A REPORT ON COMMUNIST BRAINWASHING

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00173492
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: August 15, 1955

- .'-ei1'opc. rA41.42..".c.
1 _ ..,.. = __,,e...ipr:,,,Aqkg.,
vs...., qt4i6 .1p.",) The report that follows is a condensation of a study by train-
lug experts of the important classified and unclassified information
available on this sUbject.
.,,,� ',: v ir ,
�BACKDROUND_
Brainwashing, as a technique, has been used for centuries and
is no mystery, to psychologists. In this sense, brainwashing means
involutitory re-education of basic beliefs and values. .All people
are being re-educated continuously. New information changes oneks
beliefs. Everyone has experiencied to some degree the conflict that.
�Irws.10.1 new information is not consistent with prior belief.
The Ixperience 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-
'mood by a variety of methods.
There is no question that an individual can to broken psycholog-
teeny 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.
PfiliCIPLES OF HUMAN CONTROL AND REACTION TO COsTROL
There are progressive step, in exercising control over an individ-
eel and changing his behaviour and personality integration. The fol-
lowing five steps are typical of behaviour changes in any controlled
individualt
1. Making the individual aware of control is the first step in
changing his behaviour. A small child is made aware of the physical
and psychological control of his parents and quickly recognises that
an overwhelming force must be reckoned with. So, a controlled adult
comes to recognise the overwhelrAng powers of the state and the imr
personal, minearcerative" machinery in which he is enmeshed. The ln-
dlsidual recognises that definite limits have been put upon the ways
L.:.:F..1-,... � he can respond. �
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(1� � � ' i .
, f i I (t ,--Y0t10 � Arl 1 : Or�
: .- .1 � ,e,'
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2. Realisation of.his ccletedspendenc..upon.ihe controll-
n
, , e:Sys tele major f�or plieontro_ his,beha iriour.x,The con.%
trolledSidat:iefOiCr .anCepOihrli4tAhat7fonditobacco; praise,
and the..onlifeOciereCentiC�hiChiAdiattet come from the very in- '
terrogator who exercises control over him.
3. The awareness of coltrol and recognition of dependence re-
sult in causing internal conflict and breakdown of previous patterns
of behaviour. Although this transition can be relatively mild in
the case of a child, it is almost invariably severe for the adult
undergoing brainwashing. Only an individual who holds his values
lightly can change them easily. Since the brainwasher-interrogators
aim to hive;the:individualivUndergO4rofoUnd emotional change, they
'force4their-rictims-tOmiceout-4a140171ghat-is desired by the _
controlling individual. is likely to
have a mental breakdown characterised by delusions and hallucinat-
ions.
Discovery that there is an acceptable solution to his pro-
-is:Abe first stage of reducing the individual's conflict. It
,charrateristicallyreported:htvictims,of_brainwashing_that this
discovery led to an overwhelming feeling of relief that the horror
of internal conflict would cease and that perhaps they would not,
after all, be driven insane. It is at this point that they are pre-
pared to make major changes in their value-systems. This is an
automatic rather than a voluntary choice. They have lost their a-
bility to be critical.
5. Reintegration of viaues and identification with the cont-
rol,ting. system, is the final stage in changing the behaviour.of.the
.:Oontrolled individual; -A child who has learned a new, socially de-
sirable behaviour demonstrate' its'impOrtance by attempting to a4-
apt the new behaviour to a variety of other situations. Similar
states in the brainwashed adult are . �
emhis manne:rof,percekring, orgatim * and
-7.en.,-eventii,'-iii-virtnally independent of his former value-
Syliem.'-irEk.-lis:nOl.onger capable of thinking or speaking in concepts other
�..then thote he� has adopted. Be tends to identify by expressing thanks to
his captors for helping him see the light. Brainwashing can be achieved
'without using illegal means. Anyone willing to use known principles of
,.controlandreactions to control and capable of demonstrating the patience
--eded4inraising a child can probably achieve successful brainwashing.
,� � . �
-� �
COMMUNISTCONTHOL TECHNIQUES AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
description of, usual ,communist control tee) niques follows.
� . Interrogation. There are at
"interro-
gation" is tsed:-.
