fter the po
4h
The report that follows is a condensation of a study by train-
ing experts of the important classified and unclassified information
available on this subject.
BACKGROUND
Brainwashing, as a technique, has been used for centuries and
is no mystery to psychologists. In this sense, brainwashing means
involuntary re-education of basic beliefs and values. All people
are being re-educated continually. New information changes one's
beliefs. Everyone has experienced to some degree the conflict that
ensues when new information is not consistent with prior belief.
The experience of the brainwashed individual differs in that the in-
consistent information is forced upon the individual under controlled
conditions after the possibility of critical judgment has been re-
moved by a variety of methods.
There is no question that an individual can be broken psycholog-
ically by captors with knowledge and willingness to persist in tech-
niques aimed at deliberately destroying the integration of a personal-
ity. Although it is probable that everyone reduced to such a confused,
disoriented state will respond to the introduction of new beliefs, this
cannot be stated dogmatically.
PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN CONTROL AND REACTION TO CONTROL