Mind Control

Is it possible for one human to control another human's mind?
In what ways would mind control be either beneficial or detremental?
Would mind control be legal?
Are studies and research being conducted that are investigating mind control?
Is the ability to take over another human's mind ethical?

The use of mind control should not ever be permitted.
Morality


Existence/How it Works
http://www.factnet.org/Thought_Reform_Exists.htm

• Mind control exists through "coersive persuasion"
• The effctiveness of the control usually depneds on the relationship between a leader and his/her followers
• Physical harm or punishment is not used

http://www.factnet.org/coercion.html

• Mind control includes braiwashing, thought reform, and coersive persuasion
• Uses humiliation, repetition, and sleep deprivation to increase control
• A "cult", or a destructive group looking to use mind control, usually leads the operation

http://www.factnet.org/rancho2.htm#four

• The effects of mind control vary from person to person depending on the individual's psychological state, past memories, and personality
• Victims of mind control often join a cult that they believe is something different or more beneficial to them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control

• It is believed that the idea of mind control originated from the Chinese in the Korean War.
• American POWs were put through humiliation, peer pressure, and given promises of better conditions if they would release war informaton
• Forensic psychologist Dick Anthony claimed that the CIA termed the phrase "brainwashing" after the war to give a reason for the prisoners' admissions to communist loyalty

http://www.onlinecourses.org/2009/07/20/25-scary-facts-about-brainwashing/

• The Chinese attempted to use mind control after Chinese Communists took control over their country in 1949
• Isolation, guilt, stress, and the pursuit of perfection are usually imposed upon victims

Use
http://www.factnet.org/Thought_Reform_Exists.htm

• The goal is to produce specific attitudinal and behavioral changes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA#Revelation

• The CIA conducted Project MKULTRA in the early 1950's to approximately1964.

http://www.mediamonitors.net/harunyahya42.html

• The Nazis used brainwashing techniques in the forms of biased  movies, books, posters, and history in order to help gain support in their conquest to eliminate Jewish societies

Effects
http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/war/mkultra/mkultra_article1.shtml

• In cases such as Project MKULTRA, it was apparent that drug-related methods of brainwashing mainly created amnesia and only a temporary relaxation of a victim's awareness of the situation

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_0000/ai_2699000045/

• Brainwashing needs to be practiced for long periods of time in order to increase effectiveness
• Most brainwashing victims recover from their altered mindset after they are removed from their hostile environment

http://www.cultnews.com/archives/000026.html

• In the case of the infamous abduction of Elizabeth Smart in 2002, the fourteen-year-old girl undertook the new name, "Augustine"
• Elizabeth was seen by many witnesses as being very cooperative with her captors in public and she "acted like she was part of the family".Associated Press
• The police who talked to Ms. Smart said that she was also speaking in a biblical language