,a. Elicitation, which is designed to get the individual to �-
surrender-protected information, is a form of interrogation. One major
difference between elicitation and the interrogation used to achieve
Siiiiiashineis that the mind of the individual must be kept clear to
- permit coherent, undistorted disclosure of protected information.
b. Elicitation for the purpose of brainwashing consists of
questioning, argument, indoctrination, threats, cajolery, praise, hos-
tility, and a variety of other pressures. The aim of this interrogation
is to hasten.the,breakdown.of the individual's value-system and to encourage
the sWbstitution'of a different value-system. The procurement of protected
information iseecondary and is used as a device to increase pressure upon
individual. in this paper will refer,, in
' general, to this type. The "interrogator" is the individual who conducts
this type of interrogation and who controls the administrntion of the other
pressures. Be is the protagonist against whom the victim develops his con-
flict, and upon whom the victim develops a state of dependency as he seeks
some solution to his conflict.
2. Physical Torture and Threats of Torture. Two types of physical
-.torture are distinguishable more by their psychological affect in induc-
ing conflict than by the degree of painfulness:
a. The first type is one in which the victim. has a passive role
In the pain inflicted on him (e.g., beatings). His conflict involves the
-decision of whether or not to give in to demands in order to avoid further
-pain. Generally, brutality of this type was not found to achieve the
desired results. � Threats of torture were found more effective, as fear
of. pain causes greater conflict within the individual than does pain it-
self.
The seeonPtYPeof,torturaia:rePree_entedlor,requiring the
v,:du!,.�1.4o. stand in one(lip9t;fotoie.ver4,-40ur5 or,-,ase..1W,Ikome other
Kaln�indueinkrisition '401';11rriquirrient7M4tiiiingindeisAnthe indi- '
'IarliVer t Olie"*Tiasi;inteinal'act,oeresistance
eelmnjtot,osuptt# t passes and his
th his own
iginal -4trizthailoWito:*elgrt?tlifi:t is .causing,,the:,continuance of pain.
conflieVderelOWiritfiii":-the individual between hier moral: determination
and his desire to collapse and discontinue the pain. It is this extra
internal conflict, in addition to the conflict over whether or not to give
in to the demands made of him, that tends to make this method of torture
more effective in the breakdown of the individual personality.
3. Isolation. Individual differences in reaction to isolation are
probably greater than to any other method. Some individuals appear to
be able to withstand prolonged periods of isolation 'without deleterious
:.,effect,-while'a,relatively,short,periokotisolation:reduces others to
,A1*Werge of4sychosis:::Atetition wMileiiith'the 'Conditions of the iso-
lation cell. Some sources have indicated a strong reaction to filth and
vermin,' although they had negligible reactions to the isolation. Others .
.reacted violently to isolation in relatively clean cells. The predominant
cause of breakdown in such situations is a lack of sensory stimulation
'(1.e.,.'grayness of walls, lack of sound, absence of social contact, etc.).
UPerimental_sUbjects exposed4Othiscondition have reported vivid hal-
lu,Cinitiona'and overwhelming fetri'bf,losing-theWsinity� �
4. Control of Communication. This is one of the most effective
methods for creating a sense of hopelessness and despair. This measure
might well be considered the cornerstone of the communist system of con-
trol. It consists of strict regulation of the mail, reading materiala,
broadcast materials, and social contact available to the individual. The
need to communicate is so great that when the usual channels are blocked,
the individual will resort to any open channel, almost regardless of the
.implieations of using that particular channel. _Many POWs in Korea, whose
only act of "collboration"ness to sign petitions and "peace appeals,"
Aefended their actions on the ground that this was the only method of
letting the outside world know they were still alive. Many stated that
their norale and fortitude would have been increased immeasurably had
leaflets of encouragement been dropped to them. When the only contact
with the outside world is via the interrogator, the prisoner comes to
develop extreme dependency on his interrogator and hence loses another
prop to his morale.
Another wrinkle in control is the informer system.
,The recruitment of informers in Pal camps discouraged communication
ht every4WOr thOUght-of'reisiitlince
aWidainistration, lost faith in thlir
e AiiiAltieWedriadid','"untrusting individualism." Informers are
also Ustkatsaveratataget of brainwashing and elicitation to develop
. and maintain control the victims.
