsbecausetheyhadbeenbrainwashed.Itwasanexcusethatmanywouldclaimhopingtosavetheirownlivesortogetawaywithamassmurderorsomeothercrimeagainsthumanity.Itmightevenbe
somethingassimpleasstealingfromanotherperson.Whatevertheactionwas,brainwashingwasaneasydefensebecauseittooktheresponsibilityoftheactionawayfromtheaccusedanditwasdifficulttoprovewhethersomeonehadbeenbrainwashedornot.Whetherbrainwashingpleascanbeusedasa
defenseinthecourtroomisuptosomedebate.Manyexpertsfeelthatbyallowingthisdefenseintothecourtroom,thecourtswouldbecomeoverwhelmedwithfalseclaimsofbrainwashingandtheresourcesforprovingordisprovingthisdefensewouldbemorethanthecourtscouldhandle.Despitethis,therehavebeensomecases
broughttocourtthatmayshowthevalidityofbrainwashingasadefenseforcrimescommitted.Thefirstexampleofthishappenedin1976.PattyHearst,theheiresstoalargepublishingfortune,usedthedefenseofbrainwashingwhenshestoodtrialforabankrobbery.Intheearly1970s,Hearstwaskidnappedby
theSLA,theSymbioneseLiberationArmy,andendedupjoiningthisgroup.Duringthetrial,Hearstreportedthatshehadbeenlockedupinaclosetforatleastafewdaysaftershehadbeenkidnapped.Whileinthecloset,Hearststatedthatshewasafraidofherlife,brutalized,tired,andwasnotfedwhilemembersoftheSLAbombardedher
withtheirideologyagainstacapitalistcountry.Withinthetwomonthsofherkidnapping,Pattyhadchangedhernamewhilealsoissuingastatementsayingthatherfamilywere“pig-Hearsts”andthenappearedonthesecuritytapeofabankrobbingitalongwiththosewhohadkidnappedher.In1976,PattyHearststood
trialforthisbankrobberyandwasdefendedbyF.LeeBailey.Inthedefense,itwasclaimedthatHearsthadbeenbrainwashedbytheSLA.ThisbrainwashinghadforcedHearsttocommitacrimethatshewouldhaveneverdoneunderanyothercircumstance.Inthementalstatethatshewasunderwiththebrainwashing,shewasnot
abletotellthedifferencebetweenrightandwrongandthereforeshouldnotbefoundguiltyofthebankrobbery.Thecourtdidnotagreewiththisanalysisandinsteadfoundherguiltyandplacedherinprisonforsevenyears.Justafewyearslater,PresidentCartercommutedhersentencesosheonlyendedupspendingtwoyearsintotalinprison.
LeeBoydMalvoCaseAnotherwell-knownbrainwashingdefenseistheLeeBoydMalvocase.Thiscaseusedthedefenseofinsanitybybrainwashinganditendedupinthecourtroomsabout30yearsafterthePattyHearstcase.In2002,LeeBoydMalvowasontrial
fortherolethatheplayedinthesniperattacksthatoccurredaroundandinWashingtonD.C.Malvo,whowas17atthetime,andJohnAllenMuhammad,42,endedupkilling10peopleandwoundingthreeduringthekillingspree.ThedefensethatwasusedforthiscasewasthattheteenageMalvohadbeenbrainwashedbyMuhammadsothathe
wouldcommitthecrimes.JustlikeintheHearstcase,thedefenseclaimedthatMalvowouldnothavecommittedthesecrimesifhehadnotbeenunderthecontrolofMuhammad.Accordingtothebackgroundstoryusedbythedefense,MalvohadbeenabandonedbyhismotherontheislandofAntiguaintheCaribbean
whenhewas15yearsold.MuhammadmettheboyandbroughthimintotheUnitedStatesin2001.Muhammadwasanarmyveteranatthetimeandworkedtofilltheheadoftheteenwithvisionsofaracewarthatwasimpending.Tothatend,Malvowastrainedtobeanexpertmarksman.InadditiontosharingtheseideaswithMalvo,
MuhammadisolatedMalvofromotherswhilebeingsteepedinthevitriolicandidiosyncraticbrandofIslamthatMuhammadfollowedalongwithastrictexerciseregimenanddiet.AllofthisisbelievedtohavebeenapartofthebrainwashingprocessontheyoungMalvo.Thedefensearguedthat
becauseofhistimespentwithMuhammad,Malvohadbeenbrainwashedandbecauseofthis,hewasnotcapableoftellingwhatwasrightfromwhatwaswrong.Despitetheeffortsofthedefense,Malvowasfoundtobeguiltyandhadasentenceoflifeinprisonwithoutanychanceofparole.Inaseparatetrial,Muhammadwassentencedtothedeathpenalty.
Sofar,itdoesnotseemlikebrainwashingwillgainmuchgroundasaformofdefenseinthecourtroom.Tostartwith,itismuchtoodifficulttoprovethatadefendanthasbeenbrainwashedinthefirstplace.Next,itisveryunlikelythatsomeonehasbeenbrainwashedandinsteadthedefenseisjustusingitasameanstogeta
lightersentenceortheactionsoftheirclientforgiven.Inaddition,manyjuriesseemtofindtheideaofbrainwashingcompletelyridiculous.Overall,thisdefensewillprobablynotseemuchstrengthgrowinginthecourtroom.
CommonTacticsUsedinBrainwashingBrainwashingisnotalwaysasintenseaswhathasbeendescribedsofarinthischapter.Themethodsdescribedareusedfor“truebrainwashing”andarerarelydonetothesubject.Therearemanyothertypesofbrainwashingthatactuallyhappenonadaytoday
basis.Theymightnotworktomakeyoucompletelygiveupyouroldidentityinfavorofanewone,buttheydoworktohelpshiftyourthoughtsandideasonwhatisgoingonaroundyou.Thissectionisgoingtofocusonsomeofthetacticsthatareoftenusedduringthebrainwashingprocess,regardlessofwhetheritistruebrainwashingornot.
Hypnosis-hypnosis,whichwillbediscussedinmoredetailinthenextchapter,isaformofbrainwashinginsomecircumstances.Hypnosisisbasicallytheinductionofahighstateofsuggestibility.Thisstateisoftendisguisedthinlyasmeditationorrelaxation.Duringtheprocessofhypnosis,theagentisable
tosuggestthingstothesubjectinhopesofgettingthemtoactorreactinacertainway.Manypeoplearefamiliarwithhypnosisfromthestageshowstheyhaveseen.Itisalsooftenusedasawaytoimprovehealth.PeerPressure-everyonehasaninnateneedtobelong.Thiscouldbewithaparticulargroup,their
family,friends,andthecommunity.Withthepeerpressuretacticthereisasuppressionofthedoubtthatthesubjectfeelsalongwithgettingridoftheirresistancetonewideasbyexploitingthisstrongneedtobelong.Ifdoneright,thesubjectmaybemorewillingtotryoutnewthings,belessshyaroundnewpeople,andmayhaveaneasiertimemakingnew
friends.LoveBombing—thesenseoffamilyisverystronginpeople.Thisisthegroupthatyouwerebornintoandthatyouhavesupposedlybeenaroundforyourwholelife.Theyknowyoubetterthananyoneandthosewhohavemissedoutonthiskindofrelationshipmayfindthattheyarefeeling
aloneandunwanted.Withlovebombing,theagentisabletocreateasenseofthefamilybytheuseofemotionalbonding,feelingandthroughsharingandphysicaltouch.Thisallowstheagentandthesubjecttobondinafamilialway,makingiteasiertotradeintheoldidentityforthenewone.RejectingOldValues
—asmentionedalittlebitearlierinthischapter,theagentisworkingtoconvincethesubjecttodenouncealloftheirownvalues.Thisprocessisacceleratedthroughtheprocessofintimidation,physicalthreat,andothermeans.Attheend,thesubjectwilldenouncethevaluesandbeliefsthattheyonceheldcloseandwillbegintoacceptthenew
lifestylethatispresentedtothembytheagent.ConfusingDoctrine—inthistactic,therewillbeanencouragementtoblindlyacceptthenewidentitywhilerejectingotherlogicthatthesubjectwillhave.Inordertodothis,theagentwillgothroughacomplexsetoflecturesaboutadoctrinethatisgoingtobe
incomprehensible.Thesubjectwilllearntoblindlytrustwhattheagentissayingthroughthisprocess,whetheritisaboutthedoctrineoraboutthenewidentitythatisbeingformed.Metacommunication—thistacticisemployedwhentheagentworkstoimplantsubliminalmessagesintothemindof
thesubject.Thiswillbedonewhentheagentstressescertainwordsorphrasesthatarekeytothenewidentity.Thesephrasesandkeywordswillbeimplantedintoconfusinglonglecturesthatthesubjectwillbeforcedtositthrough.NoPrivacy—privacyisaprivilegethatmanysubjectswillloseuntilthey
haveconvertedovertothenewidentitythatisprovidedtothem.Notonlyisthistakenawayasamethodtomaketheguiltandwrongnessmoreapparenttothesubject,butitalsotakesawaytheabilitythesubjecthastologicallyevaluatethethingsthattheyarebeingtold.Ifthesubjectisallowedtohaveprivacy,theywillhavetimeto
privatelycontemplatetheinformationtheyaregivenandmaydiscoverthatitisuntrueordoesnotholduptowhattheyalreadybelieve.Takingawaythisprivacymeansthattheagentoragentsarealwaysaroundandthesubjectisalwaysbeingledtothenewidentity.Disinhibition—duringthistactic,thesubjectisencouragedbytheagentto
givechildlikeobedience.Thismakesiteasierfortheagenttoshapethemindofthesubject.UnbendingRules—therulesthatareputinplacebytheagentareoftenstrictandwillneverbechanged.Theserulesaremeanttomakeitdifficultforthesubjecttothinkandactontheirown;rather,theywillspendtheirtimedoingexactlywhattheyaretold
todobytheagent.Therearemanydifferentrulesthatcouldfitintothiscategorysuchastherulesthatwillbefollowedforthedisorientationandregressionprocessallthewaytohowthesubjectisallowedtousemedications,takebathroombreaks,andeatmeals.Theserulesareputinplaceinordertocompletelycontrolthe
subjectduringthebrainwashingprocess.VerbalAbuse—verbalabuseisoneofthetacticsthatisusedduringthebreakingdownstage.Oftenthesubjectwillbecomedesensitizedwhentheyarebombardedwithabusiveandfoullanguageallofthetime.Attimes,physicalabusemaysupplementorreplaceverbalabuse.SleepDeprivation
—whenapersonisnotgettingtheamountofsleepthattheyrequiretheywilloftenbecomevulnerableanddisoriented.Thiscanhelpcreatetheidealenvironmentthattheagentislookingforduringthebreakingdownandconfessionstagesofthebrainwashingprocess.Inaddition,manytimesthesubjectwillberequiredtodoprolongedphysicaland
mentalactivitiesontopoftheinadequatesleepinordertohurrytheprocessevenmore.DressCodes—enforcingadresscodefurtherremovesanyindividualitythatthesubjectmayhaveaswellasthechoicetheyareusedtoofpickingouttheirownclothes.Oftenduringthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectwillbedemandedtowearthe
dresscodeheldbytherestofthegroup.Chanting—theagentwillworktoeliminateanynon-cultideasthatmaybepresentinthemindofthesubject.Onewaytoaccomplishthisisthroughchantingorrepetitionofthephrasesthatareusedbythosewhofollowthenewidentity.Confession—confessionisdeeplyencouragedin
thosewhoaretransformingfromtheiroldidentitytothenewidentity.Duringthisprocess,thesubjectwilldestructtheirownindividualegobyconfessingalloftheirinnermostfeelingsofdoubtandpersonalweaknessestotheagent.Oncetheyareabletoletgoofthesethings,theintroductionofthenew
identityisabletooccur.FinancialCommitment—insomecases,therewillbefinancialcontributionswhichmustbemet.Thiscanhelptheagentinseveralways.First,thefinancialcommitmentallowsanincreaseddependenceofthesubjectonthegroupbecausethesubjectmaybeburningbridgestotheirpast.Theywilldonatedifferentassets,
whetheritistheircar,house,money,orsomeotherfinancialcontributioninthehopesthattheywillbeabletogetovertheirshameandguilt.Nowtheyarefinanciallyattachedtothenewidentity.Inaddition,theagentwillbeabletousethesefinancialcontributionstofurthertheirownneeds.PointingtheFinger
—whenyouareabletopointthefingeratsomeoneelse,youwillfeelasenseofrighteousness.Thisisyourwayoftellingtheworldthatyouaregoodsimplybypointingoutsomeoftheshortcomingsthataregoingonintheworld.Theagentmaypointoutallofthekilling,racism,andgreedthatareintheworldbeforecontrastingittothegood
ofthenewidentitythatthesubjectisbeingledto.Isolation—ifyouareisolatedfromeverythingthatisaroundyou,itbecomesdifficulttogetoutsideopinionsthatmightchangeyourmind.Thisiswhattheagentwillstriveforbecausetheydonotwantalloftheirworktogoaway.Thosewhoarebeingbrainwashedwillbeseparatedfromsociety,
friends,family,andanyotherrationalreferencesthatwouldchangetheirwayofthinking.ControlledApproval—theagentisgoingtoworkinordertomaintaintheconfusionandvulnerabilityofthesubjectduringthebreakingdownperiod.Onemethodofdoingthisisthroughcontrolledapproval.Theagentwillalternately
punishandrewardsimilaractions,makingitdifficultforthesubjecttoknowwhatisrightandwhatiswrong.ChangeofDiet—changingtheamountoffoodthesubjectisallowedtoconsumeisanothertacticusedtocreatedisorientationwhileincreasingthesusceptibilityofthesubjecttoemotionalarousal.
Whentheagentdramaticallydecreasestheamountoffoodthatthesubjectisallowedtoconsume,theyaredeprivingthesubject’snervoussystemofthenutrientsthatarenecessarytothrive.Addingdrugstothemixmayalsobeaddedintothiscategory.Games—gamesaresometimesusedinorderto
inducemoredependenceonthegroup.Gameswillbeintroducedandmostofthemwillhavereallyobscurerulesthatthesubjectwillnotunderstand.Insomeinstances,thesubjectwillnotbetoldtherulesandtheymustfigurethemoutortheruleswillconstantlychange.Thistacticallowstheagenttogainmorecontrol.
NoQuestions—duringthebrainwashingprocess,thesubjectisnotallowedtoaskquestions.Questionspromoteindividualthinkingandthisisdangeroustothebrainwashingpractice.Whennoquestionsareallowed,ithelpstheagentaccomplishanautomaticacceptancefromthesubjecttothenewidentity.Guilt—thesubjecthas
beentoldthattheyarebadandthateverythingtheydoisbad.Guiltisacommontacticthatisusedbytheagentinordertomakethesubjectquestiontheirbeliefsandwhatisgoingonaroundthem.Thesinsofthesubject’sformerlifestylewillbeexaggeratedinordertobringabouttheguiltandreinforcetheneedofsalvationinthesubject.
Fear—fearisapowerfulmotivatorandcanaccomplishalotmorethantheothertacticsthathavebeenlisted.Agentsmayusefearinordertomaintaintheobedienceandloyaltythataredesiredtothegroup.Todothis,theagentmaythreatenthelimb,life,orsoulofthesubjectforanythingthatisagainstthenewidentitythatisbeingpresented.
Thesearejustafewofthetacticsthatcanbeusedduringthebrainwashingprocess.Thepointofeachofthemistoinstilltheideathattheoldidentityofthesubjectiswrongandconvincethemthatthenewidentityispreferable.Therearemanydifferentwaysthatthiscanbedoneandmanywillbemoreeffectivewhenusedasacombination.
Whileitispossiblethatbrainwashingcanalterthewaythatsomeonethinksandact,mostexpertsbelievethattruebrainwashingisexaggeratedandcannotbedone.Whilelittleexamplesofbrainwashingmayoccurineverydaylife,themajorityofpeoplewillnotfindthattheirwholebeliefsystemshavebeenchangedthroughthisprocess.
Chapter3:HypnosisWhilebrainwashingisawell-knownformofmindcontrolthatmanypeoplehaveheardof,hypnosisisalsoanimportanttypethatshouldbeconsidered.Forthemostpart,thosewhoarefamiliarwithhypnosisknowaboutitfromwatchingstageshowsofparticipantsdoing
ridiculousacts.Whilethisisatypeofhypnosis,thereisalotmoretoit.Thischapterisgoingtoconcentratemoreonhypnosisasaformofmindcontrol.
WhatisHypnosis?Tostartwithisthedefinitionofhypnosis.Accordingtoexperts,hypnosisisconsideredastateofconsciousnessthatinvolvesthefocusedattentionalongwiththereducedperipheralawarenessthatischaracterizedbytheparticipant’sincreasedcapacitytorespondto
suggestionsthataregiven.Thismeansthattheparticipantisgoingtoenteradifferentstateofmindandwillbemuchmoresusceptibletofollowingthesuggestionsthataregivenbythehypnotist.Itiswidelyrecognizedthattherearetwotheorygroupsthathelptodescribewhatishappening
duringthehypnosisperiod.Thefirstoneisknownasthealteredstatetheory.Thosewhofollowthistheoryseethathypnosisislikeatranceorastateofmindthatisalteredweretheparticipantwillseethattheirawarenessissomewhatdifferentfromwhattheywouldnoticeintheirordinaryconsciousstate.Theothertheoryis
thenon-statetheories.Thosewhofollowthistheorydonotthinkthatthosewhoundergohypnosisareenteringintodifferentstatesofconsciousness.Rather,theparticipantisworkingwiththehypnotisttoenteratypeofimaginativeroleenactment.Whileinhypnosis,theparticipantisthoughtto
havemoreconcentrationandfocusthatcouplestogetherwithanewabilitytointenselyconcentrateonaspecificmemoryorthought.Duringthisprocess,theparticipantisalsoabletoblockoutothersourcesthatmightbedistractingtothem.Thehypnotizedsubjectsarethoughttoshowaheightenedabilitytorespondtosuggestions
thataregiventothem,especiallywhenthesesuggestionscomefromthehypnotist.Theprocessthatisusedinordertoplacetheparticipantintohypnosisisknownashypnoticinductionandwillinvolveaseriesofsuggestionsandinstructionsthatareusedasatypeofwarmup.Therearemanydifferent
thoughtsthatarebroughtupbytheexpertsastowhatthedefinitionofhypnosisis.Thewidevarietyofthesedefinitionscomesfromthefactthattherearejustsomanydifferentcircumstancesthatcomewithhypnosisandnoonepersonhasthesameexperiencewhentheyaregoingthroughit.Someofthedifferentdefinitionsofhypnosisbyexperts
includethefollowing:
1. “Aspecialcaseofpsychologicalregression,”MichaelNash.
2. ErnestHilgard
andJanetHilgardhavewritteningreatdepthabouthypnosisanddescribeithasa
wayforthebodytodissociatefromitselfinanotherplaneofconsciousness.
