Perfected Mind Control

I want to develop a system of mind control that does all or most of the
end results of traditional mind control but is absent of all the
coercive elements that are described in Robert Jay Lifton 's Eight
Point Model of Thought Reform.

This is a thought paper on a concept I've calling Perfected Mind
Control or PMC for short.
With PMC I want to develop a system of mind control that does all or
most of the end results of traditional mind control but is absent of all
the coercive elements that are described in Robert Jay Lifton 's Eight
Point Model of Thought Reform.

So, you see, I'm walking a fine line here but see something that could
have some promise.
Terminology note: Today Mind control or brainwashing in academia is
commonly referred to as coercive persuasion, coercive psychological
systems or coercive influence. The short description below comes from
Dr. Margaret Singer , professor emeritus at the University of California
at Berkeley the acknowledged leading authority in the world on mind
control and cults. This document, in substance, was presented to the
U.S. Supreme Court as an educational Appendix on coercive psychological
systems in the case Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology 89-1367 and
89-1361. The Wollersheim case was being considered related to issues
involving abuse in this area.

The Goal of Perfected Mind Control (PMC) is to completely minimize or
eliminate any perception of coercion while expanding the subjects
ability to choose. Is it mind control? Yes. It is designed so that the
subject gains greater control of their mind and a higher degree of
flexibility in their responses. Is PMC coercive? You be the judge.

Coercion is defined as, "to restrain or constrain by force..." Legally
it often implies the use of PHYSICAL FORCE or physical or legal threat.
This traditional concept of coercion is far better understood than the
technological concepts of "coercive persuasion" which are effective
restraining, impairing, or compelling through the gradual application of
PSYCHOLOGICAL FORCES.

A coercive persuasion program is a behavioral change technology applied
to cause the "learning" and "adoption" of a set of behaviors or an
ideology under certain conditions. It is distinguished from other forms
of benign social learning or peaceful persuasion by the conditions under
which it is conducted and by the techniques of environmental and
interpersonal manipulation employed to suppress particular behaviors and
to train others. Over time, coercive persuasion, a psychological force
akin in some ways to our legal concepts of undue influence, can be even
MORE effective than pain, torture, drugs, and use of physical force and
legal threats.

The Korean War "Manchurian Candidate" misconception of the need for
suggestibility-increasing drugs, and physical pain and torture, to
effect thought reform, is generally associated with the old concepts and
models of brainwashing. Today, they are not necessary for a coercive
persuasion program to be effective. With drugs, physical pain, torture,
or even a physically coercive threat, you can often temporarily make
someone do something against their will. You can even make them do
something they hate or they really did not like or want to do at the
time. They do it, but their attitude is not changed.

The phrase against their will implies that an individual has a clear
preset intention. The truth is that very very few people have thought
out their intentions to the degree that something else cannot be
suggested. As a central understanding of Perfected Mind Control this
concept allows for only the rare few who actually have a will to be
excluded from any influence.

This is much different and far less devastating than that which you are
able to achieve with the improvements of coercive persuasion. With
coercive persuasion you can change people's attitudes without their
knowledge and volition. You can create new "attitudes" where they will
do things willingly which they formerly may have detested, things which
previously only torture, physical pain, or drugs could have coerced them
to do.

The key to PMC is to present all new concepts in terms of learning and
all form of rejection in terms of judgment and prejudice

The advances in the extreme anxiety and emotional stress production
technologies found in coercive persuasion supersede old style coercion
that focuses on pain, torture, drugs, or threat in that these older
systems do not change attitude so that subjects follow orders
"willingly." Coercive persuasion changes both attitude AND behavior, not
JUST behavior.

THE PURPOSES AND TACTICS OF COERCIVE PERSUASION
Coercive persuasion or thought reform as it is sometimes known, is best
understood as a coordinated system of graduated coercive influence and
behavior control designed to deceptively and surreptitiously manipulate
and influence individuals, usually in a group setting, in order for the
originators of the program to profit in some way, normally financially
or politically.

The essential strategy used by those operating such programs is to
systematically select, sequence and coordinate numerous coercive
persuasion tactics over CONTINUOUS PERIODS OF TIME. There are seven main
tactic types found in various combinations in a coercive persuasion
program. A coercive persuasion program can still be quite effective
without the presence of ALL seven of these tactic types.

PURPOSE AND TACTICS OF 'PERFECTED MIND CONTROL
The purpose of PMC is to liberate the mind from automatic and
unconscious responses that are painful. The tactics are designed to have
a minimum of judgment and moralization to them so to cause minimal
discomfort. The tactics emphasize choice and self-awareness with a
constant invitation to leave and rejoin in the learning.

TACTIC 1. The individual is prepared for thought reform through
increased suggestibility and/or "softening up," specifically through
hypnotic or other suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: A.
Extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills; B. Excessive
exact repetition of routine activities; C. Decreased sleep; D.
Nutritional restriction.

In order for anyone to accept a new concept, yes, they must be softened
up . However with PMC this is done by simply pointing out the ways in
which a persons responses and choices are automatic and how the
automatic response limits their ability to choose.

TACTIC 2. Using rewards and punishments, efforts are made to establish
considerable control over a person's social environment, time, and
sources of social support. Social isolation is promoted. Contact with
family and friends is abridged, as is contact with persons who do not
share group-approved attitudes. Economic and other dependence on the
group is fostered. (In the forerunner to coercive persuasion,
brainwashing, this was rather easy to achieve through simple imprisonment.)