5. ,-Induction of Fatigue. This is a well-known devtce for breaking
will power and critical powers of judgent. Deprivation of sleep reaults
in more intense psychological debilitat on than does any other method of
engenderintfatigue, The communists va their methods. "Conveyor belt"
InterrogatiOali4thatt4ast 50.60 hours will make almcst any individual
� ,..�� ,
Prd-lire0out-there'is danger that-thiavill kill the victim. It is safer
� to conduct interrogations of 8-10 hours at night while forcing the prisoner
,.td"remain'avakedUrin4,the 'day. Additional interruptions in the remaining
2,311.ppra,pf: allotted sleep quickly reduce the most resilient individual.
AltarnateXiAMinietraionspf:drOg stimulants and depreasants hastens the
jorOzeaaX5Ijatigue,and-sharpenr-ithepsychological reactions of excitement
4Nm_A: �re04444&;416466 '
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Fatigue, in addition to reducing the will to .:esist, also produces
irritation and fear that arise from increased "slips of the tongue," for-
getfulness, and decreased ability to maintain orderly thought processes.
6. Control of Food, Water and Tobacco. The coutrolled individual
immade,intensely aware of his depenience upon his interrogator for the
qUalitrand'quantiti.of his food and tobacco. The exercise of this con-
tro1 usual114fO1150!aa:pattern No .food and little or no uater is per-
� 110"!.04hetindiVidiail-for'Siveral days. prior to interrogation. When the
prisoner first complains of this to the interrogator, the latter expresses
,surprise at such inhumane treatment. He makes a demand of the prisoner.
If the latter complies, he receives a good meal. /f he does not, he gets
a diet of unappetizing food containing limited vitamins, minerals, and
calories. This diet is supplemented occasionally by the interrogator if
the prisoner "cooperates." Studies of controlled starvation indicate
that the whole value-system of the subjects underwent a change. Their
irritation increasedastheir ability to think clearly decreased. The
control of tobacco presented an even greater source of conflict for heavy
-*-smokers. E*CSAMS tobacco is not necessary to life, being manipulated by
his craving for it can create in the individual a strong sense of guilt.
7. Criticism and Self-Criticism. These are mechanisms of communist
thought control. Self-criticism gains its effectiveness from the fact
that although it is not a crime for a man to be wrong, it is a major crime
to be stubborn andto refuseto learn. Many individuals feel intensely re-
lieved in being able to share their sense of guilt. Those individuals,
lOsm
8. Hypnosis and Diligs'es.Controls. 'There is no reliable evidence
that the 'communists are making Widespread use of drugs or hypnosis in
brainwashing or elicitation. The exception to this is the use of common
stimulants or depressants in inducing fatigue and Nood swings."
Other methods of control,ithich-When'Used in conjunction with the
basic processes, hasten the deterioration of prisoners. sense of values
and resistance are:
Requiring a case history or autobiography of the prisoner
rovides.amlie'of information for the interrogator in establishing and
"docUmenting". accusations.
b. Friendliness of the interrogator, when least expected, up-
,
*etlOhe,prisoner's ability, to maintaina critical attitude.
demands,,,SUChai.severelylimiting the allotted time
use Of toilet facilities or requiring the POW to kill hundreds of
flies, are harrassment methods.
d. Prisoners are often humiliated by refusing them the use of
toilet facilities during interrogation until they soil themselves. Often
prisoners were not perm:tted to bathe for weeks until they felt contempti-
ble.
e. Conviction_as.a var criminal appears to be a potent factor
in creating despair4n in individual. One official analysis of the pres-
sures exerted by the ChiComs on "confessors" and "non-confessors" to
,participation in bacteriological warfare in Korea stowed that actual trial
suul-conviction of "war crimes" was overwhelmingly associated with breakdown
and confession.
f. Attempted elicitation of protected information at various
times during the brainwashing proCess diverted the individual from aware-
ness of the deterioration of his value-system. The fact that, in most
cases the ChiComs did not vent or need such intelligence was not known
,
to the prisoner. Ris attempts to protect such information was made at
the expense of hastening his own breakdown.
"SCHEDULE" FOR BRAINWASHING
many entary accounts reviewed, the following appears
description of what occurs during brainwashing.
rio&ciiiadiately capture, the captors are fazed
their:MAW'of, deciding on beat ways of exploitation of the prisoners.