3. SarbinandCoe,twowell-knownsocialpsychologists,haveusethetermofroletheorytodescribehypnosis.Under
thisdefinition,theparticipantisplayingtheroleofbeinghypnotized;theyareactingliketheyarehypnotizedratherthanactuallybeinginthatstate.
4. Accordingto
T.X.Barber,
hypnosisisdefinedbasedonthedifferentnonhypnoticbehavioralparameters.Underthisdefinition,theparticipantwilldefinethetaskmotivationandlabelthesituationthattheyareinas
hypnosissincetheyhavenootherthingtocallit.
5. Weitzenhoffer
wroteinsomeofhisearlierwritingsabouthypnosis.Heconceptualizedthathypnosisisastateofenhanced
suggestibility.Inmorerecentwritings,hewentontodefinetheactofhypnosisas“aformofinfluencebyonepersonexertedonanotherthroughthemediumoragencyofsuggestion.
6. BrenmanandGillusedthepsychoanalyticconceptof“regressionintheserviceoftheego,”tohelpdescribewhathypnosiswasallabout.Underthisdefinition,theparticipantiswillingtogounderhypnosis
andintothealteredstatebecauseithelpsouttheiregoandmakesthemtofeelbetter.
7. Accordingto
Edmonstonapersonwhohasundergonehypnosisissimplyinadeepstateof
relaxation.8. Spiegeland
Spiegelhavestatedthathypnosisissimplysomethingthathappensbecauseofthebiologicalcapacityoftheparticipant.
9. Ericksonstates
thathypnosisisanaltered,inner-directed,andspecialstateoffunctioning.Theparticipantisstillabletofunctionandisconsciousofthingsaroundthem,buttheyareinanalteredstatecomparedtotheirnormal
state.Therearemanydifferentviewsandstatementsthathavebeenmadeabouthypnosis.Somepeoplebelievethathypnosisisveryrealandareparanoidthatthegovernmentandothersaroundthemwilltrytocontroltheirminds.Othersdonotbelieveinhypnosisatallandthinkthatitisjustsleightof
hand.Mostlikely,theideaofhypnosisasmindcontrolfallssomewhereinthemiddle.Therearethreestagesofhypnosisthatarerecognizedbythepsychologicalcommunity.Thesethreestagesincludeinduction,suggestion,andsusceptibility.Eachofthemisimportanttothehypnosisprocessandwill
bediscussedfurtherbelow.
InductionThefirststageofhypnosisisinduction.Beforetheparticipantundergoesthefullhypnosis,theywillbeintroducedtothehypnoticinductiontechnique.Formanyyearsthiswasthoughttobethemethodusedtoputthesubjectintotheirhypnotictrance,but
thatdefinitionhaschangedsomeinmoderntimes.Someofthenon-statetheoristshaveseenthisstageslightlydifferently.Insteadtheyseethisstageasthemethodtoheightentheparticipants’expectationsofwhatisgoingtohappen,definingtherolethattheywillplay,gettingtheirattentiontofocusintherightdirection,andanyoftheothersteps
thatareneededinordertoleadtheparticipantintotherightdirectionforhypnosis.Thereareseveralinductiontechniquesthatcanbeusedduringhypnosis.Themostwell-knownandinfluentialmethodsisBraid’s“eyefixation”techniqueor“Braidism.”Therearequiteafewvariationsofthisapproach
includingtheStanfordHypnoticSusceptibilityScale(SHSS).Thisscaleisthemostusedtoolforresearchinthefieldofhypnosis.TousetheBraidinductiontechniquesyouwillhavetofollowacoupleofsteps.Thefirstoneistotakeanyobjectthatyoucanfindthatisbright,suchasawatchcase,andholdit
betweenthemiddle,fore,andthumbfingersonthelefthand.Youwillwanttoholdthisobjectabout8-15inchesfromtheeyesoftheparticipant.Holdtheobjectsomewhereabovetheforeheadsothatitproducesalotofstrainontheeyelidsandeyesduringtheprocesssothattheparticipantisabletomaintainafixedstareontheobjectatalltimes.
Thehypnotistmustthenexplaintotheparticipantthattheyshouldkeeptheireyesalwaysfixedontotheobject.Thepatientwillalsoneedtofocustheirmindcompletelyontheideaofthatparticularobject.Theyshouldnotbeallowedtothinkofotherthingsorlettheirmindsandeyeswanderorelsetheprocesswillnotbesuccessful.
Afterashorttime,theparticipant’seyeswillbegintodilate.Withalittlemoretimetheparticipantwillbegintoassumeawavymotion.Iftheparticipantinvoluntarilyclosestheireyelidswhenthemiddleandforefingersoftherighthandarecarriedfromtheeyestotheobject,thentheyareinthetrance.Ifnot,thenthe
participantwillneedtobeginagain;makesuretolettheparticipantknowthattheyaretoallowtheireyestocloseoncethefingersarecarriedinasimilarmotionbacktowardstheeyesagain.Thiswillgetthepatienttogointothealteredstateofmindthatisknownashypnosis.WhileBraidstoodbyhis
owntechnique,hedidacknowledgethatusingtheinductiontechniqueofhypnosisisnotalwaysnecessaryforeverycase.Infact,researchersinmoderntimeshaveusuallyfoundthattheinductiontechniqueisnotasimportanttotheeffectsofhypnoticsuggestionaspreviouslythought.Overtime,otheralternativesandvariationsofthe
originalhypnoticinductiontechniquehavebeendeveloped,althoughtheBraidmethodisstillconsideredthebest.
SuggestionThenextstageofhypnosisisknownasthesuggestionstage.WhenhypnosiswasfirstdescribedbyJamesBraid,thetermofsuggestionwasnotused.
Instead,Braidreferredtothisstageastheactofhavingtheconsciousmindoftheparticipantfocusononecentralanddominantidea.ThewaythatBraiddidthiswastostimulateorreducethephysiologicalfunctioningofthedifferentregionsontheparticipant’sbody.Lateron,Braidbegantoplacemoreandmoreemphasisontheuseofdifferentnon-verbaland
verbalformsofsuggestioninordertogettheparticipantintothehypnoticstateofmind.Thesewouldincludeusing“wakingsuggestions”aswellasself-hypnosis.Anotherwell-knownhypnotist,HippolyteBernheim,continuedtoshifttheemphasisofthephysicalstateoftheprocessofhypnosisovertothepsychologicalprocess
thatcontainedverbalsuggestions.AccordingtoBernheim,hypnotismistheinductionofapsychicalconditionthatispeculiarandwhichwillincreasethesusceptibilityofthesuggestiontotheparticipant.Often,hestated,thehypnoticstatethatisinducedwillhelptofacilitatethesuggestion,eventhoughthismightnotbenecessarytostartthe
susceptibilityinthefirstplace.Modernhypnotismusesalotofdifferentsuggestionformsinordertobesuccessfulsuchasmetaphors,insinuations,indirectornon-verbalsuggestions,directverbalsuggestions,andotherfiguresofspeechandsuggestionsthatarenon-verbal.Someofthenon-
verbalsuggestionsthatmaybeusedduringthesuggestionstagewouldincludephysicalmanipulation,voicetonality,andmentalimagery.Oneofthedistinctionsthataremadeinthetypesofsuggestionthatcanbeofferedtotheparticipantincludesthosesuggestionsthataredeliveredwithpermissionandthosethataremore
authoritarianinmanner.Oneofthethingsthathavetobeconsideredinregardstohypnosisisthedifferencebetweentheunconsciousandtheconsciousmind.Thereareseveralhypnotistswhoviewthestageofsuggestionasawayofcommunicatingthatisdirectedforthemostparttotheconsciousmindof
thesubject.Othersinthefieldwillseeitintheoppositedirection;theyseethecommunicationoccurringbetweentheagentandthesubconsciousorunconsciousmind.ProponentsofthefirstclassofthoughtincludedBernheim,Braid,andotherpioneersoftheVictorianage.Theybelievedthatthe
suggestionswerebeingaddressedstraighttotheconsciouspartofthesubjectsmind,ratherthantotheunconsciouspart.Infact,Braidgoesfurtherandactuallydefinestheactofhypnotismasthefocusedattentionuponthesuggestionorthedominantidea.Thefearofmostpeoplethathypnotistswillbeabletogetintotheirunconscious
andmakethemdoandthinkthingsbeyondtheircontrolissimplyimpossibleaccordingtothosewhofollowthistrainofthought.Thenatureofthemindhasalsobeenthedeterminantofthedifferentconceptionsaboutsuggestion.Thosewhobelievedthattheresponsesgivenarethroughthe
unconsciousmind,suchasinthecaseofMiltonErickson,bringupthecasesofusingindirectsuggestions.Manyoftheseindirectsuggestions,suchasstoriesormetaphors,willhidetheirintendedmeaninginordertoconcealitfromtheconsciousmindofthesubject.Subliminalsuggestionisaformofhypnosisthatrelies
completelyonthetheoryoftheunconsciousmind.Iftheunconsciousmindwerenotbeingusedinhypnosis,thiskindofsuggestionwouldnotbepossible.Thedifferencesbetweenthetwogroupsarefairlyeasytorecognize;thosewhobelievethatthesuggestionswillgoprimarilytotheconsciousmindwillusedirectverbalinstructionsand
suggestionswhilethosewhobelievethesuggestionswillgoprimarilytotheunconsciousmindwillusestoriesandmetaphorswithhiddenmeanings.Ineitherofthesetheoriesofthought,theparticipantwillneedtobeabletofocusononeobjectoridea.Thisallowsthemtobeledinthedirectionthatis
neededinordertogointothehypnoticstate.Oncethesuggestionstagehasbeencompletedsuccessfully;theparticipantwillthenbeabletomoveintothethirdstage,susceptibility.
SusceptibilityOvertime,ithasbeenobservedthatpeoplewillreactdifferentlyto
hypnosis.Somepeoplefindthattheyareabletofallintoahypnotictrancefairlyeasilyanddonothavetoputmucheffortintotheprocessatall.Othersmayfindthattheyareabletogetintothehypnotictrance,butonlyafteraprolongedperiodoftimeandwithsomeeffort.Stillotherswillfindthattheyarenotabletogetintothehypnotictranceand
evenaftercontinuedeffortswillnotreachtheirgoals.Onethingthatresearchershavefoundinterestingaboutthesusceptibilityofdifferentparticipantsisthatthisfactorremainsconstant.Ifyouhavebeenabletoeasilygetintoahypnoticstateofmind,youarelikelytobethesamewayfortherestofyourlife.Ontheotherhand,ifyouhave
alwayshaddifficultyinreachingthehypnoticstateandhaveneverbeenhypnotized,thenitislikelythatyouneverwill.Therehavebeenseveraldifferentmodelsdevelopedovertimetotryanddeterminethesusceptibilityofparticipantstohypnosis.Someoftheolderdepthscalesworkedtoinfer
whichleveloftrancetheparticipantwasinthroughtheobservablesignsthatwereavailable.Thesewouldincludethingssuchasthespontaneousamnesia.Someofthemoremodernscalesworktomeasurethedegreeofself-evaluatedorobservedresponsivenesstothespecificsuggestionteststhataregivensuchasthedirectsuggestionsofarm
rigidity.AccordingtotheresearchthathasbeendonebyDeirdreBarrett,therearetwotypesofsubjectsthatareconsideredhighlysusceptibletotheeffectsofhypnotism.Thesetwogroupsincludedissociatersandfantasizers.Thefantasizerswillscorehighontheabsorptionscales,willbeabletoeasilyblock
outthestimulioftherealworldwithouttheuseofhypnosis,spendalotoftheirtimedaydreaming,hadimaginaryfriendswhentheywereachild,andalsogrewupinanenvironmentwhereimaginaryplaywasencouraged.Ontheothersideofthingsarethedissociaters.Thisgroupwilloftencomefrom
abackgroundoftraumaorchildhoodabuse,foundwaystoforgettheunpleasanteventsthatareintheirpast,andcanescapeintoanumbness.Ifapersoninthisgroupdoesdaydream,itismoreinthetermsofgoingblankinsteadofcreatingfantasies.Bothofthesegroupsscoredhighonthetestsofhypnoticsusceptibility.Thetwo
groupsthathavethehighestratesofhypnotizabilityincludethosesufferingfromposttraumaticstressdisorderanddissociativeidentitydisorder.
ApplicationsHypnosisasafieldandasanideahasbeenaroundforalongtime.Duetothis,variousapplicationshavebeguntoemergethathelptoputtheprocessofhypnosistogooduse.Infact,thevariousapplicationsofusinghypnosiscrossmanyfieldssuchasentertainment,self-improvement,military
uses,andmedicaluses.Otherareasthathaverecentlybeguntousehypnotismincluderehabilitation,physicaltherapy,education,sports,andforensics.Evenartistshavebeguntoemployhypnotisminordertoreachcertaincreativepurposes.ThisisshownthemostbyAndreBreton,asurrealistartist,whohasemployedhypnosisamong
othertechniquesforhisowncreativepurposes.Oneofthegrowingusesofhypnosisisinthefieldofself-improvement;manypeoplehavechosentodoself-hypnosisinordertohelpthemloseweight,reducestress,andquitsmoking.Thefollowingsectionswilldiscusssomedifferentfieldswherehypnosishas
beengrowingaswellashowtheprocessofhypnosisisworkinginthosefields.
HypnotherapyHypnotherapyistheuseofhypnosisasaformofpsychotherapy.Itisusedasamethodtohelpthepatientorsubjectthroughtroublingissuesthatareplaguingthem,especially
whenothermethodsofself-controlarenoteffective.Licensedpsychologistsandphysiciansmightperformaformofhypnotherapyonwillingpatientsinordertohelpthemtreatposttraumaticstress,compulsivegambling,sleepdisorders,eatingdisorders,anxiety,anddepression.
Itisalsopossibletovisitwithacertifiedhypnotherapisttoassistyouintreatingissuessuchasweightmanagementandthecessationofsmoking.Ifyougotoacertifiedhypnotherapist,itisimportanttorememberthattheyarenotpsychologistsorphysicianssotheywilljustbeabletoassistyouwithreachingthehypnoticstateandnot
withcuringyourmoreseriousailments.Itisbestthatyoumakesurewhoeveryouareworkingwithhasbeencertifiedtoprovideyouwiththeseservices,whetheryouchooseahypnotherapistoraphysician.Theprocessofhypnotherapyhasbeenseeninmanydifferentformsinmodernhistory.
Allofthemhavehadvaryingdegreesofsuccessdependingontheissuefacedandtheparticipants.Someoftheformsthathavebeenusedinclude:
Cognitive-behavioralhypnotherapy—thisisacombinationofclinicalhypnosisalongwith
differentelementsoftheCognitive-BehavioralTherapy.Hypnoanalysis—thisisalsoknownasageregressionhypnotherapy.Hypnosistoassistwithdealingwithphobiasand
fears.Ericksonianhypnotherapy.Hypnotherapytoassistwithaddictions.Hypnotherapytoassistwithhabitcontrol.Hypnotherapytoassistwithpainmanagementinthosewhosufferfromchronic
pain.Hypnotherapytoassistinthepsychologicaltherapythepatientisalreadydealingwith.Hypnotherapytoassistwithrelaxation.Hypnotherapytoassistwithskindiseases.Hypnotherapyto
assistwithsoothingpatientswhoareanxiousaboutundergoingsurgery.Hypnotherapytoassistwiththeperformanceofathletesbeforeacompetition.Hypnotherapytoassistwithweightloss.
MilitaryApplicationsInadditiontoassistingpeoplewhodealwithvarioushealthissuesandaddiction,peoplehavelongwonderedifhypnosishasbeenusedbymilitaryandgovernmentalofficialsinordertochangethewaycitizensthinkaboutthings.Sofar,therehasbeenlittle
proofthattheAmericanmilitaryiscapableorhasusedhypnosistoreachtheirgoals.Infact,adeclassifieddocumentthatwasobtainedoutoftheFreedomofInformationActarchiverecentlyshowsthattheprocessofhypnosishasbeeninvestigatedfortheuseinmilitaryapplications.Despitetheresearchthathasbeendone,thestudy
concludedthattherereallywasn’tanyevidencethattheprocessofhypnosiswouldbeusefulinamilitaryapplication.Inaddition,therewasnotanyevidencethatclearlyshowedthathypnosisactuallyexistsinregardsasanactualphenomenonoutsideofsubjectexpectancy,highmotivation,andordinarysuggestion.
Thedocumentfurthergoesontoexplainhowitwouldbenearlyimpossibleforhypnosistobeusedinamilitaryapplication.Itstates:“Theuseofhypnosisinintelligencewouldpresentcertaintechnicalproblemsnotencounteredintheclinicorlaboratory.Toobtaincompliancefromaresistantsource,for
example,itwouldbenecessarytohypnotizethesourceunderessentiallyhostilecircumstances.Thereisnogoodevidence,clinicalorexperimental,thatthiscanbedone.”Thedocumentgoesontoexplainthatithasbeendifficulttostudytheeffectsandapplicationofhypnosistobeusedinthemilitarybecausenooneisabletosaywithcertainty
whetherhypnosisisauniquestatewithsomeconditionedresponsesorjustaformofsuggestionthathasbeeninducedasaresultofthepositiverelationshipbetweenthesubjectandthehypnotist.
Self-hypnosisTherearesomeinstances,suchaswhenacertifiedhypnotherapistorother
professionalisnotavailable,whenyoumaydecidetousetheprocessofself-hypnosis.Thisprocessoccurswhenapersonisabletohypnotizethemselves,oftenusingthetacticofautosuggestion.Theprimaryuseforthistechniqueisforself-improvementandmanypeoplewillperformitinordertoreducetheirstresslevels,quitsmoking,orto
getthemotivationtheyneedtogoonadiet.Whilesomepeoplemaybeabletoself-hypnotizethemselves,manyfindthattheyneedsomesortofassistanceinreachingthealteredstate.Thiscouldincludehypnoticrecordingsorevenmindmachinedevicestohelpthemreachthatstate.Otherareasthatyoucoulduseself-hypnosisfor
includeyouroverallphysicalwell-being,torelax,andtogetoverstagefright.
StageHypnosisWhenmostpeoplethinkofhypnosis,theythinkofstagehypnosis.Thisisaformofentertainmentthatwilloccurinatheatreoraclubinfrontofanaudience.Thehypnotistis
oftenshownasagreatshowmanandthishelpstoencouragetheideathathypnosisiscompletelyaboutmindcontrol.Inthebeginningoftheact,thehypnotistwillattempttoputthewholeaudienceunderthealteredstatebeforeselectingcertainindividualswhomeetthecriteriatocomeuponthestageandgothroughdifferentembarrassingacts
whiletherestofthegroupwatches.Itisunknownwhystagehypnosisissoeffectivealthoughitiscommonlythoughttobeacombinationoftrickery,stagecraft,physicalmanipulation,suggestibility,participantselection,andpsychologicalfactors.Forthemostpart,experts
believethattheparticipantisjustplayingalonginawaywiththehypnotistandprovidingagoodshow.Theseindividualsmaybewillingtodothisbecausetheydesiretobeinthemiddleofalltheattention,thepressuretopleaseothers,andtheexcusetogoagainsttheirownsuppressorsoffearmakeiteasytogettheparticipantstoperform.Someofthe
booksthathavebeenwrittenbyformerstagehypnotistsreinforcetheideaoftrickeryanddeceptionandsomeareentirelycomposedoffakehypnosiswhereprivatewhisperswhereusedthewholetime.