More subtle punishments have greater power. Stunned glaring silence for
example or merely looking at the floor with shaking the head have a
strong impact on the internal feelings of the subject. Also, simply
asking in a Dr. Phil type tone How has that been working for you?
will allow the subject to compare their automatic behavior with their
ideal response.

TACTIC 3. Disconfirming information and nonsupporting opinions are
prohibited in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics
to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An
"in-group" language is usually constructed.

Keeping the discussion on topic is important to PMC. That does allow
for debate and to a point debate should be encouraged. The central point
of PMC is on freedom and flexibility of choice. If debate turns the
topic away from that the subject should be acknowledged for contributing
and asked to return to the topic. If the distraction continues the
subject should be compassionately told that they aren't yet ready to
learn and that it's not their fault and asked to return at another time
or simply remain silent and listen.

TACTIC 4. Frequent and intense attempts are made to cause a person to
re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self
and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize
and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness,
world view, emotional control, and defense mechanisms as well as getting
them to reinterpret their life's history, and adopt a new version of
causality.

Perfected Mind Control instead focuses first on the subject to
re-evaluate any aspect of their life in any new way. The degree of
success is measured by how the subject responds positively to this new
(but perhaps even minor) insight. Thus making a paved path ready for any
further insights.

TACTIC 5. Intense and frequent attempts are made to undermine a person's
confidence in himself and his judgment, creating a sense of powerlessness.

As in pointing out times when their behaviors did not match up to their
stated values. While this does have some limited value the emphasis of
PMC is on the reward that comes from greater choices and increased
flexibility.

TACTIC 6. Nonphysical punishments are used such as intense humiliation,
loss of privilege, social isolation, social status changes, intense
guilt, anxiety, manipulation and other techniques for creating strong
aversive emotional arousals, etc.

In Perfected Mind Control this is completely avoided by making the only
punishment silence or shaking the head slightly while looking at the
ground. Silence without judgment so that the judgment can only be inferred.

TACTIC 7. Certain secular psychological threats [force] are used or are
present: That failure to adopt the approved attitude, belief, or
consequent behavior will lead to severe punishment or dire consequence,
(e.g. physical or mental illness, the reappearance of a prior physical
illness, drug dependence, economic collapse, social failure, divorce,
disintegration, failure to find a mate, etc.).

In Perfected Mind Control the only psychological threat is not being one
of us . This puts the subject into one of two other catagories them
and undecided . Old Mind control methods made it only us/them while the
the undecided allows the subject more ease to return to us . For the
people employing Perfected Mind Control this system has a bigger
picture. It creates a dichotomy for the us to rally against. And those
who are undecided can still be in the loop of communication.

In Perfected Mind Control people will be asked and encouraged to leave
the group to find out what more is out there . Their choice to return
or not is always respected. Those who return will do so with more
commitment and those who leave will still be in the loop of communication.
Another set of criteria has to do with defining other common elements of
mind control systems. If most of Robert Jay Lifton's eight point model
of thought reform is being used in a cultic organization, it is most
likely a dangerous and destructive cult. These eight points follow:

Robert Jay Lifton's Eight Point Model of Thought Reform

1.ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication
with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with
friends and family are taboo. "Come out and be separate!"

Perfected Mind Control discourage limitations such as move in with our
commune by making it hard to do unless under the right circumstances or
with only proper preparation. By doing this only the most committed will
attempt to do so while others are given a model to aspire. Perfected
Mind Control also encourages exposure to outside information within the
context of ...comparing it to what you now know with us . By doing this
the illusion of choice is always present.

2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes
convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through
a profound encounter / experience, for example, through an alleged
miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.

Perfected Mind Control will emphasize that the only higher purpose is
understanding that sense of right and wrong unconsciously filters what
they are able to learn. Therefore morality is a hindrance to learning.
And learning is the key to ultimate freedom and the flexibility to enjoy
and deal with anything that life gives you.

3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about
some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or personal
level. "Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is
committed."

In Perfected Mind Control (PMC) the demand for purity is replaced by the
demand to truly learn. To Truly learn can only be done by testing and
putting aside judgment.

4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to
members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the
group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the
group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.

The PMC model replaces confession of wrongs with exploration of wants,
needs and desires. This dynamic will automatically reveal what the
subject thinks they are doing wrong or want to improve without the overt
sense of guilt or shame. Guilt and shame fall into the category of Bad
Thing .

5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group's perspective is absolutely true and
completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject
to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.

For Perfected Mind Control the only truth that adequately explains
everything is that We experience the world only by perception.
Therefore if we can gain control of our perception we gain control of
our world.

6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the
group. Group members "think" within the very abstract and narrow
parameters of the group's doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops
members from thinking critically by reinforcing a "black and white"
mentality. Loaded terms and clich s prejudice thinking.

New vocabulary will emerge in any field of personal exploration and
should be expected. PMC is no different.

7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are
narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even
when experience contradicts the doctrine.

PMCs only doctrine is the commitment to self-exploration. All other
fields of study are permissible. This allows the subject to define their
own doctrine and discard it when needed to reform a new one.

8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group.
Those who leave the group are doomed.

Instead of only two categories of saved and doomed PMC allows for a
minimum of three catagories Those who get it. Those who don't want
it. and Those who don't know about it. this allows those who leave
the group to fall only into the category of Those who don't know about
it. and thus permits them to return. The Those who don't want it.
category is only used as a reference point or for those people who
advocate the opposite of freedom and flexibility.