0ieZ4Me.t Amdtment,i&similarOxth for those who are to be exploited
_-�hrOliliqilitit'fitiOeind:thosirWfinr'ire to undergo brainwashing. Concurrently
with biting interrogated and required to write a detailed personal history,
the prisoner undergoes a physical and psychological "softening-up" which
includes: united unpalatable food rations, withholding of tobacco, possi-
ble work details, sevekely inadequate use of toilet facilities, no use of
facilities for personal cleanliness, limitation of sleep such as requiring
a subject to sleep with a bZight light in his eyes. Apparently the inter-,
rogat4PPYad'fitOklographiclil,material, the reports of the prisoner's be-
haviour ; confineMent� and tentative 'personality typing" by the interro-
orpridet1 Xisieufon.which exploitation plans are made.
There is a,majorydifference between preparation for elicitation and
"
for brainwashingPridonereexploited through elicitation must retain suffi-
cient clarity of thought to be able to give coherent, factual accounts. In
brainwashing, on the other hand, the first thing attacked is clarity of
thought. To develop a strategy of defense, the controlled individual must
determine what plans have been made for his exploitation. Perhaps the best
cuemherzan:get are his internal reactions to the pressures he undergoes.
The Most important espect of the brainwashing process is the interro-
'gation. The other pressures are designed vimarily to help the interrogator
achieve his goals. The following states are created systematically within
the individual.- These may vary in order, but ell are necessary to the
brainwashing process:
- 1. A feeling of helplessness in attempting to deal with the impersonal
machinery of control.
2. An initial reaction of "surprise."
3. A feeling. of uncertainty about what is required of him.
b. A developing feeling of dependence upon the interrogstor.
5. A serum of doubt and a loss of objectivity.
6. Feelings of guilt.
questioning attitude toward his own value-system
A feeling of potential "breakdown," i.e., that he might go crazy.
. A need to defend his acquired principles.
A final sense of "belonging" (identification).
,,*A. feelingof helplessness, ace�of,theimpersonal machinery
oficoMti011iZei'iefully.engenderervithithe'prisoner.� The individual
receives the, prelimimaryptreatment, described above not only begins
,feel like an "animal" but also that nothing can be done about
No one pays any personal attention to him. His complaints fall on
deaf ears. His loss of comunication, if he has been isolated, creates
s4feeling that he has been "forgotten." Everything that happens to him
occurs according to an impersonal time schedule that has nothing to do
thAikt_need847126 "icl#54nIKP�*FP#4044ifi*OsnraMuted. He
� =tea inemy contrasts, e.g., his greasy, 'unpalatable food may be served
on battered tin dishes by guards immaculately dressed in white. The
first steps in "depersonalization" of the prisoner have begun. He has
no idea what to expect. Ample opportunity is allotted for him to ruminate
upon all the unpleasant or painful things that could happen to him. He
approaches the main interrogation with mixed feelings of relief and
Tright:.
Surprise is commonly used in the brainwashing process. The prisoner
s rarely prepared for the fact that interrogators are usually friendly
and considerate at first. They make every effort to demonstrate that
they are reasonable human beings. Often they apologize for bad treatment
received by the prisoner and promise to improve his lot if he, too, is
reasonable. This behaviour is not what he has steeled himself for. He
lets down some of his defenses and tries to take a reasonable attitude.
The first occasion he balks at satisfying a request of the interrogator,
however, he is in for another surprise. The formerly reasonable inter-
rogator unexpectedly turns into a furious maniac. The interrogator is
likely to slap the prisoner or draw his pistol and threaten to shoot him.
Usually this storm of emotion ceases as suddenly as it began and the in-
terrogator stalks from the room. These surprising changes create doubt'
in the prisoner as to hie very ability to perceive another person's moti-
vations correctly. His next interrogation probably will be marked by im-
passivity in the interrogator's mien.
A feeling of uncertainty about what is required of him is likewise
carefully engendered within the individual. Pleas of the prisoner to
learn specifically of what he is accused and by whom are side-stepped by
tT
the interrogator. Instead, the prisoner is asked to tell why be thinks
he is held and what be feels be is guilty of. If the prisoner fails to
come up with anything, he is accused in terms of generalities (e.g.,
espionage, sabotage, acts of treason against the "people"). This us-
ually provokes the prisoner to make some Statement about his activities.