TypesofHypnosisTherearealotofdifferenttypesofhypnosisthatthesubjectwillbeabletoundergo.Eachofthemwillworkinslightlydifferentwaysandsomeofthemworktohelpwithvariousissues.Somemaybemorefittohelpingthesubjecttorelaxwhileotherscanhelpmorewithweightlossorpainmanagement.This
sectionwilltalkinmoredetailaboutthedifferenttypesofhypnosisthatareavailable.
TraditionalHypnosisThemostcommontypeofhypnosisthatisusedisknownastraditionalhypnosis.Duringthisprocess,theagentissimply
makingsuggestionsdirectlytothesubject’sunconsciousmind.Thistypeofhypnosiswillworkthebestonasubjectwhoisknownforacceptingthethingsthattheyaretoldandtheydonotaskalotofquestions.Ifyougoandvisitacertifiedhypnotistorpurchaseatapetodotheprocessofself-hypnosis,youwillbegoingthroughtheprocessof
traditionalhypnosis.Thereasonthatthistypeofhypnosisissopopularisbecauseitdoesnottakethatmuchexperienceortrainingtolearnhowtodo.Thehypnotistisjustgoingtohavetowriteasimplescriptandtellthesubjectwhattodo.Whilethistechniquewillworkverywellonthosewhoacceptwhatisgoingonaroundthem,itisineffectivefor
thosewhothinkcriticallyandanalytically.
EricksonianHypnosisThenexttypeofhypnosistobediscussedisEricksonianHypnosis.Thisoneisalittlemoreindepthbecauseitisgoingtorequiretheuseofmetaphorsandlittle
stories.Theseareusedinordertopresenttheideasandsuggestionsthatarerequiredtotheunconsciousmind.Eventhoughthismethodwillrequirealittlemoreexperienceandtrainingtodo,itisaveryeffectiveandpowerfulmethodtouse.Thereasonthatitworkssowellisbecauseitisabletoeliminatetheresistanceandblockagethatthe
subjectmayhavetothesuggestions.Therearetwomaintypesofmetaphorsthatwilloftenbeusedinthiskindofhypnosis;isomorphicandinterspersal.Forthemetaphorthatisinterspersalinnature,thecommandthatisexplainedhasbeenimbeddedintothestoryandwouldnotbeeasilydiscoveredbythe
subjectoutsideoftheirunconsciousmind.Theothertype,isomorphicmetaphor,isalittlemorecommonandoffersdirectionstotheunconsciousmindsimplybypresentingastorytothesubjectthatwillofferamoralattheend.Theunconsciousmindwillbeabletodrawaonetoonerelationshipconnectingtheelementsthatcomefrom
thestoryandtheelementsthatcomewiththebehaviororproblemsituation.Anexampleofanisomorphicmetaphoristhestory“BoyWhoCriedWolf.”Manyparentswillusethisstorytoteachtheirchildrenaboutlying,especiallyiftheirchildtellsalotoflies.Afterhearingthestory,theunconscious
mindofthesubjectwouldseeaparallelbetweenthetellingofliesandtheboywhoisinthestory.Theywouldseethattellingliesmightleadtoadisasterandthechildmightbemorewillingtostoplyingintheprocessinordertopreventthatdisasterfromoccurring.
EmbeddedTechniqueAnothertypeofhypnosisiscalledtheembeddedtechnique.Duringthisprocess,thehypnotistwilltellthesubjectaninterestingstory.Thisstoryismeanttohelpdistractandengagetheconsciousmindofthesubject.Itwillalsocontain
indirectsuggestionsthatarehiddenwithinthestorybutwhichwillbeacceptedintotheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Throughthisstorythehypnotistwilluseprocessinstructionsinordertodirecttheunconsciousmindofthesubjecttofindthememorythatisneeded.Thismemoryisusuallyaboutlearningexperiencethatisappropriatefromthepast.
Thehypnotistwillthenbeabletoapplythatlearningexperiencetohelpthemtomakechangestotheirpresent.
Nero-LinguisticProgrammingWithNeuro-LinguisticProgramming,orNLP,hypnotistshaveagreatselectionofthemethods
thattheyareabletouseinthehypnosisprocess.WhenusingtheprocessofNLP,thehypnotistwillbeabletousethesamethoughtpatternsthatarecreatingtheprobleminthesubject.Thiscansavealotoftimecomparedtogoingthroughtheprocessofsuggestion.Forexample,thethoughtpatternsthatareusedwithstressorexcessiveappetitewillbe
usedtohelpeliminatetheproblemthatthesubjectisdealingwith.Ifusedwithacertifiedhypnotistorpsychologist,NLPhasbeenshowntobeveryeffective.TherearemanydifferenttypesofNLPprogrammingthathavebeenutilizedbyhypnotists.SomeofthemostcommonlyusedformsofNLPincludeNLPAnchoring,NLPFlash,andNLPReframe.
NLPAnchoringThefirsttypeofNLPthatwillbediscussedisNLPAnchoring.Agoodwaytothinkabouthowanchoringworksisthinkingaboutanoldsongthatyouknow.Haveyoueversatinacarandheardasongthatyouhavenotheardinalongtime?Didthatsongtriggersomesortoffeelinginyouthatcamefromthepast?
Thefirsttimeyouheardthatsong,orsometimedowntheroadwhenyouheardit,youweregoingthroughthesefeelingsandtheunconsciousmindattachedthesefeelingstothatparticularsong.Throughthisprocess,thesongwouldbecometheanchorforthesefeelings.Now,eachtimethatyouhearthisparticularsong,youwilltriggerthebrainto
havethesefeelingsalloveragain.Thisisagoodexampleofanchoring.Manyhypnotistshavefoundthatanchoringisausefultechniqueforthemtouseinhypnotizingtheirsubjects.Forexample,ifyouhaveamemoryofbeingrewardedfordoingsomethingrightinthepast,thehypnotistwillbeabletogetintothat
particularmemoryandhelpyoutorecreatethefeelingsthatyouweregoingthroughatthetime.Atthesametime,thehypnotistwillhaveyoudosomesortofaction,suchastouchingyourtwofingerstogetherduringthere-creationoftheprocess.Noweachtimethatyoutouchyourfingerstogether,youwillbeabletofeelthosesamehappy
feelingsagain.Theprocessofanchoringcanworkinordertomotivateyoutoaccomplishsomethingbyassociatinggoodfeelingswithit.Forexample,thismethodisoftenusedtohelppeoplefindthemotivationtheyneedtosticktolosingweightandmaintainingadiet.Thehypnotistwillworkwiththesubjectto
createapositiveanchorthatisassociatedwiththementalimageofthesubject—inthiscaseitwillbethesubjectthinkingaboutthemselvesinathinandsexybody.Whenthesubjectpicturesthisimageagain,theywilltriggertheanchorandgetthepositivemotivationthattheyneed.Infact,thereisadramaticincreaseinthemotivationforweightlossinthose
whoundergohypnosiscomparedtothosewhodonot.Theprocessofanchoringcanbeusedinavarietyofdifferentinstancestoassistinself-improvementoftheindividual.
NLPFlashNLPFlashisanotherformofhypnosisthatisconsideredtobeextremely
powerfulandonlydonebyacertifiedprofessional.Itisoftenusedinordertochangethoughtsandfeelingsaroundintheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Itcanbeagoodwaytohelpthosewhofeelchronicstressorareaddictedtoasubstance.Inthisprocess,thehypnotistwillswitchthefeelingsofthesubjectaround,insteadofacertainactbringing
pleasure,thatactwillstarttobringpainorinsteadofacertainactbringingstress,itwillbringthesubjectrelaxation.Forexample,someonewhoisaddictedtoasubstance,suchascigarettesoralcohol,willfindafeelingofpleasureandhappinesswhentheyconsumethatsubstance.ThroughthetechniqueofNLPflash,thesefeelingswillget
switchedaroundresultinginthesubjectfeelingdiscomfortorpainwhentheyconsumethesubstance.Thiscanhelpthemtogetovertheiraddictionmoreeffectively.ThosewhoareundergoingalotofstresshavealsofoundthetechniqueofNLPFlashtoworkwellforthem.Whenapersonisfeelingchronicstress,they
mayhavedifficultiesincontrollingtheirbloodpressureandtheirtempersandaregoingtofeeluncomfortablealotofthetime.Sincestressissohardonthebody,therearemanypatientswillingtoundergotheNLPFlashhypnosisinordertoassisttheminrelaxing.Withthistechnique,thesubjectwilllearntheirtriggersofstressandredirectthemso
thatthosetriggersstarttoreleasefeelingsofrelaxationintheirmindsinstead.Thistechniquehasalsobeenshowntobeeffectiveinextinguishingtheconditionedresponsesinthemindofthesubject.Anexampleofthisiswithsmoking.Ifyouareasmokerthatenjoysacigarettewhilehavinga
cupofcoffeeinthemorning,yourunconsciousbrainisgoingtostartpairingthesetwobehaviorstogether.Thismeansthatthesubjectwillgetacravingtohaveacigaretteanytimetheyenjoyacupofcoffee,especiallyinthemorning.WhenthesubjectgoesthroughtheNLPFlashtechnique,theywilllearnhowtodissociatethetwo
eventsfromeachother.Thisallowsthesmokertohaveacupofcoffeewithoutalsogettingtheurgetosmokeatthesametime.Thismakesitanevenmoreeffectivetechniquetousewhentryingtostopsmoking.
NLPReframeThethirdformofNLPthathasbeenusedinhypnosis
isknownasNLPReframe.Thistechniqueisreallypotentbecauseitworkssowellinassistingthesubjecttochangethewaythattheybehave.Todothisprocess,thehypnotistmustunderstandthatthereisasecondarygain,orapositiveoutcome,thatisaccomplishedbyeachofthebehaviorsthatapersonaccomplishes.Theoutcomethatoccursfrom
thebehaviorisimportantsincethatisthereasonthesubjectisactinginthefirstplace.Despitetheimportanceoftheoutcome,thebehaviorthatischosentoaccomplishtheoutcomeisreallynotthatimportant.Duringtheprocessofreframe,thehypnotistworkstonegotiateandreasonwiththe
unconsciousmindofthesubject.Thegoalistogetittotakeovertheresponsibilityformakingthesubjectsubstituteinsomenewbehaviorthatisavailableandeffectiveataccomplishingtherequiredsecondarygain.Whilethisisallgoingoninthesubconscious,thenewbehaviorwillbemoreacceptabletothesubjectintheirconsciousmind.For
example,ifthepersonisinthehabitofeatingwhentheyaresadinordertomakethemselvesfeelbetter,thehypnotistisgoingtoperformthismethodtoteachtheunconscioustodosomeotheractivity.Theactofeatingmightbereplacedwithexerciseorreadinganicebook,helpingthesubjecttoloseweight,eathealthierandfeelbetterall
around.
VideoHypnosisWhiletheotherformsofhypnosishavebeenextremelypopularinassistingsubjectstoovercomeobstaclesandchangethewaythattheythinkinordertolivebetterlives,newformsofhypnosisarealwaysbeingdeveloped.Oneofthe
newestformsofhypnotherapythathasbeendevelopedisvideohypnosis.Thisformisofferedthroughcommercialmeanssothatpeopleareabletopurchasethemanduseattheirownconvenience.ThetechniquesthatareusedinsomeofthebrandsofvideohypnosisarealsobasedontheNeuro-LinguisticProgramming
technologythatwasdiscussedearlier.Thismeansthatthevideohypnosistechniquewillworkbasedonutilizingtheexistingthoughtprocessesthatthesubjecthasratherthanusinghypnoticsuggestionliketraditionalmethods.Thereasonwhyvideohypnosishasgrownsorapidlyisthatmorethan
70%ofpeoplehavefoundthattheylearnthingseasierandmorequicklywhentheyseethingscomparedtowhentheyonlyheartheinformation.Thesubject’smindwilllearntochangethefeelingsthatitishavingaswellasitsvisualassociationsautomaticallyontheconsciouslevelwhilewatchingthevisualmoviesthatarepresented.
Whiletherearemanydifferentkindsofvideohypnosisprogramsthatareavailable,Neuro-VISIONisoneofthemostpopularbecauseithasbeendevelopedusingsomeofthebesttechniquesintheindustry.Thistypeofvideomethodworkstotraintheunconsciousmindofthesubjectthroughdigitaloptics,whichisahightech
simulationprocessonthecomputer.Thiswillfreethesubjectoftheirtensions,urges,andcompulsions.Throughthisprocess,thesmokerwillfindthatstoppingsmokingiseasy,thedieterwilllosetheirappetite,andthosewhofeelstresswillbegintorelaxmore.Itwilloftentakeatleastafewsessionsofvideohypnosistoseeresults,althoughthereare
thosewhofindthatjustoneviewingwillstarttoshowsomeoftheresultsthattheywant.
SubliminalHypnosisThefinaltypeofhypnosisthatwillbediscussedinthischapterissubliminalhypnosis.Oftenthesubliminalhypnosis
messageswillbeplacedonarecordingforthesubjecttolistento.Therecordingwillhavetwotracksandeachonewilltalktoadifferentpartofthemind.Onetrackwillcontainacoversoundthatwillbeheardthroughtheconsciousmindofthesubject.Thecoversoundisoftensomethingthatiseasyforthebraintolistentosuchasnaturesoundsor
music.Theothertrackwillcontaindirectsuggestionsthatwillbeheardthroughtheunconsciousmindofthesubject.Thesesuggestionspresentonthesecondtrackwillberepeatedoverandoverthroughoutthewholesession.Subliminalprogramshavetheabilitytobeplayedatanytimeandinanyplace.
YoucouldbelisteningtothesemessageswhileyouareworkingorevenwhilewatchingTV.ThebestpartisyouwillnothavetostopthetaskthatyouaredoingandsitdownandrelaxlikewhatisrequiredwithNLPortraditionalhypnosis.Insomecases,subliminalprogramswillbeaddedtoyourregularhypnoticprograms.
Theuseofsubliminalprogrammingisnotthatprevalent.Mostpeoplewillnotchoosethismethodtochangetheirhabitsandbehaviors.ResearchhasshownthatsubliminalprogramsarenotreallythateffectiveandsotheywillnotbeabletoreplaceNLPorhypnosis.Bysomeaccounts,itcouldtakemorethan80hoursoflisteningtothesubliminal
messagebeforeithasaneffectandmanytimeseventhatwillnotbeenoughformostpeople.AccordingtoJoelWeinberger,aprofessorattheAdelphiUniversityandapsychologist,regularaudiosubliminaltapesthatcanbepurchasedatstoresoronlinejustdonotwork.Subliminalpsychodynamicsmaywork
aslongasthereissomeformofvisualspresent.Thepopularoptionsavailableonlycontainauditorycomponents.Theauditoryisnotenoughtomakethismethodworkonits’own.Subliminalsuggestionwillneedtobepairedwithotherformsofhypnotherapyinordertohavetheeffectivenessthatisdesired.
Despitetheportrayalofhypnosisbythemedia,itisnotanevilplotthatismeanttotakeoverthemindsofunwillingsubjects.Infact,ifthesubjectisnotwillingtoundergohypnosis,itisprettymuchimpossibletogetthemtogointothealteredstate.Often,theuseofhypnosisistohelpothersimprovetheirlives.Thiscouldbeintheform
ofweightmanagement,stoppingsmoking,improvingotherhealthconditions,andassistingwithchronicpainmanagement.Eachofthetechniquesisalsoimportantinhelpingthesubjecttogettotheiroverallgoal.Whileallofthemcanbeeffective,theprofessionalthatyouchoosetoworkwithaswellastheissueathandwillbe
usedtodeterminewhichofthesemethodswillbestfityourneedsandassistinimprovingyourlife.
Chapter4:Manipulation
Brainwashingandhypnosisarethetwoformsofmindcontrolthateasilycometomind.Whilethesetwoareimportanttounderstandingthefunctioningofmindcontrolandhowitallworks,theyarenottheonlyoptionsthatare
available.Infact,thereareothersthatcanbeusedandareoftenmoreeffectiveintheshorttermthaneitherbrainwashingorhypnosis.Theseparticulartacticsareonesthatcanbeusedineverydaysituations,forexamplelikeinnormalconversationsapersonmayhavewithothers.Whileitisnotlikelythatapersonwillbemanipulatedorpersuadedtochange
majorbeliefsthroughnormalconversations,theycanbeconvincedtochangelittlethingssuchasbeingpersuadedtopurchasecookiesfromalocalgirlscoutortovoteacertainwayinanelection.Themainthingtorememberaboutthenextthreeformsofmindcontrolisthattheyaremorelikelytooccurina
persons’dailylifewiththepeoplethattheyknowandtrust.Obviously,apersonisnotgoingtoputtheirsubjectintoisolationorforcethemintoanalteredstateofmindaswithbrainwashing.Insteadtheywillemploydifferenttechniquesinanefforttochangethewaytheirsubjectthinks.Thethreetypesofmindcontrolthatfitintothiscategory
includemanipulation,persuasion,anddeception.Thischapterisgoingtodiscussmanipulationandhowitcanworktochangetheway“thesubject”thinks.Whilemanipulationmaynotputthepersonwhoisemployingthetacticinharms’wayorcauseanyimmediatedanger,itissetuptoworkinadeceptive
andunderhandedwaytochangethebehavior,viewpointandperceptionthattheintendedsubjecthasinregardstoaparticulartopicorsituation.
WhatisManipulation?Thefirstquestionthatisoftenaskediswhatmanipulationis?Inthisguidebookwewilldiscussmanipulationinthetermsofpsychologicalmanipulation,whichisasocialinfluencethatworkstochangethebehaviorsorperceptionofothers,orthesubject,throughabusive,deceptive,orunderhanded
tactics.Themanipulatorisgoingtoworktoadvancetheirowninterests,usuallyattheexpenseofanother,somostoftheirmethodswouldbeconsidereddeceptive,devious,abusive,andexploitative.Whilesocialinfluenceitselfisnotalwaysnegative,whenapersonorgroupisbeingmanipulated,ithasthepossibilityofcausingthemharm.
Socialinfluence,suchasinthecaseofadoctorworkingtopersuadetheirpatientstostartadoptinghealthyhabits,isusuallyperceivedtobesomethingthatisharmless.Thisistrueofanysocialinfluencethatiscapableofrespectingtherightofthoseinvolvedtochooseandisnotundulycoercive.Ontheotherhand,if
someoneistryingtogettheirownwayandisusingpeopleagainsttheirownwill,thesocialinfluencecanbeharmfulandisgenerallylookeddownupon.Psychologicaloremotionalmanipulationisseenasaformofpersuasionandcoercion.Therearemanycomponentsthatcanbeincludedinthisformof
mindcontrolsuchasbullyingandbrainwashing.Forthemostpart,peoplewillseethisasabusiveordeceptiveinnature.Thosewhodecidetoemploymanipulationwilldosoinordertoattempttocontrolthebehaviorofthosearoundthem.Themanipulatorwillhavesomeendgoalinmindandwillworkthroughvariousabuseformsinorderto
coercethosearoundthemintohelpingthemanipulatorgettothefinalgoal.Oftenemotionalblackmailwillbeinvolved.Thosewhopracticemanipulationwillusemindcontrol,brainwashing,orbullyingtacticstogetotherstocompletethetasksforthem.Thesubjectofthemanipulatormaynotwant
toperformthetask,butfeelthattheyhavenootheroptionduetotheblackmailorothertacticused.Mostpeoplewhoaremanipulativelacktheappropriatecaringandsensitivitytowardsotherssotheymaynotseeanissuewiththeiractions.Othermanipulatorsjustwanttogettotheirfinalgoalandarenotconcerned
withwhohasbeenbotheredorhurtalongtheway.Inaddition,manipulativepeopleareoftenafraidtogetintoahealthyrelationshipbecausetheyareafraidotherswillnotacceptthem.Someonewhohasamanipulativepersonalitywilloftenhavetheinabilitytotakeresponsibilityfortheirownbehaviors,problems,andlife.Since
theyarenotabletotaketheresponsibilityfortheseissues,themanipulatorwillusethetacticsofmanipulationtogetsomeoneelsetotakeovertheresponsibility.Manipulatorsareoftenabletousethesametacticsthatarefoundinotherformsofmindcontrolinordertogettheinfluencetheywantoverothers.One
ofthemostcommonlyusedtacticsisknownasemotionalblackmail.Thisiswherethemanipulatorwillworktoinspiresympathyorguiltinthesubjecttheyaremanipulating.Thesetwoemotionsarechosensincetheyareconsideredthetwostrongestofallhumanemotionsandarethemostlikelytospurothersintotheactionthatthe
manipulatorwants.Themanipulatorwillthenbeabletotakecompleteadvantageofthesubject,usingthesympathyorguiltthattheyhavecreatedtocoerceothersintocooperatingorhelpingthemreachtheirfinalgoal.Often,themanipulatorwillnotonlybeabletocreatetheseemotions,theywillbeabletoinspiredegrees
ofsympathyorguiltthatarewayoutofproportionforthesituationthatisgoingon.Thismeansthattheycantakeasituationsuchasmissingoutonapartyseemlikethesubjectismissingoutonafuneralorsomethingthatisactuallyimportant.Emotionalblackmailisjustoneofthetacticsthatisemployedbymanipulators.
Oneoftheothertacticsthathasbeensuccessfulformanymanipulatorsistouseaformofabusethatisknownascrazymaking.Thistacticisusuallyaimedwiththehopeofcreatingself-doubtinthesubjectbeingmanipulated;oftenthisself-doubtwillbecomesostrongthatsomesubjectsmaystarttohavefeelingsthattheyaregoingcrazy.Attimes,the
manipulatorwilluseformsofpassive-aggressivebehaviorinordertobringaboutcrazymaking.Theymightalsochoosetoshowsupportorapprovalofthesubjectverbally,butthengivenon-verbalcuesthatshowcontradictorymeanings.Themanipulatorwilloftenactivelytrytounderminecertaineventsorbehaviorswhileshowingtheir
supportoutloudforthatsamebehavior.Ifthemanipulatoriscaughtintheact,theywillusedenial,justification,rationalization,anddeceptionofillintentinordertogetoutofthetrouble.Oneofthebiggestissueswithpsychologicalmanipulatorsisthattheyarenotalwaysableto
recognizewhatothersaroundthemmayneedandtheywilllosetheabilitytomeetorevenconsidertheseneeds.Thisdoesnotexcusethebehaviorthattheyaredoing,butoftentheneedsofothersarenotconsideredorarenotaprioritytothemanipulatorsotheyareabletoperformmanipulativetaskswithoutfeelingguiltorshame.This
canmakeitdifficulttostopthebehaviorandexplaininarationalwaywhythemanipulatormuststop.Inaddition,themanipulatormayfindthatitisdifficultforthemtoformmeaningfulandlonglastingfriendshipsandrelationshipsbecausethepeopletheyarewithwillalwaysfeelusedandwillhavedifficultyintrusting
themanipulator.Theissuegoesbothwaysintheformationofrelationships;themanipulatorwillnotbeabletorecognizetheneedsoftheotherpersonwhiletheotherpersonwillnotbeabletoformtherequiredemotionalconnectionsortrustwiththemanipulator.
RequirementstoSuccessfullyManipulateAsuccessfulmanipulatormusthavetacticsathandthatwillmakethemsuccessfulatusingpeopletogettotheirownfinalgoal.Whilethereareseveraltheoriesonwhatmakesasuccessfulmanipulator,wewilltakea
lookatthe3requirementsthathavebeensetoutbyGeorgeK.Simon,asuccessfulpsychologyauthor.AccordingtoSimon,themanipulatorwillneedto:
1. Beabletoconcealtheiraggressivebehaviorsand
intentionsfromthesubject.
2. Beabletodeterminethevulnerabilitiesoftheirintendedsubjectorvictimsinordertodeterminewhich
tacticswillbethemosteffectiveinreachingtheirgoals.
3. Havesomelevelofruthlessnessreadilyavailablesothattheywillnotneedtodealwith
anyqualmsthatmayariseduetoharmingthesubjectsifitcomestothat.Thisharmcanbeeitherphysicaloremotional.
Thefirstrequirementthat
themanipulatorhastoaccomplishinordertosuccessfullymanipulatetheirsubjectsistoconcealtheiraggressivebehaviorsandintentions.Ifthemanipulatorgoesaroundtellingeveryonetheirplansoralwaysactsmeantoothers,nooneisgoingtostickaroundlongenoughtobemanipulated.Rather,themanipulatorneedstohavetheabilitytoconceal
theirthoughtsfromothersandactlikeeverythingisnormal.Often,thosewhoarebeingmanipulatedwillnotrealizeit,atleastnotinthebeginning.Themanipulatorwillbesweet,actliketheirbestfriend,andperhapshelpthemoutwithsomeissueoranother.Bythetimethesubjectisawareoftheissue,themanipulatorhasenoughinformationon
themtocoercethesubjectintocontinuingon.Next,themanipulatorwillneedtohavethecapabilityofdeterminingwhatthevulnerabilitiesoftheirintendedvictimorvictimsare.Thiscanhelpthemtodeterminewhichtacticsneedtobeusedinordertoreachtheoverallgoal.Sometimesthemanipulatormaybeableto
dothisstepthroughalittlebitofobservationwhileothertimestheyaregoingtoneedtohavesomekindofinteractionwiththesubjectbeforecomingupwiththefullplan.Thethirdrequirementisthatthemanipulatorneedstoberuthless.Itisnotgoingtogowellifthemanipulatorputsinalltheirworkandthen
worriesabouthowthesubjectisgoingtofairintheend.Iftheydidcareaboutthesubject,itisnotlikelythattheywouldbegoingthroughwiththisplanatall.Themanipulatorisnotgoingtocareaboutthesubjectatallanddoesnotreallycareifanyharm,eitherphysicaloremotional,befallsthesubjectaslongastheoverallgoalismet.
Onereasonthatmanipulatorsaresosuccessfulisthatthesubjectoftendoesnotrealizetheyarebeingmanipulateduntillateronintheprocess.Theymaythinkthateverythingisgoingalongjustfine;perhapstheythinkthattheyhavemadeanewfriendinthemanipulator.Bythetimethesubject
realizestheyarebeingusedornolongerwantstobeapartoftheprocess,theyarestuck.Themanipulatorwillbeabletousemanydifferenttactics,includingemotionalblackmailtogettheirwayintheend.
HowtoControlVictimsOneofthethingsthatthe
manipulatorneedstobeabletoaccomplishtoseesuccessistocontroltheirsubjects.Thereareseveraldifferenttheoriesthatareavailabletohelpexplainhowthemanipulatorwillbeabletodothis.TwoofthetheoriesthatwillbediscussedinthissectionincludethosestartedbyHarrietBraikerandSimon.
HarrietBraikerHarrietBraikerisaclinicalpsychologistwhohaswrittenaself-helpbook.Inherbook,shehasdefinedfivebasicwaysthatthemanipulatorisabletocontroltheirsubjects.Theseinclude:
PositivereinforcementNegative
reinforcementPartialorintermittentreinforcementPunishmentTraumaticlearningthatonlyprovidesonetrial
Thefirsttwotacticsthatarediscussedincludepositivereinforcementandnegativereinforcement.In
positivereinforcementthemanipulatorwilluseavarietyoftacticssuchaspublicrecognition,facialexpressions(likeasmileoraforcedlaugh),attention,gifts,approval,money,excessiveapologizing,superficialsympathywhichmayincludecrocodiletears,superficialcharm,andpraise.Thepointofutilizingthiskindofreinforcementistogivethe
personareasontowanttobeyourfriend.Ifyougivesomeoneagiftorsomemoney,theymightbemorewillingtohelpyououtwhenthetimecomes.Ifyoucanmakethesubjectfeelsorryforyou,thentheywillhavetherequiredsympathytobeonyoursidelater.Theothertypeofreinforcementthatcanbeusedisnegativereinforcement.Inthis
tacticthemanipulatorwillremovethesubjectfromasituationthatisnegativeasarewardfordoingsomethingelse.Anexampleofthiswouldbe“Youwon’thavetodoyourhomeworkifyouallowmetodothistoyou.”Eachofthesehasparticularstrengthsandweaknessesthatallowthemanipulatortogetwhattheywantoutofthesubject.Often,the
manipulatorwilluseacombinationofdifferenttacticsinordertogetthethingsthattheywant.Partialorintermittentreinforcementcanalsobeusedbyamanipulator.Thisformofreinforcementisusedinordertoeffectivelycreateaclimateofdoubtandfearinthesubject.Anexampleofthiscomesingambling.While
thegamblermaywinattimes,theyarestillgoingtolosesomeformofmoneyoverall,especiallyiftheyplayforalongtime.Butthewinningisoftenenoughtokeepthesubjectpersistingonthesamepath,longaftertheyarenotabletodoso.Themanipulatorwillusethistactictoprovidereinforcementtothesubjectatenoughintervals
tokeepthesubjectcomingback.Punishingisanothermethodthatisusedinordertocontrolthesubjectofthemanipulator.Therearealotofdifferentactionsthatcanfitintothiscategory.Theyincludeplayingthesubject,crying,sulking,usingtheguilttrip,emotionalblackmail,swearing,threats,and
intimidation,usingthesilenttreatment,yelling,andnagging.Thepointofusingthismethodistomakethesubjectfeelliketheyhavedonesomethingwrong.Thesubjectwillfeelbadandwanttomakethingsright,fallingrightbackinwiththemanipulator.Finally,thelastmethodthatBraikermentionsin
herworkisthetraumaticonetriallearning.Thisiswherethemanipulatorwillexplodeforthelittlestthingsinthehopesofconditioningortrainingthesubjectintonotwantingtocontradict,confront,orupsetthemanipulator.Someofthetacticsthatmightbeusedinthismethodincludeexplosiveanger,verbalabuse,andotherbehavior
thatisintimidatingandusedtoestablishsuperiorityanddominanceoverthesubject.
SimonSimonhasalsocomeupwithalistoftacticsthatmanipulatorsmustuseinordertosuccessfullycontroltheirvictims.SomeofthesearesimilartothoselistedbyBraikerbut
withsomemoredetails.Thesewouldinclude:
Lying:manipulatorsarereallygoodatlyingtotheirsubjects.Often,thesubjectswillfindthatitisdifficulttotellwhentheyarebeingliedtoatthetime.When
thesubjectfindsoutabouttheapparentlie,itisusuallytoolatetodoanythingaboutit.Theonlywaythatthesubjectcanmakesurethattheyarereducingtheirchancesofbeingliedtoarewatchingoutfordifferent
personalitytypesthatareexpertsintheartofcheatingandlying.Themanipulatorwilllieaboutanythinginordertogettheirwayandforthemostparttheirsubjectswillnothaveanyideathatitisgoingon
untilitistoolatetodoanythingaboutit.
Omissionlying:thisoneissimilartothemethodlistedabovewithafewslightdifferences.Omissionlyingisalittlemoresubtlebecause
themanipulatorwilltellsomeofthetruthbutwillwithholdcertainkeyissuesthatshouldhavebeenrevealed.Insomecasesthismightbecalledpropaganda.Themanipulatormightsaythattheyneedtoborrowsome
moneytogetgastogobuygrocerieswheninrealitytheyneedthemoneytogopickupsomedrugsorotherillegalsubstance.Whiletheydidusethemoneytopurchasegas,justliketheysaid,theyleftout
animportantpart.Thesubjectprobablywouldnothavegiventhemoneyiftheyknewtheendofthestoryandnowtheymaybecaughtupinsomethingillegal.
Denial:manipulatorsare
expertsatdenial.Noneofthemwilladmitthattheyhavedonesomethingwrong,evenwhenalloftheevidenceispointingtowardsthem.Theywillalwaysdenyeverythingandoftenmakethesubjectlooktobe
theoneatfault.
Rationalization:thisiswhenthemanipulatorwillmakeupanexcusethatmakesthemlookgood.Theymightsaytheyonlydidtheactbecausetheyweretryingtohelpthesubject.This
tacticisalsorelatedtothetechniqueofspinning.
Minimization:thisisablendoftherationalizationandthedenialtactics.Themanipulatorwilltelleveryonethattheirbehavioris
reallynotasirresponsibleorharmfulasthesubjectthought.Anexampleofthiswouldbewhenthemanipulatorsaysthataninsultortaunttheyperformedwasjustajokeandthatthesubjectshouldnottakeit
soseriously.
Selectiveattentionorinattention:duringthistactic,themanipulatorworkstoavoidgivingattentiontoanythingthatwilldistractthemfromtheirfinalgoal.They
willtrivializeitandmakeitseemnotthatimportanttothem,whichitreallyisn’t.Anexampleofthiswouldbewhenthemanipulatorsays“Idon’twanttohearit.”
Diversion:manipulatorsare
notonlygoodatlyingtotheirsubjects;theyarealsoexpertsatavoidinggivingstraightanswerstoquestionsthataregiventothem.Ifsomeoneasksthemaquestionthattheydonotlikeorwantstoknowoutrightif
theyarelyingtothem,themanipulatorwilltrytopushtheconversationinanotherdirection.Oftenthemanipulatorwillbrieflygiveavagueanswertothequestionbeforemovingtheconversationtoanothertopic.
Evasion:thistacticisverysimilartodiversionwithafewdifferences.Inthistactic,themanipulatorwillanswerthequestionsthataregiventothem,buttheywilluseweaselwords,vague
responses,ramble,andprovideirrelevantresponsestothequestion.Theywillleavethesubjectwithmorequestionsthananswerswhentheyaredone.
Intimidation:
Themanipulatorwillalwaystrytokeepthevictimonthedefensiveinordertomakesurethattheyremainonthesameteamthroughouttheprocess.Oftenthisisdonebyusingveiled,implied,indirect,orsubtlethreats
tothesubject.
GuiltTrip:manipulatorsliketousetheguilttripasaformofintimidationinordertogetthesubjecttodowhattheywant.Themanipulatorwilltrytomakethesubjectfeel
guiltyinsomeway,suchasbysayingthatthesubjecthasittooeasy,istooselfish,orjustdoesnotcareaboutthemanipulatorenough.Thiswillresultinthevictimstartingtofeelbadforthemanipulator.The
subjectwillthenbekeptinasubmissive,anxious,orself-doubtingposition,makingiteasierforthemanipulatortostillusethem.
Shaming:thewholegoalofthemanipulatoristomakethesubject
feelbadorhavesympathyforthemsothatthesubjectkeepsgoingalongwiththeplan.Onewaythatthemanipulatorcandothisisbyusingput-downsandsarcasminordertoshamethesubject.Thistacticwillmake
thesubjectfeelunworthy.Mostoftheshamingtacticsusedwillbeverysubtleandwouldincludethingssuchassubtlesarcasm,rhetoricalcomments,unpleasanttoneofvoice,orafierceglance.
Playingasavictim:nomatterwhat,themanipulatorwantstolookliketheyarethevictim,eventhoughtheyaretheoneincontrol.Whenthemanipulatoractsliketheyarethevictimof
theircircumstancesorthebehaviorofsomeoneelse,theywillbeabletoevokecompassion,sympathy,andpity.Mostpeoplewillnotbeabletostandbyandwatchassomeonesuffersandthe
manipulatorwillfindthatitiseasytogetthesesamepeopletocooperatewiththem.
Vilifyingthesubject:thisisoneofthemostpowerfultacticsthatcanbeusedbecauseitwillalmostinstantly
putthesubjectontheroleofdefensewhileatthesametimehidingthemanipulatorsaggressiveintents.Themanipulatorwilltrytoturnthecircumstancesaroundsothatthesubjectlooksliketheyarethe
villainandtheonewhohascausedallofthetrouble.Thesubjectwillthenwanttofindwaystochangethisoutlookandgetonthesideofthemanipulatoragain,makingiteasytobeused.
Servantrole:
manipulatorswilloftenhidetheirownagendasbymakingitlookliketheworktheyaredoingisforsomenoblecause.Theyonlysaidthemeanthingaboutyouroutfitbecausetheprincipalwantstostart
sprucingupthelookoftheschoolandtheywantedtohelpout.Theterm“justdoingmyjob,”wouldalsofitunderthiscategory.
Seduction:manipulatorscanuseseductiontoget
thethingsthattheywant.Sometoolsthatfitintothiscategorywouldincludeintensesupport,flattery,praiseandcharm.Thisisdoneinordertogetthesubjecttolowertheirdefenses.Aftertime,thesubjectwillbegintogive
theirloyaltyandtrusttothemanipulatorwhowilluseitastheyplease.
Projectingtheblame:themanipulatorwillspendalotoftimeblamingothersfortheproblemstheyarehaving.Often
itishardtodetectwhenthisisgoingonsonooneisabletocallthemoutonit.
Feigninginnocence:ifthemanipulatoriscaughtintheactofreachingtheirownagenda,theywilltrytosuggestthatif
harmwasdone,itwascompletelyunintentional.Theymayevencompletelydenythattheydidanythinginthefirstplace.Whencaught,themanipulatorwillplacealookofindignationorsurpriseontheirfaces.Thepoint
ofthistoolistomakethevictimquestiontheirownsanityandjudgmentsinceitlooksliketheywerewrong.
Feigningconfusion:anotherthingthatmighthappenifthemanipulatoris
caughtisthattheymightplaydumb.Thiswillhappenifthemanipulatortriestopretendthattheydonothaveanyideawhatthesubjectistalkingabout.Theymightalsoactliketheyareconfusedwhenacriticalissueis
broughtuptothem.
Brandishinganger:whenthemanipulatorusesanger,itistogetthesubjecttofeelsorryorsympathyforthem.Ifdoneintherightway,themanipulatorwillbeabletoshock
theirsubjectbackintosubmission.Often,themanipulatorisnotreallyangry;theyarejustputtingonanactinordertogetwhattheywant.
Ascanbeseen,therearealotoftoolsthatthemanipulatorcanusein
ordertogettotheirfinalgoals.Often,thesetacticswillbeusedinsuchawaythatthesubjectwillnotrealizewhatisgoingoninthebeginninganditwilltakesometimeforthemtocatchon.Oncetheydo,themanipulatorwillbeabletoemploysomeofthetechniquesthatwillbediscussedinthenextsectioninordertokeepthesubjectgoingintheright
direction.Themanipulatorisskilledatusingacombinationoftheseskillstogetthethingsthattheywantanditdoesnotmattertothemhowmuchtheyharmtheotherpersonintheprocess.
TechniquesofManipulationAsdiscussedbefore,amanipulatorisgoingtoworkinordertoreachtheirfinalgoal.Inordertoreachthisfinalgoal,themanipulatorwilluseanytechniquethattheycaninordertogetpeopletodowhattheywant.Thefivemostcommontechniquesthatwillbeusedbya
manipulatortoreachtheirfinalgoalsincludeblackmail,emotionalblackmail,puttingdowntheotherperson,lying,andcreatinganillusion.Thesewilleachbediscussedintheprecedingsections.
BlackmailBlackmailisthefirsttechniquethatwouldbe
utilizedbyamanipulator.Blackmailisconsideredanactthatinvolvesthreatsthatareunjustifiedinordertomakeacertaingainorcausealosstothesubjectunlessthemanipulator’sdemandismet.Itcanalsobedefinedastheactofcoercionthatinvolvesthreatsofprosecutionasacriminal,threatsoftakingthesubject’spropertyor
money,orthreatsofcausingphysicalharmtothesubject.Thereisalonghistoryofthewordblackmail;originallyitwasatermthatmeantpaymentsthatthesettlersrenderedtotheareathatwasborderingScotlandtothechieftainsincharge.Thispaymentwasmadeinordertogivethesettlersprotectionfromthemaraudersandthievesthat
weregoingintoEngland.IthassincechangedtomeansomethingelseandincertaininstancesitisanoffenseintheUnitedStates.Forthepurposesofthissection,blackmailismoreofathreat,eitherphysicaloremotional,tothesubjectinordertocoercethemintodoingwhatthemanipulatorwants.
Blackmailisalsoconsideredextortioninsomecases.Althoughtherearetimeswhenthetwoareconsideredsynonymous,therearesomedifferences.Forexample,extortioniswhensomeonetakesthepersonalpropertyofanotherbythreateningtodofutureharmifthepropertyisnotgiven.Ontheotherhand,blackmailiswhenthreatsareusedin
ordertopreventthesubjectfromengaginginlawfulactivities.Attimes,thesetwoeventsaregoingtoworktogether.Thepersonmaythreatensomeoneandrequiremoneyinordertobekeptatbayandnotcausethesubjectharm.Themanipulatorisgoingtobeabletousethistechniqueinordertoget
whattheywant.Theyaregoingtotakethetimetolearnthingsofpersonalnatureabouttheirsubjectandthentheycanusethatasaformofblackmailagainstthem.Theymightblackmailtheirsubjectbythreateningtospillanembarrassingsecretorbyruiningtheirchancesofgettinganewjoborpromotion.Orthemanipulatormightworkin
amoremenacingwaybythreateningtophysicallyharmtheirsubjectorthesubject’sfamilyiftheydonotagreetogoalongwiththemanipulator.Whatevertheblackmailmaybe,itisusedtohelpthemanipulatortogettotheirfinalgoalwiththeassistanceofthesubject.
EmotionalBlackmailAnothersimilartacticthatmaybeusedbythemanipulatorisknownasemotionalblackmail.Duringthistechnique,themanipulatorwillseektoinspiresympathyorguiltintheirsubject.Thesetwoemotionsarethestrongestonesforhumanstofeel
andtheywilloftenbeenoughtospurthesubjectintotheactionthatthemanipulatorwants.Themanipulatorisgoingtotakeadvantageofthisfactinordertogetthethingthattheywant;theywillusethesympathyortheguiltthattheyinspireinordertocoercethesubjectintocooperatingorhelpingthem.Thedegreeofsympathyorguiltwill
oftenbeblownoutofproportion,makingthesubjectevenmorelikelytohelpoutinthesituation.Thepointofusingthistypeofblackmailistoplaymoreontheemotionsofthesubject.Inregularblackmail,thesubjecthasathreattodealwith,mostlyintermsofphysicalharmtothemselvesorsomeonetheylove.With
emotionalblackmail,themanipulatorwillworktoinspireemotionsthatarestrongenoughtoincitethesubjecttoaction.Whilethesubjectmaythinkthattheyarehelpingoutoftheirownfreewill,themanipulatorhasworkedtoensurethattheysubjectisassistingandwillbringouttheemotionsagainwheneveritisneeded.
PuttingDownTheOtherPersonThereareotheroptionsavailabletothemanipulatoriftheywouldliketogettheirsubjecttoassistinreachingthefinalgoal.Onetechniquethathasquiteabitofsuccessiswhenthemanipulatorisabletoputdowntheirsubject.Innormalcases,if
themanipulatorusesverbalskillsinordertoputtheirsubjectdown,theywillrunahighriskofmakingthesubjectfeelasifapersonalattackhasbeenplacedonthem.Whenthesubjectfeelsliketheyareattacked,theywillbristleandnotbewillingtoassistthemanipulatorinthewaythattheywant.Instead,thesubjectwillnotlikethemanipulator
andwillstayasfarawayfromthemaspossible,makingitverydifficultforthemanipulatortoreachtheirfinalgoal.Thisiswhythemanipulatorisnotgoingtojustgoaroundandputdowntheirsubject.Theyhavetobemorediscreetabouttheprocessandfindawaytodoitwithoutraisingredflagsormaking
thesubjectfeelliketheyarebeingattacked.Onewaythatthiscanbedoneisthroughhumor.Humorisabletolowerbarriersthatmightotherwiseshowupbecausehumorisfunnyandmakespeoplefeelgood.Themanipulatorisabletoturntheirinsultintoajoke.Despitethefactthattheputdownhasbeenturnedintoajoke,itwillworkjustaseffectivelyasif
thejokewerenotpresentwithoutleavingthevisiblescarsonthesubject.Often,themanipulatorwilldirecttheirputdownintotheformofthirdperson.Thishelpsthemtomaskwhattheyaresayingmoreeasilyalongwithprovidinganeasywaytodenycausingharmifitcomesbacktohauntthemlateron.Forexample,they
mightstarttheirputdownwith“Otherpeoplethink…”Ifthesubjectisstillabletoguessthatthecommentsweremadeatthem,thenthemanipulatorwouldenditwithathrowawaylinethatmightincludesomethinglike“presentcompanyexcepted,ofcourse.”Theideaoftheputdownistomakethesubjectfeel
liketheyaresomehowlessthanthemanipulator.Itraisesthemanipulatoruptoanewlevelandleavesthesubjectfeelinglikesomethingiswanting.Thesubjectismorelikelytowanttomakethingsbetterandtofixanywrongthattheyhavedone.Thiswillputthemanipulatorinapositionofpower,andtheywillbeabletomoreeasilygetthesubjecttoassist
them.
LyingNomatterwhattheendgoalofthemanipulatoris,lyingissomethingthattheyareanexpertinandwhichtheywilldoallofthetimetogetwhattheywant.Thereareseveraldifferenttypesofliesthatcanbeusedbythemanipulatorthatwillhelpthemto
reachtheirfinalgoals.Oneisthattheytellcompleteliesandothersincludeomittingpartsofthetruthfromtheirsubjects.Whenthemanipulatorlies,itisbecausetheyknowthatthelieisgoingtofurthertheiragendamuchmoreeffectivelythanthetruthwould.Tellingsomeonethetruthmightmakethemnotwantto
helpthemanipulatoroutandthatwouldgocompletelyagainsttheirplans.Instead,themanipulatorwilltellalietogetthesubjectconvincedtodosomethingforthemandbythetimethesubjectfindsoutaboutthelie,itistoolatetofixtheissue.Themanipulatormightalsodecidetoomitpartof
thetruthinthestoriesthattheyaretelling.Withthismethod,theyaregoingtotellpartsofthetruth,butwillkeepcertainthingsoutthatareunsavoryorwhichmighthindertheprogressthatisbeingmade.Thesekindsofliescanbejustasdangerousbecauseitwillbecomeincreasinglydifficulttotellwhatthetruthofthestoryisandwhatthelieis.
Itisimportanttorealizethatwhenyouaredealingwiththemanipulator,anythingthattheytellyoumaybealie.Itisnotagoodideatotrustanythingthatthemanipulatorissayingsincetheyarejusttryingtoabuseandusetheirsubjectsinordertoreachthatfinalgoal.Themanipulatorisgoingtodoandsayanythingpossible,
evenlying,togetwhattheywantandtheyarenotgoingtofeelsorryaboutit.Aslongastheygetwhattheywant,theyarenottooconcernedabouthowitisaffectingthesubjectorothersaroundthem.
CreatinganIllusionInadditiontolying,themanipulatorisgoingtobeanexpertatcreating
illusionsthatarecapableofbringingabouttheirfinalgoalmoreeffectively.Theywillworktocreateapicturethattheywantandthenconvincethesubjectthatthisillusionisactuallyreality;whetherornotitisdoesnotmattertothemanipulator.Inordertodothis,themanipulatorisgoingtobuilduptheevidencethatisneededtoprovethepointthatworks
totheirgoal.Tostarttheillusion,themanipulatorisgoingtoplanttheideasandtheevidenceintothemindsofthesubject.Oncetheseideasareinplace,themanipulatorwillbeabletostepbackforafewdaysandletthemanipulationoccurinthesubjectsmindoverthattime.Afterthattimethemanipulatorwill
havemoreofachanceofgettingthesubjecttogoalongwiththeplan.Manipulationisaformofmindcontrolthatisdifficultforthesubjecttoavoid.Unlikebrainwashingandhypnosisthatwasdescribedinthepreviouschapters,manipulationisabletooccurindailylifeandinsomeinstancesitcanoccur
withoutthesubjecthavingmuchknowledgeorcontrolofit.Themanipulatorisgoingtoworkdiscretelyinordertoreachtheirfinalgoalwithoutgettingthesubjectsuspiciousandderailtheprocess.Themanipulatorwillnotworryaboutwhotheyarehurtingorhowothersmightfeelandmostofthemarenotcapableofunderstandingtheneedsoftheirsubjects.
Theyjustknowthattheywantsomethingandthatthesubjecttheyhavechosenisgoingtohelpthemtogettotheirgoal.Thetechniquesthatarediscussedinthischapteraremeanttohelpexplainwhatgoesonduringtheprocessofmanipulationandhowthemindofthemanipulatorwillwork.Itisoftenbesttoattemptto
steerclearofanyonewhomightbeamanipulatorsothatyouareabletoavoidthiskindofmindcontrol.
Chapter5:Persuasion
Persuasionisanotherformofmindcontrolthatisgoingtobediscussed.Whiletheremightnotbeasmuchmediahypeaboutthisformofmindcontrolasthereiswithbrainwashingandhypnosis,itcanbejustaseffectiveifdonecorrectly.
Theissuewiththisformisthattherearejustsomanydifferentformsofpersuasionthatarepresentindailylifethatitcanbedifficultforanyonesourcetogetthroughtothesubjectandmakeadifference.Whilepersuasionworkstochangethethoughtsandthebeliefsofthesubjectliketheotherformsof
mindcontrol,itseemslikeeveryoneistryingtopersuadeyouaboutsomethingsoitbecomeseasiertoignorethepersuasionthatiscomingtowardsthesubject.Forexample,thecommercialsontelevision,whenanargumentisgoingon,orevenwhenaconversationisgoingonthereissomeformofpersuasionthatisoccurring.Peoplewilloften
usepersuasiontotheiradvantagewithoutnoticing.Thischapterisgoingtogointomoredetailsaboutpersuasionandhowitcanbeeffectivelyusedasaformofmindcontrol.
WhatisPersuasion?Tostartwithisthedefinitionofpersuasion.Whenpeoplethinkaboutpersuasion,theywilloftencomeupwithmanydifferentanswers.Somemaythinkofthecommercialsandadvertisingthattheyseeallaroundthemthaturgethepurchaseofacertainproductoveranother.
Othersmaythinkaboutpersuasioninthetermsofpoliticsandhowthecandidatesmaytrytoswaythevoters’opinioninordertogetanothervote.Bothoftheseareexamplesofpersuasionbecausethemessageistryingtochangethewaythatthesubjectisthinking.Persuasioncanbefoundindailylifeandit’saverypowerfulforceaswellasmajorinfluenceon
thesubjectandsociety.Advertising,massmedia,legaldecisions,andpoliticsallwillbeinfluencedbyhowpersuasionworksandinturnitwillworkonpersuadingthesubjectaswell.Ascanbeseen,therearesomekeydifferencesbetweenpersuasionandtheotherformsofmindcontrolwhichhavebeen
discussedsofarinthisguidebook.Brainwashingandhypnosiswillrequirethesubjecttobeinisolationinordertochangetheirmindsandidentity.Manipulationwillalsoworkonjustonepersontogettothefinalgoal.Whilepersuasioncanbedoneonjustonesubjecttochangetheirmind,itisalsopossibletousepersuasiononalargerscaleinorderto
persuadeawholegrouporevensocietytochangethewaythattheyarethinking.Thiscanmakeitevenmoreeffective,andperhapsdangerous,becauseithastheabilitytochangethemindsofmanypeopleallatonceratherthanthemindofjustasinglesubject.Manypeoplefallunderthefalseimpressionthatthey
areimmunetotheeffectsofpersuasion.Theythinkthattheywouldbeabletoseeanysalespitchthatisthrowntheirway,whethertheagentisactuallysellingaproductorsomenewidea,andthenbeabletocomprehendthesituationthatisgoingonandfindtheconclusionthroughtheirownlogic.Insomescenariosthisisgoingtobetrue;noonefallsfor
everythingtheyhearallofthetimewhentheyuselogic,especiallyifitgoescompletelyagainsttheirbeliefs,nomatterhowstrongtheargumentmaybe.Inaddition,mostsubjectswillbeabletoavoidthemessagesaboutpurchasingtelevisionsandfancycarsorthenewestproductonthemarket.Manytimestheactofpersuasionisgoingtobe
muchmoresubtleanditcanbemoredifficultforthesubjecttoformtheirownopinionsaboutwhattheyarebeingtold.Whentheactofpersuasionisbroughtup,mostpeoplearegoingtoseeitinanegativelight.Theywillthinkofasalesmanoraconmanwhoistryingtoconvincethemtochangealloftheirbeliefsandwho
isgoingtopushandbotherthemuntilthechangeoccurs.Whilethiscertainlyisonewaytothinkaboutpersuasion,thisprocesscanoftenbeusedinapositivewayratherthanjustanegativeway.Forexample,publicservicecampaignscanurgepeopletoquitsmokingorrecyclecanbeformsofpersuasionthatareabletoimprovethelivesofthesubject.Itis
allinhowtheprocessofpersuasionisused.
ElementsofPersuasionAswiththeotherformsofmindcontrol,therearecertainelementstobewatchedoutforwhenitcomestopersuasion.Theseelementshelptodefineexactlywhatpersuasionis
sothatitismorerecognizable.AccordingtoPerloffin2003,persuasionisdefinedas“Asymbolicprocessinwhichcommunicationstrytoconvinceotherpeopletochangetheirattitudesorbehaviorsregardinganissuethroughthetransmissionofamessageinanatmosphereoffreechoice.”
Thisisoneofthethingsthatmakepersuasiondifferentfromtheotherformsofmindcontrol;thesubjectisoftenallowedtomaketheirownfreechoicesinthematterevenifthetacticsofpersuasionaregoingtoworktoshiftthesubject’smindinaparticulardirection.Thesubjectisabletochoosewhichwaytheywanttothink,iftheywantto
purchaseaproductornot,oriftheythinktheevidencebehindthepersuasionisstrongenoughtochangetheirminds.Thereareafewelementsthatarepresentinpersuasionthathelptodefineitevenfurther.Theseelementsinclude:
Persuasionis
symbolicwhichmeansthatitutilizessounds,images,andwordstogetthepointacross.Persuasionwillinvolvetheagentdeliberatelyattemptingtoinfluencethesubjectorgroup.Self-persuasionisakeypartof
thisprocess.Thesubjectisusuallynotcoercedandinsteadtheyaregiventhefreedomtochoosetheirowndecision.Therearemanywaysthatpersuasivemessagescanbetransmittedincludingfaceto
face,internet,radio,andtelevision.Thecommunicationcanalsooccurnonverballyorverbally.
Let’slookateachofthesepointsinalittlemoredetail.Thefirstelementofpersuasionisthatitneedstobesymbolic.Inordertopersuadesomeonetothink
oractinacertainway,youneedtobeabletoshowthemwhytheyshouldchangetheirthoughts.Thisisgoingtoincludetheuseofwords,sounds,andimagestogetthenewpointacross.Youcanusewordstostartupadebateorargumenttoshowyourpoint.Picturesareagreatwaytoshowtheevidencethatisneededtopersuadesomeonetogoonewayor
theother.Somenonverbalcuesarepossible,buttheyarenotgoingtobeaseffectiveasusingthewordsandimages.Thesecondkeyisthatpersuasionisgoingtobeusedinadeliberatewayinordertoinfluencethewayothersareactingorthinking.Thisoneisprettyobvious,ifyouarenotpurposelytryingto
influenceothers,youarenotusingpersuasiontogetthemtochange.Thepersuaderisgoingtotrydifferenttacticsinordertogetthesubjecttothinkthesamewaythattheydo.Thiscouldbesomethingassimpleasjusthavingadebatewiththemorpresentingevidencethatsupportstheirpointofview.Ontheotherhand,itcouldgetmuchmore
involvedandincludemoredeceptiveformstochangethesubject’smind.Moreaboutthetechniquesthatareusedinpersuasionwillbediscussedlaterinthischapter.Theuniquethingaboutpersuasionisthatitallowsthesubjecttohavesomeformoffreewill.Thesubjectisallowedtomaketheirownchoiceinthe
manner.Forthemostpart,nomatterhowhardsomeonetriestopersuadethemofsomething,theydonothavetogoforit.Thesubjectmightlistentoathousandcommercialsaboutthebestcartopurchase,butiftheydonotlikethatbrandorarenotinneedofanewvehicleatthattime,theyarenotgoingtogooutandpurchaseit.Ifthesubject
isagainstabortion,itisnotgoingtomatterhowmanypeoplecomeoutandsayhowgreatabortionis,thesubjectisnotlikelytochangetheirmind.Thisallowsmuchmorefreedomofchoicethanwhatisfoundintheotherformsofmindcontrol,whichmightexplainwhymanypeopledonotseethisasatypeofmindcontrolwhenasked.
Persuasionisaformofmindcontrolthatcanoccurinmanydifferentways.Whilebrainwashing,hypnosis,andmanipulationhavetooccuronafacetofacebasis,andinsomecasesincompleteisolation,persuasioniscapableofoccurringinotherways.Youcanfindexamplesofpersuasionallovertheplaceincludingwhenyouaretalkingto
peopleyouknow,ontheInternet,andthroughradioandtelevision.Itisalsopossibletoprovidepersuasivemessagesthroughnonverbalandverbalmeans;althoughitismuchmoreeffectivewhenverbaltechniquesareused.
ModernPersuasionOvertime,persuasionhas
beenabletoevolveandchangefromitsoriginalbeginnings.Persuasionhasbeenaroundformanyyears;infactithasbeenaroundsincethetimeofancientGreece.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheartandprocessofpersuasionisexactlythesameasitwaswaybackthen.Infact,therehavebeenquiteafewchangesmadetotheartofpersuasionandhowitis
usedinmoderntimes.Someofthekeyelementsofmoderndaypersuasionwillbediscussedinthissection.RichardM.Perloffhasspentquiteabitoftimestudyingmodernpersuasion,howitisused,andhowitcanaffectsocietyasawhole.HewroteabookcalledTheDynamicsofPersuasion:
CommunicationandAttitudesinthe21stCentury,whichoutlinesthefivewaysthattheuseofmodernpersuasionisdifferentfromhowitwasusedinthepast.Thesefivewaysinclude:
Thenumberofmessagesthatareconsideredpersuasivehasgrownbyleaps
andbounds:InthetimesofancientGreece,persuasionwasusedjustinwritingandindebatesamongtheelites.Theoccurrenceofpersuasionwasnotabigthingandyouwouldnotseeitveryoften.Inmodern
times,itisdifficulttogetanywherewithoutsomemessageofpersuasionfollowingyouaround.Thinkofthedifferenttypesandsourcesofadvertisementsthatareoutthere;the
averageadultintheUnitedStateswillcomeacrossupto3000oftheseeachday.Inadditiontothat,therearealwayspeopleknockingonyourdoortryingtogetyoutobuysomething,believetheirideas,ortry
somethingnewout.Persuasionismuchmoreapartofmodernlifethanithasbeenatanyothertimeinhistory.
Persuasiontravelsreallyquickly:backinthetimesofancientGreece,itcouldtakeweeks
orlongerforapersuasivemessagetogetfromonepointtoanother.Thislimitedtheimpactofpersuasionbecausemostpeoplewouldnotbeabletogetthemessage.Mostactsofpersuasionhad
tobedoneinthecontextoffacetofacecommunication.Inmoderntimes,persuasivemessagescancoveralargedistanceinhardlyanytimeatallthankstotheuseoftheinternet,radio,andtelevision.
Politicalcandidatescanreachconstituentsallatonceinjustsecondsandanymessagecanbespreadeasily.Persuasiontakesonamuchlargerrolewhenitcanbespreadsoquickly.
Persuasioncanmeanalotofmoney:nowthatcompanieshavediscoveredthepowerofpersuasion,theyaredoingeverythingtheycantomakeitworkforthem.Themoreeffectivetheyareatpersuading
consumerstopurchasetheirproductsthemoremoneytheywillmake.Somecompaniesareinbusinesssolelybecauseofthepersuasiveprocess,suchaspublicrelationscompanies,marketingfirms,andadvertising
agencies.Othercompanieswillbeabletousethepersuasivetechniquesofferedbythesecompaniesinordertoreachandsurpassthesalesgoalsthattheyset.
Persuasionhasbecomemore
subtlethaninthepast:inthebeginningsofpersuasion,theagentwouldannouncetheirviewsoutloudforthewholegrouptohearinthehopesofgettingthemalltochangetheirminds.Thosedaysareover
andtheprocessofpersuasionhasbecomemuchmorediscrete.Whileitispossibletofindactsofpersuasionthatarestillveryloudandinyourface,suchasinsomeformsofadvertising,manyothersare
followingamoresubtleroute.
Anexampleofthisiswhenbusinessescraftacertainimageofthemselves,suchasbeingfamilyfriendly,inordertogetconsumerstopurchasetheirproducts.Youmightalsonoticethatinsteadofgettinginto
adebatewithyourfriendovergoingtoaparty,theywillusepeerpressureorjustlistafewfactstotryandgetyoutocomewiththem.Despitebeingmoresubtle,persuasionisstillaseffectivetodayasithaseverbeen.
Theprocessofpersuasionhasbecomemore
complex:alongwithpersuasionbeingmoresubtleandsometimeshardertopointout,itisalsogoingalongtheroadofbecomingmorecomplex.Thesubjectbeingtargetedismorediversethaninthepast
andtheyhavealotmorechoicestomake.Forexample,whereonceapersonjustwenttotheonestoreintowntopurchaseeverythingtheyneed,nowtheyareabletopickfromdifferentstoresfortheirneedsfromthe
hardwarestoretothegrocerystoreandtheclothingstore.Ontopofthat,thereisoftenmorethanoneoptionavailableforeachoftheseshoppingcategoriesinthearea.Allthesechoicesmakeitmoredifficultfor
theagenttofindagoodpersuasivemessagefortheconsumeroranyothersubject.
MethodsofPersuasionPersuasionmethodscanoftengounderothernamesandbereferredtoinsuchwaysaspersuasionstrategiesandpersuasiontactics.Thereisnotjustonemethodthatcanbeusedtopersuadesomeonetothinkoractinacertainway.Theagentmaybeabletotalktothesubjectwhilepresentingevidencein
ordertoswitchthesubject’smind,theymaybeabletousesomesortofforceorpulltheyhaveagainstthesubject,andtheycanperformsomesortofserviceforthesubject,oruseanothertactic.Thissectionwillgointomoredetailsaboutthedifferentmethodsofpersuasionthatareavailableandhoweachofthemmightbeeffectiveintheprocessof
persuasion.
UsageofForceDependingonthesituation,theagentmaydecideitisagoodideatousesomeforceinordertopersuadethesubjecttothinktheirway.Thismayhappeniftheideasdonotmatchupcorrectly,regulartalkingisnotworking,orwhentheagentis
becomingfrustratedorupsetwiththeturnoftheconversation.Oftenforceisusedasatypeofscaretacticbecauseitgivesthesubjectlesstimetothinklogicallyaboutwhatisgoingoncomparedtowhenanormalconversationoccurs.Usuallyforcewillbeusedwhentheagenthashadlesssuccessusingtheothermeansofpersuasionthat
areavailable,althoughstartingwiththeuseofforceissometimesdoneaswell.Atothertimes,forcemaybeusediftheagentfeelsliketheyarelosingcontrolorwhenthesubjectisabletopresentcontradictoryevidencetotheagentandtheagentbecomesangry.Oftenitisnotthebestideatouseforcewhenitcomes
totheprocessofpersuasion.Thisisbecausemanysubjectswillseetheuseofforceasathreatduetothefactthattheagentwillnotgiveotheroptionstotherequestthattheyaremaking.Thewholeappealofpersuasionisthatitoffersthesubjectthechoiceofpaths,butonceforceisbroughtintothemix,thatfreedomofchoiceisgoneandthesubjectis
morelikelytofeelthreatened.Oncethesubjectfeelsthreatened,theyarelesslikelytolistenandconsideranythingthattheagentissayingandsotheprocesswillnotgoanyfurther.Duetothesereasons,theuseofforceisgenerallydiscouragedandavoidedintheartofpersuasion;unliketheotherformsofmindcontroldiscussed.
WeaponsofInfluenceAnothermethodthatcanbeusedinordertopersuadethesubjecttoleanaspecificwayistousetheweaponsofinfluencethatareavailable.ThesesixinfluencesweredevelopedbyRobertCialdiniinhisbookInfluence.Thisbook
discussestheartofpersuasionanddefinesthesixweaponsofinfluencethatcanmaketheagentsuccessfulintheirgoals.Thesixweaponsofinfluencearereciprocity,commitmentandconsistency,socialproof,liking,authority,andscarcity.Thesesixweaponsofinfluenceareveryimportanttotheagentsincetheyareapartofthe
processofchangeintheirsubjects.Eachofthesesixweaponswillbediscussedbelow.
ReciprocityThefirstweaponofinfluenceistheprincipleofreciprocity.Thisprinciplestatesthatwhenoneperson,theagent,providestheotherperson,thesubject,withsomethingof
value,thesubjectisgoingtoattempttorepaytheagentinkind.Thisbasicallymeans,whentheagentperformssometypeofservicetothesubject,thesubjectwillfeelthattheyhaveanobligationtoperformasimilarservicetotheagentatsometime.Whilethetwoservicesmightnotbeidentical,theyhavethesamekindofvaluesothattheobligation
ofeachisequaledout.Theactofreciprocationendsupproducingasenseofobligationinthesubject,whichtheagentwillthenbeabletouseasapowerfultoolwhentheywanttousepersuasion.Theruleofreciprocityisveryeffectivebecauseithelpstheagentgetthesubjectintotherightframeofmindfortheactofpersuasionby
instillingandoverpoweringthesubjectwithasenseofobligation.Theagentmaybemorelikelytogetthesubjectconvincedtodooractacertainwaybecausethesubjectwillhavethatsenseofobligationhangingoverthem.Anotheraddedbenefitfortheagentinusingreciprocityisthatitisnot
justamoralstandingthatwillputtheobligationonthesubject;itisalsoastandingthatisheldupbysocialcodes.Theagentisnotgoingtoneedtoworryaboutwhetherthesubjecthastherightmoralcodetoreturnthefavor.Ifthesubjectdoesnotfeeltheneedtodoso,theagenthassometoolsavailabletospurthemintoaction.
Asasociety,peopledonotlikeindividualswhoarenegligentinreturningafavororpaymentwhentheyareofferedafreegiftorservice.Iftheagentdoesnotfeellikethesubjectisgoingtoreciprocatetothem,theywillbeabletoturnthemintotheirsocialgroup.Theycandothisbytellingotherfriendsorcoworkersabouthowtheydidafavorforthesubject
butthesubjectneverreturneditwhenitwasneeded.Nowtheagenthasforcedsocialstandardsonthesubjectthroughthetellingofthefavor,makingitevenmorelikelythattheywillbeabletopersuadethesubjectintodoingsomething.Forthemostpart,thesubjectwillbehappytoreciprocatetotheagent
withoutneedinganyoutsideforces.Whenthefavorisgranted,thesubjectwillbegintolookforwaysthattheycanrepaytheagentsothatthescoreisevenandtheydonotseemgreedyorselfish.Theagentwillthenbeabletoprovideaneasysolutiontothesubjectonhowtorepaythisdebt;thesubjectwillfeelgratitudeathavingthiseasysolutionandwill
bemorelikelytogothewaythattheagentwants.
CommitmentandConsistencyThenextweaponofinfluencethatistobediscussedisthatofcommitmentandconsistency.Theagentisgoingtoneedtousebothoftheseiftheywishtopersuadeanyonetochange
totheirpointofview.Whenthingsareconsistent,theyareeasiertounderstandandcanhelpthesubjecttomaketheirdecisionsbetter.Itdoesnotdowellfortheagenttoalwayschangethefactsthattheyareusingortochangeotherinformationthatisneededinordertohelpthesubjectprocesstheinformation.Ratherthanhelpingwiththe
processofpersuading,constantlykeepingawayfromconsistencyisgoingtomaketheagentlooklikealiarandsomeonewhocannotbetrusted,resultinginthefailureofthepersuasionprocess.Consistencyisoneofthemostimportantaspectsofthepersuasionprocess.Thisisbecause:
Consistencyisvaluedhighlyinsociety:peopleliketohavethingsstayacertainwaymostofthetime.Whilethereisalotofvarietyindailylife,peoplefeelsafeknowingthatoverallthingswillstayprettyconsistent.
Itallowsthemtorememberwhathasgoneon,knowwhattoexpect,andbepreparedifanychangesdohappentooccur.Ifconsistencywerenotavailable,thingswouldbeverydifficulttoplanandtherewould
alwaysbeissuesofchaosgoingaround.Ifyouwishtopersuadeasubjectofaparticularthing,thenyoumustmakesurethatyourfactsareconsistentandmakesensetothem.
Consistency
resultsinbenefitingthedailylifeapproachofmostpeople.Haveyouevertriedtoplanadayoutwhensomethingunexpectedcomesup?Itcanmakethingsalmostimpossibletodoandwillendup
feelinglikeadisaster.Peoplelikeconsistencybecauseitallowsthemtoknowwhattoexpectandwhattodo.Theyknowwhenitistimetoeat,whenitistimeforwork,andwhenotherthingswillhappen
throughouttheday.
Consistencyprovidesashortcutthatisveryvaluablethroughthecomplicationspresentinmodernexistence.Lifeisdifficultenoughwithouthaving
toaddinotherthingsthatdonotmakesince.Whenpeopleareabletohaveconsistentlives,itmakesthingsawholeloteasier.
Consistencyisagreattoolbecauseitallowsthesubjecttheabilitytomaketherightdecisionsandtoprocessinformation.Ifthe
agentwantstobesuccessfulintheirendeavorsofpersuadingthesubject,theyneedtomakesurethattheirmessageisconsistent.Thereisnoroomforfalseevidencethatcanshowuplaterandruinthewholeprocess.Keepthefactstruthfulandconciseanditismuchbetterforpersuadingthesubject.
Somethingthattiesinwithconsistencyistheactofcommitment.Inordertoknowthatthesubjectisactuallypersuadedandthattheefforthaspaidoff,itisimportanttohavesomekindofcommitmentinplace.Inadvertising,thiscanmeanthatthesubjectisgoingtopurchasetheproductorinpoliticsitcanmeanthatthesubjectwillvotefora
particularcandidate.Thecommitmentthatismadewillvarydependingonthenatureofthepersuasion.Accordingtotheconceptofconsistency,ifapersoncommits,eitherinwritingororally,theyaremuchmorelikelytohonorthecommitmentthattheyhavemade.Ithasbeenfoundthatthisisevenmoretrueinterms
ofwrittencommitmentssincethesubjectwillbemoreconcretepsychologicallyandthereissomehardproofthattheyagreedtothecommitment.Thismakesalotofsense;manypeoplewillpromiseorallythattheywillfixsomethingordosomething,justtoturnaroundandnotdoit.Sure,somepeoplewilldowhattheysaid,andtheyare
morelikelytodoitifpromisingorallythannotpromisingatall,butoftenitisstilldifficulttogettheresultsthatyouwantinthisway.Inaddition,thereisnowaytobackitupsinceanoralagreementwilljustbecomeahesaidshesaiddisagreementandnoonewillwin.Ontheotherhand,iftheagentisabletoproduceawrittencommitmentfromthe
subject,theyhavetheprooftheyneedthatthethinghasbeendone.Thereasonthatitissoimportantfortheagenttogetthesubjecttoagreetoacommitmentisbecauseoncethesubjecthascommittedtothenewstance,theyhavemoreofatendencytoactinawaythatisfittingtothatcommitment.Afterthat
point,thesubjectwillcontinueonandbegintoengageinself-persuasionforthecause.Theywillprovidethemselvesalongwithotherswithvariousjustificationsandreasonstosupportthecommitmentinordertoavoidanyissueswiththeagent.Iftheagentisabletogetthesubjecttothatpoint,theagentwillhavealotlessworktodealwith.
SocialProofPersuasionisaformofsocialinteractionandthereforeisgoingtoneedtofollowthesocialruleswhereitisoccurring.Thesubjectisgoingtobeinfluencedbythepeoplewhoarearoundthem;theyaregoingtobemorelikelytowanttodowhatothersaredoingratherthandotheirownthing.The
subjectwillbasetheirbeliefsandactionaccordingtowhatothersaredoingaroundthem,howthesesamepeopleact,andhowtheybelieve.Forexample,ifthesubjectgrowsupinacity,theyaremorelikelytoactlikeotherswhoarefromthatarea;ontheotherhand,thosewhogrowupinacommunitythatisveryreligiousmayspendalotof
theirtimepraying,learning,andhelpingothers.Underthisbeliefthesaying“thepowerofthecrowd,”canbeveryeffective.Thesubjectisgoingtowanttoknowwhatotherpeoplearoundthemaredoingatalltimes.Ithasbecomealmostanobsessioninthiscountrytobeabletodowhatothersaredoingin
ordertofitin,despitethefactthatpeoplewillsayhowtheywanttobedifferentandbeanindividual.Anexamplethatisgivenabouthowpeoplewilldosomethingbecauseothersaredoingitcanbefoundwithaphone-a-thon.Ifthehostsayssomethinglike“Operatorsarewaiting,pleasecallnow,”the
subjectmayfeellikethereareoperatorswhoaresittingaroundwithnothingtodobecausenooneiscallingthem.Thiswillmakethesubjectlesslikelytocallbecausetheyfigureifsomeoneelseisn’tcallingthentheyshouldn’teither.Ifthehostjustchangesupafewwordsandinsteadsays“Ifoperatorsarebusy,pleasecallagain,”therecanbea
verydifferentresult.Thesubjectisnowgoingtoassumethattheoperatorsarebusywiththecallsofmanyotherssubjectssotheorganizationmustbegoodandlegitimate.Thesubjectwillbemuchmorelikelytocallinwhetherornottheygetthroughrightawayorhavetobeputonhold.Thepersuasiontechnique
ofsocialproofisthemosteffectiveinsituationswherethesubjectisuncertainofwhattheywilldoorwhenthereseemtobemanysimilaritiesinthesituations.Inambiguousoruncertainsituationsthathavemultiplechoicesorpossibilitiestobemade,thesubjectwilloftenchoosetoconformtowhatothersaroundthemaredoing.Thisisbecausethe
choicesaresosimilarthatanyofthemwillwork,buttheywillassumethatthechoicetheothersaremakingistheonethatisright.Theotherwaythatsocialproofcanbeusediswhentherearesomesimilaritiesoccurring.Forexample,thesubjectismuchmorelikelytoconformandchangearoundthosewhoaresimilartotheminsome
way.Ifthereissomeonewhoissimilartothesubjectthatisincharge,thesubjectislikelytolistenandfollowthemmorethanifthepersoninchargeisverydifferentfromthesubject.Theagentwillbeabletousetheideaofsocialprooftohelpwiththeirprocessofpersuasion.Thefirstwaytheycandothisis
watchingthewordingthattheyaresaying.Withtheexamplegivenofthegameshow,bothofthequotesweresayingthesamething,butbyswitchingupthewordingtheycameupwithtwodifferentmeanings.Neitherofthemwerealie;theywerejusteffectiveatelicitingadifferentkindofresponse.Iftheagentisabletowatchthewaythattheyword
things,theycanelicittherightresponseoutoftheirsubjectsandconvincethesubjecttofollowthesameideasandbeliefs.Inaddition,theagentwillfindthatthereismoresuccessiftheyareabletogetthosewhoaresimilartothemtoshareintheideas.Thisiswhypoliticianswilltrytocampaigntogroupswith
thesimilarideastothem.Iftheyneedtoreachalargergroup,theywillmodifytheirideasinordertomakethemmoreappealingtothesenewgroups.
LikingTheagentisgoingtoworkveryhardinordertogetthesubjecttolikethem.Thereisaverysimple
reasonorthis;ifthesubjectlikestheagent,theyaremuchmorelikelytosayyestothem.Therearetwomainfactorsthatwillcontributetohowwellthesubjectlikestheagent.Thefirstoneisphysicalattractivenessandthesecondissimilarity.Forthefirstone,iftheagentismoreattractivephysicallytothesubject,
theyaregoingtohavethefeelingofbeingmorepersuasivesincetheyareabletogetwhattheywantmoreeasilywhilealsochangingtheattitudesofothers.Thisattractivenessfactorhasbeenproveneffectiveinsendingfavorablemessagesandimpressionsofothertraitsthattheagentmayhaveincludingintelligence,kindness,andtalent.This
allworkstogethertomakeitmorelikelythatanattractivepersonwillbeabletomoreeasilypersuadethesubject.Thesecondfactor,similarity,isalittlesimpler.Theideastatesthatifthesubjectissimilartotheagent,theyaremuchmorelikelytoanswerintheaffirmativetowhattheagentisasking.This
processisprettynaturalandmostofthetimethesubjectwillnothavetothinkaboutwhetheritistherightthingtodowhentheylikeandaresimilartotheagent.
AuthorityOneofthewaysthattheagentwillbesuccessfulinpersuadingthesubjectistobecomeanauthority.
Thereisatendencyinmostpeopletobelievethatsomethinganexpertsaysonasubjectistrue.Thesubjectismorelikelytoenjoylisteningtoanagentthatistrustworthyandknowledgeable;thismeansthatiftheagentcanbringthesetwothingstothetable,thentheyarealreadyonthewaytogettingtheirsubjecttolistenandbelievethem.
Therehavebeenstudiesdonetoshowhowthisauthoritytechniquecanworkinpersuadingthesubjecttolistentowhattheagenthastosay.ThestudydonewasknownastheMilgramstudyandwasactuallyawholeseriesofexperimentsstartedin1961.Theparticipantsconsistedoftwosubjectsandeachwasplacedinto
differentrooms.Thefirstsubjectwasthenattachedtoaharnessthatwaselectricandwhichcouldadministertheshock.Thesecondsubjectwasinstructedbytheagent,whowasdressedupinascientist’scoatandlookedofficial,toaskthefirstsubjectquestionsandthentopunishthemwheneveraquestionwasansweredincorrectly.Thesecond
subjectwasaskedbytheagenttodeliverelectricalshocksthatcamefromapanelthatwasunderthesecondsubject’scontrol.Afterdeliveringashock,thesecondsubjecthadtopickthenexthighestvoltagetousethenexttimeandwouldcontinuetodothisuntilthehighestvoltageof450voltswasreached.
Onethingthatwasnotknowntothesecondsubjectwasthatthefirstsubjectwassimplyanactorwhowasfakingthepain;thisfirstsubjectwasnotactuallybeingharmedintheprocess.Thisexperimentwasconductedinordertoseehowwellthesecondsubjectwouldobeysomeoneinauthority,nottoharmsomeoneonpurpose.Thestatement
thatwentalongwiththisstudywas“Whenanauthoritytellsordinarypeopleitistheirjobtodeliverharm,howmuchsufferingwilleachsubjectbewillingtoinflictonanentirelyinnocentpersoniftheinstructionscomefromabove?”Accordingtothisstudy,mostofthesecondsubjectswerewillingtoprovideasmuchpaintothefirstsubjectaswas
available.Thisledtotheconclusionthatmostsubjectsarewillingtoplacepainuponothersiftheyaretoldtodosobyanauthorityfigureofsomesort.Ofcourse,whenitcomestopersuasion,painisnotsomethingthatisnecessaryatalltimesinordertochangethewaythatpeoplethink.This
studywasjustanillustrationofhowthesubjectisgoingtoreacttotheagentiftheagentisabletoprovetheyaresomesortofauthoritarianperson.Keepingthisinmindcanhelptheagenttoreachtheirownagenda.
ScarcityScarcityisanotherformofpersuasionthatpeople
maybefamiliarwithbutwhichisoftenunderestimated.Whenaproductorideahasalimitedavailability,itismorelikelytobeassignedahighervalue.AccordingtoCialdini“peoplewantmoreofwhattheycannothave.”Whilethismightsoundlikeitisdescribingachildwhoistryingtogetintothecookiejarwhentheyaretoldno,itcanalso
describehowregularadultswillact.Whenthereistheissueofscarcitytoconsider,thecontextisgoingtomatteraswell.Thissimplymeansthatwithinspecificcontexts,theideaofscarcitymightactuallybeanadvantage.Theagentofpersuasionwillbeabletousetheideaofscarcitytotheiradvantage.Theywillneed
tofindawaytomakethesubjectbelievethattheitemisscarcebyexplainingwhythatitemissospecialandwhatitdoesthatnothingelseisabletodo.Theagentisgoingtohavetoworktheirsubjectintherightway.Theagentcanalsochoosetogotheotherway;ratherthanexplainingwhatthecustomerwillgainbytheitemoridea,theycan
explainwhattheywilllosebynothavingtheitem.Forexample,theagentcouldsaysomethinglike“youwilllose$5”ratherthangoingwith“youcouldsave$5”.Thisisjustanotherwaythattheagentwillbeabletomakesomethingsoundlikeitisscarcer.Therearetworeasonswhythisprincipleofscarcityworks.Firstoff,when
itemsorproductsaredifficulttoobtain,theywillusuallygainmorevalue.Themorevalueanitemhasthebetterqualityitwillseemtohave,evenifthisisnottrue.Thesecondthingisthatwhensomethingisnotasavailableasitoncewas,thesubjectwillbegintorealizethattheyaregoingtolosethechanceatacquiringitinthefuture.Oncethisbeginsto
happen,thesubjectwillbegintoassigntheserviceoritemthatisscarceahighervaluesimplysinceitisgoingtobecomehardertoacquire.Theideathatisbehindthisprincipleisthatthesubjectisgoingtowantthethingsthatareoutoftheirreach.Ifsomethingiseasytoget,noonewillwantitasmuchaswhentheitemismore
difficult.Iftheagentisabletoplanttheideathattheirthoughts,beliefs,oritemsarescarceanddifficulttocomeby,theywillhaveamuchhigherchanceofseeingsuccessintheirpersuasionefforts.
PersuasionTechniquesIftheagentwantstobesuccessfulinpersuadingthesubjectintosomething,theyaregoingtohavetocomeupwithsometechniquesthatwillhelpthemout.Everydaythesubjectisgoingtobeconfrontedwithdifferentformsofpersuasion.Foodmakerswillworktogetthesubjecttopurchasethe
newproductsormoreoftheoldwhilestudioswilladvertisetheirlatestblockbusters.Sincepersuasioncanbefoundalmostanywhere,itisgoingtobeabigchallengetotheagenttofindawaytoimpresstheirpointofviewonthesubject.Thetechniquesthatcomewithpersuasionhavebeenobservedandstudiedfor
manyyears,allthewaybacktoancienttimes.Thishasbeendonebecauseinfluenceissousefultoawidevarietyofdifferentpeople.Theformalstudyofthesetechniqueshasgrownstartingintheearly20thcentury.Sincetheultimategoalofusingpersuasionistoconvincethesubjecttotakethepersuasiveargument,
internalizeit,andthenadoptitasanewattitude,thereisalotofvalueindiscoveringwhichtechniquesofpersuasionarethemostsuccessful.Thethreepersuasiontechniquesthatprovidethemostvaluetotheagentandwhichwillbediscussedinthissectionarecreatinganeed,appealingtothesocialneeds,andusingloaded
imagesandwords.
CreateaNeedOnewaythattheagentisgoingtobeabletogetthesubjecttochangetheirwayofthinkingistocreateaneedortheycanappealtoaneedthatalreadyexistedinthesubject.Thistypeofpersuasionwillappealtothesubjectifdonecorrectly;thismeansthat
fortheagenttobesuccessfultheywillneedtoappealtothefundamentalneedsofthesubjectsuchastheirneedforself-actualization,self-esteem,love,food,andshelter.Thereasonthatthismethodisgoingtoworksowellfortheagentisbecausethesubjectisactuallygoingtoneedthesethings.Foodisnotsomethingthattheywillbeabletosurvive
withoutforverylong.Iftheagentisabletopersuadethesubjectthattheirstoreisthebestorbyswitchingtheirbeliefstheywouldbeabletogetmorefoodorshelter,thereisahigherchanceforsuccess.
AppealingtoSocialNeedsNext,theagentcould
appealtothesocialneedsofthesubject.Whilesocialneedsarenotaseffectivetouseastheprimaryneeds,theyarestillanimportanttoolthatcanbeused.Peopleliketobewantedandpartofthecrowd.Theyliketheprestigethatsomeitemsareabletogivethemandtofeelliketheybelonginahighersocialstanding.Theideaofappealingtothe
socialneedsofthesubjectcanbefoundinmosttelevisioncommercialsthatareon;inthesecommercialstheviewerwillbeencouragedtobuyanitemsothattheycanbecomewell-knownorbejustlikeeveryoneelse.Whentheagentappealstothesocialneedsofthesubject,theyareabletoreachanewareathatmightinterestthesubject.
UsingLoadedImagesandWordsWhenitcomestopersuasion,thechoiceofwordsthataremadecanmakeallofthedifference.Therearemanydifferentwaystosaythesamethingbutonewaymightspurthesubjectintoactionwhiletheotherwillnot.Sayingtherightwordstheright
wayisgoingtomakeallofthedifferencewhenitcomestousingpersuasion.Theexampleaboutthephone-a-thonearlierinthischapterisagoodexampleofhowwordscanbeusedtopersuadesubjectstojumpintoaction.Persuasionisapowerfultoolofmindcontrolthatisoftenunderestimatedand
overlooked.Perhapsthisisbecauseitoffersmoreofachoicetothesubjectcomparedtotheotherformsofmindcontrol.Intheotheroptions,thesubjectisforcedintosubmission,sometimesinisolation,bytheagentandendsupnothavingmuchofachoiceinwhatisgoingonintheprocess.Intermsofpersuasion,thefactsarepresentedsothatthe
subjectisabletomakeuptheirownmind,evenifthefactsareplacedinacertainwaytoshowtheminthebestlight.
Chapter6:Deception
Thenexttypeofmindcontrolthatwillbediscussedisdeception.Thismindcontroltechniqueisgoingtohavesomesimilaritiestomanipulationinthefactthatmanipulatorswillusealotofdeceptioninordertogettotheirfinalgoal.
Thischapterwillgointomoredetailsabouthowdeceptionworks,thetechniquesinvolvedinit,andsomeoftheresearchthathasbeenfound.
WhatisDeception?Tostartwithisthedefinitionaboutwhatdeceptionis.Deception,alongwithsubterfuge,mystification,bluff,deceit,andbeguilement,isanactusedbytheagenttopropagatebeliefsinthesubjectaboutthingsthatarefalsehoodsorwhichareonlypartialtruths.Deceptioncaninvolvealot
ofdifferentthingssuchasconcealment,camouflage,distraction,sleightofhand,propaganda,anddissimulation.Theagentwillbeabletocontrolthemindofthesubjectbecausethesubjectisgoingtotrustthem.Thesubjectwillbelievewhattheagentissayingandmightevenbebasingfutureplansandshapingtheirworldbasedonthe
thingsthattheagenthasbeentellingthem.Iftheagentispracticingtheprocessofdeception,thethingstheyhavebeentellingthesubjectwillbefalse.Trustcaneasilyberuinedoncethesubjectfindsout,whichiswhytheagentmustbetalentedattheprocessofdeceptionandgoodatturningthingsaroundiftheywantto
continueonwiththeirsubject.Often,deceptionwillcomeupintermsofrelationshipsanditcanleadtofeelingsofdistrustandbetrayalbetweenthetwopartnerswhoareintherelationship.Thisisbecausedeceptionviolatestherulesofmostrelationshipsandisalsoseentohaveanegative
influenceontheexpectationsthatcomewiththatrelationship.Mostpeopleexpecttobeabletohaveatruthfulconversationwiththeirpartner;iftheyhavelearnedthattheirpartnerisdeceptive,theywouldhavetolearnhowtousemisdirectionanddistractioninordertogetthereliableandtruthfulinformationthatthey
need.Thetrustwouldalsobegonefromtherelationship,makingitdifficulttobuildtherelationshipbackuptowhereithadoncebeen.Thesubjectwouldalwaysbequestioningthethingsthattheagentwastellingthem,wonderingifthestoryweretrueorsomethingmadeup.Becauseofthisnewmistrust,most
relationshipswillendoncethesubjectfindsoutaboutthedeceptionoftheagent.
TypesofDeceptionDeceptionisaformofcommunicationthatreliesonomissionsandliesinordertoconvincethesubjectoftheworldthatbestfitstheagent.Sincethereiscommunicationinvolved,therewillalsobe
severaldifferenttypesofdeceptionthatcouldbeoccurring.AccordingtotheInterpersonalDeceptionTheory,thereare5differenttypesofdeceptionthatarefound.Someofthesehavebeenshownintheotherformsofmindcontrol,showingthattherecanbesomeoverlapping.Thefivemainformsofdeceptioninclude:
Lies:thisiswhentheagentmakesupinformationorgivesinformationthatiscompletelydifferentfromwhatisthetruth.Theywillpresentthisinformationtothesubjectasfactandthesubjectwillseeitasthetruth.This
canbedangeroussincethesubjectwillnotrealizethattheyarebeingfedfalseinformation;ifthesubjectknewtheinformationwasfalse,theywouldnotlikelybetalkingtotheagentandnodeceptionwouldoccur.
Equivocations:thisiswhentheagentwillmakecontradictory,ambiguous,orindirectstatements.Thisisdonetoleadthesubjecttogetconfusedandtonotunderstandwhatisgoingon.Itcanalsohelp
theagenttosavefaceifthesubjectcomesbacklaterandtriestoblamethemforthefalseinformation.
Concealments:thisisoneofthemostcommontypesofdeceptionthatareused.
Concealmentsarewhentheagentomitsinformationthatisrelevantorimportanttothecontext,intentionally,ortheyengageinanybehaviorthatwouldhideinformationthatisrelevanttothesubjectforthat
particularcontext.Theagentwillnothavedirectlyliedtothesubject,buttheywillhavemadesurethattheimportantinformationthatisneedednevermakesittothesubject.
Exaggeration:thisiswhentheagentwilloverstateafactorstretchthetruthalittlebitinordertoturnthestorythewaythattheywouldlike.Whiletheagentmaynotbedirectlylyingtothesubject,theyaregoingto
makethesituationseemlikeabiggerdealthanitreallyisortheymaychangethetruthalittlebitsothatthesubjectwilldowhattheywant.
Understatements:anunderstatement
istheexactoppositeoftheexaggerationtoolinthattheagentisgoingtodownplayorminimizeaspectsofthetruth.Theywilltellthesubjectthataneventisnotthatbigofdealwheninfactitcouldbethethingthat
determinesifthesubjectgetstograduateorgetsthatbigpromotion.Theagentwillbeabletogobacklaterandsayhowtheydidnotrealizehowbigofadealitwas,leavingthemtolookgoodandthesubjecttolook
almostpettyiftheycomplain.
Thesearejustafewofthetypesofdeceptionthatmightbefound.Theagentofdeceptionisgoingtouseanymethodthatisattheirdisposalinordertogettotheirfinalgoal,muchlikewhatoccursintheotherformsofmindcontrol.Iftheyareabletoreachtheirgoalusinganothermethod
againstthesubject,thentheyaregoingtodoitsothelistaboveisinnowayexclusive.Theagentofdeceptioncanbereallydangerousbecausethesubjectwillnotbeabletotellwhatthetruthisandwhatanactofdeceptionis;theagentisgoingtobesoskilledatwhattheydothatitwillbealmostimpossibletodeterminewhatisthetruthandwhatisnot.
MotivesforDeceptionResearchershavedeterminedthattherearethreemainmotivesthatarepresentindeceptionsfoundincloserelationships.Thesewouldincludepartnerfocusedmotives,self-focusedmotives,andrelationshipfocusedmotives.
Let’slookatthepartnerfocusedmotivesfirst.Inthiskindofmotive,theagentisgoingtousedeceptioninordertoavoidcausingharmtothesubject,ortheirpartner.Theymayalsousethedeceptioninordertoprotectthesubject'srelationshipwithanoutsidethirdparty,toavoidhavingthesubject
worryaboutsomething,ortokeeptheself-esteemofthesubjectintact.Often,thiskindofmotivationfordeceptionwillbeviewedasrelationallybeneficialaswellassociallypolite.Thiskindofdeceptionisnotasbadassomeoftheothers.Iftheagenthearsaboutsomethingbadthatthesubject’sbestfriendsaidaboutthem,theagent
maychoosetokeepittothemselves.Whilethisisaformofdeception,ithelpsthesubjectkeepthatfriendshipwhilepreventingthesubjectfromfeelingbadforthemselves.Thisistheformofdeceptionthatisfoundthemostfrequentlyinrelationshipsandmightalsonotcausethatmuchdamageiffoundout.Mostcoupleswouldchooseto
utilizethisformofdeceptioninordertoprotecttheirpartner.Nextistheself-focusedmotiveofdeception.Thisoneisnotconsideredtobeasnobleasthefirstoneandisthereforemorelookeddownuponthantheothermethods.Insteadofworryingaboutthesubjectandhowtheyarefeeling,theagentisgoingtojust
thinkabouthowtheyfeelandabouttheirownself-image.Inthismotive,theagentisusingthedeceptioninordertoprotectorenhancetheirownself-image.Thisformofdeceptionisusedinordertoshieldtheagentfromcriticism,embarrassment,oranger.Whenthisdeceptionisusedintherelationship,itisusuallyperceivedtobea
moreseriousissueandtransgressionthanwhatisfoundwiththepartner-focuseddeception.Thisisbecausetheagentischoosingtoactinaselfishwayratherthanworkingtoprotecttherelationshiportheotherpartner.Finally,therelationshipfocusedmotiveofdeception.Thisdeceptionwillbeusedbytheagentin
thehopeoflimitinganyharmthatmightcometotherelationshipsimplybyavoidingrelationaltraumaandconflict.Dependingonthesituation,thisformofdeceptionwillsometimeshelptherelationshipandatothertimesitmightbethecauseofharmingtherelationshipbecauseitisgoingtomakethingsmorecomplicated.Forexample,ifyouchoosetohidehow
youarefeelingaboutsupperbecauseyoudonotwanttogetinafight,thismighthelptherelationship.Ontheotherhand,ifyouhadanaffairandchoosetokeepthisinformationtoyourself,itisonlygoingtomakethingsmorecomplicatedintheend.Regardlessoftheintentionofdeceptioninthe
relationship,itisnotrecommended.Theagentiswithholdinginformationthatmightbeimportanttothesubject;oncethesubjectfindsoutaboutit,theywillstarttolosetrustintheagentandwonderwhatelsetheagentishidingfromthem.Thesubjectisnotgoingtobetooconcernedforthereasonbehindthedeception,theywilljustbe
upsetthatsomethinghasbeenkeptfromthemandtherelationshipwillbegintohaveacrack.Itisoftenbesttostickwiththepolicyofhonestyintherelationshipandsurroundyourselfwithpeoplewhodonotpracticedeceptioninyoursocialgroup.
DetectingDeceptionIfthesubjectisinterested
inavoidingdeceptionintheirlifeinordertoavoidthemindgamesthatcomewithit,itisoftenagoodideatolearnhowtodetectwhendeceptionisgoingon.Often,itisdifficultforthesubjecttodeterminethatdeceptionisoccurringunlesstheagentslipsupandeithertellsaliethatisobviousorblatantortheycontradictsomethingthatthesubjectalreadyknows
tobetrue.Whileitmaybedifficultfortheagenttodeceivethesubjectforalongperiod,itissomethingthatwillcommonlyoccurineverydaylifebetweenpeoplewhoknoweachother.Detectingwhendeceptionoccursisoftendifficultbecausetherearenotreallyanyindicatorsthatarecompletelyreliabletotellwhendeceptionhappens.
Deception,though,iscapableofplacingalargeloadonthecognitivefunctioningoftheagentsincetheyaregoingtohavetofigureouthowtorecallallofthestatementsthattheyhavemadetothesubjectsothatthestoryremainsbelievableandconsistent.Oneslipupandthesubjectwillbeabletotellthatsomethingisnot
right.Becauseofthestrainofkeepingthestorystraight,theagentismuchmorelikelytoleakoutinformationtotipoffthesubjecteitherthroughnonverbalorverbalcues.Researchersbelievethatdetectingdeceptionisaprocessthatiscognitive,fluid,andcomplexandwhichwilloftenvarydependingonthemessage
thatisbeingexchanged.AccordingtotheInterpersonalDeceptionTheory,deceptionisaniterativeanddynamicprocessofinfluencebetweentheagent,whoworkstomanipulatetheinformationhowtheywantitsothatitisdifferentfromthetruth,andthesubject,whowillthenattempttofigureoutifthemessageisvalidornot.
Theagent’sactionsaregoingtobeinterrelatedtotheactionsthatthesubjecttakesaftertheyreceivethemessage.Duringthisexchange,theagentisgoingtorevealthenonverbalandverbalinformationthatwillcuethesubjectintothedeceit.Atsomepoints,thesubjectmaybeabletotellthattheagenthasbeenlyingtothem.
Itisnotalwayspossibletotellwhentheagentisbeingdeceptive.AccordingtoAlertVrij,anoteddeceptionscholar,therearenotanynonverbalbehaviorsthatareassociatedwithdeceptionuniquely.Whiletherearesomenonverbalbehaviorsthatcanbecorrelatedwiththeactofdeception,thesecuescanalsooccurwhen
otherbehaviorsarepresentsoitisdifficulttodetermineiftheagentisusingdeceptionunlesstheydoanoutrightlie.Anotherscholarofdeception,MarkFrank,proposesanotherideaofdeceptionthatincludeshowitcanbedetectedatthesubject’scognitivelevel.Whendeceptionoccurs,itrequiresa
consciousbehaviorthatisdeliberateonthepartoftheagentsothelisteningtowordsandpayingattentiontothebodylanguagethatisgoingonarebothcriticalwhentryingtodeterminingifsomeoneisdeceivingyou.Ifsomeoneoffersupaquestionandtheagentisnotwillingtoansweritdirectly,insteadusingsomeformofdisturbance,
hasapoorstructureoflogic,repeatswordsalot,anduseslesstimetalkingforthatparticularquestion,theyaremostlikelylying.Basically,therearenotmanysignsthatcanbeconsideredwhentryingtofigureoutwhendeceptionisoccurring.Thereareafewnonverbalsignsthatmightbepresentwhen
someoneisdeceiving,buttheymightalsohavesomeotherissuesuchasnervousnessorbeingshy.
MainComponentsofDeceptionWhileitmaybedifficulttodeterminewhichfactorsshowwhendeceptionisoccurring,therearesomecomponentsthataretypicalofdeception.Oftenthesubjectwillnotrealizethatthesecomponentshaveoccurredunlesstheagenthastoldanoutrightlieorbeencaughtinthe
actofdeceiving.Thesearecomponentsthatwillberecognizedlateroniftheagentisusingtheprocessofdeceptionintherightway.Thethreemaincomponentsofdeceptionincludecamouflage,disguise,andsimulation.
CamouflageThefirstcomponentofdeceptioniscamouflage.
Thisiswhentheagentisworkingtohidethetruthinanotherwaysothatthesubjectwillnotrealizethattheyaremissingtheinformation.Oftenthistechniquewillbeusedwhentheagentuseshalf-truthswhentheyaretellinginformation.Thesubjectwillnotrealizethatthecamouflaginghasoccurreduntillaterwhenthesetruthsarerevealedin
someway.Theagentwillbeskilledincamouflagingthetruthsothatitisreallydifficultforthesubjecttofindoutaboutthedeceptionbychance.
DisguiseDisguiseisanothercomponentthatcanbefoundintheprocessofdeception.Whenthisoccurs,theagentis
workingtocreateanimpressionofbeingsomethingorsomebodyelse.Thisiswhentheagentishidingsomethingaboutthemselvesfromthesubjectsuchastheirrealname,whattheydoforajob,whotheyhavebeenwith,andwhattheyareuptowhentheygoout.Thisgoesfurtherthanjustchangingtheoutfitthatsomeonewearsinaplayor
amovie;whendisguiseisusedintheprocessofdeception,theagentistryingtochangetheirwholepersonainordertotrickanddeceivethesubject.Thereareseveralexamplesthatcanillustratetheuseofdisguiseintheprocessofdeception.Thefirstisinrelationstotheagentdisguisingthemselves,
usuallyasanotherperson,sothattheyarenotrecognizable.Theagentmaydothisinordertogetbackintoacrowdofpeoplethatdoesnotlikethem,changetheirpersonalitiestomakesomeonelikethem,orforanotherreasontofurthertheirgoals.Insomecases,theworddisguisecanrefertotheagentdisguisingthetruenatureofaproposalin
thehopesofhidinganeffectormotivationthatisunpopularwiththatproposal.Oftenthisformofdisguiseisfoundinpropagandaorpoliticalspin.Disguisecanbeharmfulbecauseitishidingthetruenatureofwhatisgoingon.Iftheagentishidingwhotheyarefromthesubject,itcanbereally
difficultforthesubjecttodeterminewhotheyreallyare.Wheninformationiswithheldfromthesubject,itcloudsthewaythattheyareabletothinksincetheydonothavetherightinformationtomakelogicalchoices.Whilethesubjectmaythinkthattheyaremakinglogicalchoicesoftheirownfreewill,theagenthastakenawaykeyinformationthatmay
changethesubject’smind.
SimulationThethirdcomponentofdeceptionisknownassimulation.Thisconsistsofshowingthesubjectinformationwhichisfalse.Therearethreetechniquesthatcanbeusedinsimulationincludingdistraction,fabrication,andmimicry.
Inmimicry,orthecopyingofanothermodel,theagentwillbeunconsciouslydepictingsomethingthatissimilartothemselves.Theymayhaveanideathatissimilartosomeoneelse’sandinsteadofgivingcredit,theywillsaythatitisalltheirs.Thisformofsimulationcanoftenoccurthroughauditory,visual,andothermeans.
Fabricationisanothertoolthattheagentmayusewhenusingdeception.Whatthismeansisthattheagentwilltakesomethingthatisfoundinrealityandchangeitsothatitisdifferent.Theymaytellastorythatdidnothappenoraddinembellishmentsthatmakeitsoundbetterorworsethanitreallywas.Whilethecoreofthestory
maybetrue,yestheydidgetabadgradeonatest,itisgoingtohavesomeextrathingsputinsuchastheteachergavethemabadgradeonpurpose.Therealityisthattheagentdidn’tstudyandthatiswhytheygotthebadgradeinthefirstplace.Finally,distractionisanotherformofsimulationindeception.Thisiswhen
theagenttriestogetthesubjecttofocustheirattentiononsomethingotherthanthetruth;usuallybybaitingorofferingsomethingthatmightbemoretemptingthanthetruththatisbeingconcealed.Forexample,ifthehusbandischeatingandthinksthewifeisstartingtofindout,hemaybringhomeadiamondringtodistractherfromthe
issueforashortwhile.Theissuewiththistechniqueisthatitoftendoesnotlastlongandtheagentmustfindanotherwaytodeceivethesubjectinordertokeeptheprocessgoing.
ResearchonDeceptionDeceptionhasbecomeamajorpartofeverydaylife.Whethertheagentmeanstocauseharmornot,therearemanyinstanceswheredeceptionwillcreepintorelationshipsofallsorts.Theagentmaydeceivetheirbossinordertogetmoretimetofinishaproject;aspousemaydeceivetheirpartnerin
ordertonothurttheirfeelings.Whilemanycasesarenottocauseharm,theyarestillpresentinsociety.Becauseofthisprevalence,therehasbeenresearchdonetotryanddeterminewhyitoccursandwhomaybemorelikelytoperformtheacts.
SocialResearchSociallytherehasbeen
someresearchdonetoseetheeffectsofdeceptiononsociety.Thereareseveralmethodologiesfoundinsocialresearch,suchasinpsychology,whichdealdirectlywithdeception.Inthesemethodologies,theresearchersaregoingtointentionallymisinformormisleadtheirparticipantsintermsofwhatisreallygoingonintheexperiment.Thiskeepsthe
subjectsunawareastowhatisgoingonandwillhelptodeliverbetterresults.Astudythatwasdonein1963byStanleyMilgramshowshowdeceptionwillworkonpeople.Theagentstoldthesubjectsthattheywouldbehelpingoutinastudythatdealtwithlearningandmemory;inrealitythisstudywas
lookingathowwillingthesubjectsweretoobeyingcommandsofsomeonewhoisincharge,evenwhenthatobeyingmeantthattheywouldhavetoinflictpainupononeoftheothersubjects.Whilethepersonwhowasreceivingthepainwasjustanactoranddidnotreallygetharmedintheexperiment,itwasfoundthatthesubjectswouldinflictthe
highestavailablepainontheactoriftoldtodosobytheauthority.Attheendofthisstudy,thesubjectsweretoldwhatthestudy’struenaturewasandpeopleweregivenassistanceinordertoinsuretheyleftinastateofwell-being.Theuseofdeceptioninthisrolehasraisedalotofissueswithresearchethics.Currentlyitisbeing
regulatedbytheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationandotherprofessionalbodiestoensurethatthesubjectsarebeingtreatedfairlyandarenotreceivingundoharmintheprocess.
PsychologicalResearchPsychologicalresearchisthebranchthatwilluse
deceptionthemostbecausethisisnecessarytodeterminetheresultsthatwouldactuallyhappen.Therationalebehinddoingthisdeceptionstatesthathumansareverysensitivetothewaythattheymightappeartoothers,aswellastothemselves,andtheself-consciousnessthattheyfeelmaydistortorinterferewiththewaythesubjectwouldbehavein
normalcircumstancesoutsideofdoingtheresearchwheretheywouldnotfeelscrutinized.Thedeceptionismeanttomakethesubjectsfeelmoreateasesothattheagentisabletogetmoreaccurateresults.Forexample,theagentmightbeinterestedtofindoutwhatconditionsmightmakeastudentcheatona
test.Iftheagentasksthestudentoutright,itisnotverylikelythatthesubjectswouldadmittocheatingandtherewouldbenowayfortheagenttofigureoutwhoistellingthetruthandwhoisnot.Inthiscase,theagentwouldhavetousedistractioninordertogetanaccurateideaofhowoftencheatingoccurs.Theagentmightinsteadsaythestudyistofindouthow
intuitivethesubjectis;thesubjectmightevenbetoldduringtheprocessthattheymayhavetheopportunitytolookatsomeoneelse’sanswersbeforetheygivetheirown.Attheendofthisresearchthatinvolvesdeception,itisrequiredthattheagenttellsthesubjectwhatthetruenatureofthestudyisandwhythedeceptionwasnecessary.Also,most
agentswillalsoprovideaquicksummaryoftheresultsthatoccurredbetweenalloftheparticipantswhentheresearchisalldone.Althoughdeceptionisusedalotinthesekindsofresearchstudies,theyareboundbytheethicalguidelinessetoutbytheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,thereare
somedebatesaboutwhetherdeceptionissomethingthatshouldbepermittedatall.Somebelievethatallowingdeceptionisnotnecessaryanditiscausingharmtothesubjectswhoareparticipating.Othersbelievethattheresultswouldbeskewedifthesubjectsknewtheexactnatureofthestudyaheadoftime.Oftenthebiggest
issuewithusingdeceptioninastudyisnottheactualdeceptionitself.Rather,itistheunpleasanttreatmentthatisusedinastudyofthissort,aswellastheimplicationsofwhatisgoingtohappeninthestudythatisunpleasant.Thisisusuallytheunderlyingreasonwhysomeareagainstusingthesekindsofstudiesandwhyitisconsideredtobe
unethicalinnature.Anotherargumentagainsttheethicsofusingdeceptioninthesekindsofstudiesisthatthesubjecthasalreadygiventheirinformedconsenttoparticipateinthestudy.Theyhavebeenreadtherulesandregulationsthatgoalongwiththestudyandfeelliketheyareinformedenoughaboutthe
endresultsthatarewantedinordertosignawaiverinordertobegin.Itisarguedthatiftheagentisdeceivingthesubjectandleavingoutimportantinformationaboutthestudy,regardlessofifitisinthebestinterestofthestudy,thenthesubjectreallyisnotinformedtostartwith.Becauseofthis,thesubjectshouldnotbeparticipatinginthestudy
sincetheydidnotexplicitlygiveconsenttotheactualstudybeingconducted.Regardlessoftheargumentsthatareoutthereonthistopic,therehavebeensomeinterestingfindingswhenthesubjectsaredeceivedaboutthenatureofthestudy.Forexample,inregardstothestudymentionedaboveaboutcheating;ifthe
subjectshadbeentoldaboutthetruenatureofthestudyitisnotlikelythatmostofthemwouldhavecheated.Thiswouldbebecausenoneofthemwouldwanttobeseenasdishonestorfalsetoothersaroundthem.Thedeceptionallowedtheresearcherstoseewhatwouldhappeninarealworldapplication.In
addition,ifthesubjectsofthememorytestmentionedearlierintheguidebookknewthetruenatureaboutthatstudy,theywouldnothavebeenaslikelytolistentotheauthorityfigureandadministertheresultsthattheydid.Despitetheobjectionsthathavebeenformedaboutusingdeceptionin
research,theuseofdeceptionhasprovidedresearcherswithalotofinterestingresults.Theseresultsmaynothavebeenpossiblewithouttheuseofdeceptionsincethesubjectmayhavereactedinadifferentwaytothestudy.
PhilosophyPsychologymaybethemainreasonthatdeception
isusedinresearch,butthereisalsoalotofdeceptionthathasshownupinmodernphilosophy.Infact,deceptionisaveryregularoccurrenceinphilosophy.Forexample,inthemeditationsofDescartesthatwerepublishedin1641,thenotionofDeusdeceptorwasintroduced;thisnotionwassomethingthatwasabletodeceivetheego,
whenitwasthinkinglogically,aboutwhatwasgoingoninreality.Thisnotionwentontobeusedaspartofhishyperbolicdoubt;thisiswherethesubjectthenbeginstodoubteverythingthatisavailabletodoubtbecausetheyhavebeendeceivedinthepast.Often,skepticalargumentswillusethisDeusdeceptorastheirmainstayinordertoput
intodoubtorquestiontheknowledgeofrealitythatonepersonholds.Themainpartoftheargumentstatesthateverythingthesubjectknowsmaybewrongsinceitiseasytodeceivethesubject.Thisisjustoneofthecasesofdeceptionfoundinphilosophy.Manyworkshavebeenwrittenonthistopictryingtoexplain
exactlywhatitis,howitaffectsthesubject,andwaysthatthesubjectmaybeabletoavoidcomingincontactwithit.Therehasalsobeenalotofresearchdonetryingtodeterminewhendeceptionmaybefineandwhenitcanbeharmful.Thisisupforconsiderabledebate;somepeoplebelievethatalldeceptionisbadwhileothersseedeceptionin
ordertosavesomeone’sfeelingsasfineinsomecasessuchasahusbandwithholdingthefactthatsomeonesaidsomethingmeanabouttheirwife.
ConclusionThisguidebooktooksometimetoexplorethedifferenttypesofmindcontrolthatarepresentintheworldtodayaswellassomeofthemethodsandtechniquesthatgoalongwitheachkind.Eachofthemindcontroltechniquesworkinadifferentway.Brainwashingworksto
convincethesubjecttochangetheirwholeidentitywiththeuseofisolation,shaming,andeventuallyofferingawaytofeelbetterthatconformstothenewdesiredidentity.Hypnosisallowsthesubjecttoenteranewalteredstateofmindwheretheywillbemorelikelytobeperceptiveandopentonewideas.Ontheotherhand,
manipulationanddeceptionwillalterthecurrentthoughtprocessofthesubjectusingsubterfugeasaprimarytactic,whilepersuasioninvolvesinfluencingaperson'sbeliefs,attitudes,intentions,motivationsorbehaviors.Exceptforbrainwashinganddeception,mindcontrolisatoolthatcanbe
usedinapositivewaytoachieveone'sgoalsorobjectives.Italldependsonthetypeofmindcontrolthatisinvolvedandtheintentoftheindividualwhowantstoapplyit.Italsodependsonwhetherthetargetorsubjectofmindcontrolwillbenefitfromit.
OtherbooksavailablebypublisheronKindle,paperbackandaudio
WhyIsMyPartnerSoJealous?HowToIdentifyAndEffectivelyDealWithJealousy,Insecurity,LowSelf-EsteemAndTrustIssuesInYourRelationshipsEmotionalIntelligence:AGuideToManagingAnd
UnderstandingEmotionsWithinYourselfAndOthersToAchieveHappiness,GreatRelationshipsAndSuccessInLife!CognitiveBehavioralTherapy(CBT):HowToOvercomePhobias,Addictions,Depression,Anxiety,AndOtherProblematicDisorders
AnxietyManagementAndStressRelief:AnInDepthGuideOnHowToOvercomeAnxiety,Stress,AndDepressionInYourLifeMeditationAndMindfulness:TheSecretsToRaisingYourAwareness,SpiritualityAndInnerPeaceThroughMindfulnessMeditation
WhyWomenManipulateMen:UnderstandingHowAndWhyWomenChooseToUseManipulationOnMenSelfConfidence,SelfEsteem,AndSelfLove:HowToBuildUnbreakableConfidenceThroughSelfLoveAndByRaisingYourSelfEsteemOvercoming
Codependency:HowtoHaveHealthyRelationshipsandBeCodependentNoMoreEmotionallyAbusiveRelationshipsIdentifyingandEffectivelyDealingwithNarcissists,Sociopaths,PsychopathsandToxicPeopleManifestingAbundance:TheSecretPrinciplesOf
UsingTheLawOfAttractionToManifestWealth,Love,HappinessAndAnythingYouCanImagine