If thiajakes-the-form of a denial, he is usually sent to isolation on
further decreased food rations to "think over" his crimes. This process
c'in,b0';elieStiCaris*.and again., As soon as the prisoner can think of
a?Meth.ingAbt*ght:bmconsidered self-incriminating, the interrogator
ajpeari is asked to write down his
� statement in his own words and iiSa it.
)Ieanwhile a'stongmense Of dependence upon the interrogator is
developed. It, does not take long for the prisoner to realize that the
interrogator is source of allinnlishment, all gratification, and all
O21114tioiaThii:liteiriOgator; meanwhile, demonstrates his unprediet-
.4abilitk:liSitisiperceiiet'by,the prisoner as a creature of whim. At� .
'iimegGithe'interrogatOr can be pleased very easily and at other times
no effort on the part of the prisoner will placate him. The prisoner
may begin to channel so much energy into trying to predict the behaviour
of the unpredictable interrogator thAt he loses track of what is happen-
ing inside himself.
Atter,the. prisoner has developed the above psychological and emotional
reactions to 'sufficient degree, the brainwashing begins in earnest.
:OrirstitW-PriOner's.i,iretaining critical faculties must be destroyed.
'fle:.UndergOetiOng,'IitigUinglinterrogations while looking at a bright
light. ES ii called back again and again for interrogations after minimal sIeepHeelay undergo torture that tends to create internal con-.
flict. Drugs maybe used to accentuate his 'mood swings." He develops .
depression when the interrogator is being kind and becomes euphoric when
the interrogator is threatening the direst penalties. Then the cycle is
reversed. The prisoner finds himself in a constant state of anxiety
which prevents him from relaxing even when he is permitted to sleep. .
Short periods of isolation now bring on visual and auditory hallucinations;
The prisoner feels himself losing his objectivity. /t is in this state
that the prisoner must keep.up an endless argument with his interrogator.
Be may be faced with the confessions of other individuals who "collabo- �
rated" With his in his crimes. The prisoner seriously begins to doubt
his own memory. This feeling is heightened by his inability to recall
little things like the names of the people be-knows very well or the date
of his birth. The interrogator patiently sharpen/ this feeling of doubt
by more questioning. This tends to create a serious state of uncertainty
when the individual has lost most of his critical faculties.
,
e..1-prisOner must �undergo additional. internal When strong
of guilt , ,
psychiatri t;
ervidemellAire4161474:-
_ ar ,vtln morally justify
44,AA".� -40P4-#31 ##T-
ljeAri*.aff*r ...#44-gq,01405k-IYgrounds.4ofnedes-,
o selMiefinie1W7h-a1nterrOixtiedarefizet6iirCUMVintilich
tification.'He keeps the interrOgation directed towards the prisoner's
moral code. Every moral vulnerability is exploited by incessant question-
ing along this line until the prisoner begins to question the very fun-
damentals ofhis own value-system. The prisoner must constantly fight a
potential bretEdown. Be finds that his mind is "going blank" for longer
and longer periods of time. He cannot think constructively. If he is
� to maintain any semblance of psychological integrity, he must bring to
'fan,end this state of interminable internal conflict. He signifies a
willingness, to write a confession.
If :171"
,thiavert truly the end, no brainwashing would have occurred.
a'.individuaI would simply have given in to intolerable pressure. A.c-;.
thefinal stage of the brainwashing process has just begun. No'
matter what the prisoner writes in his confession the interrogator is
nOt satisfied. Tht interrogator questions every sentence of the confes-
sion.;-Be begins to edit it with the prisoner. The prisoner is forced
�0784.S.,F.gainst every change.. This-is,the essence, of brainwashing.
,ertiae,that he gives in on a point to the interrogator, ' he umst re-.
--yritiehlawhole confession. Still the interrogator is not satisfied.
In a despez ate attempt to maintain some semblance of integrity and to
avoid further brainwashing, the prisoner must begin to argue that what
he has already confessed is true. He begins to accept as his own the
statements he has written. He uses many of the interrogator's earlier
arguments to buttress his position. By this process, identification
with the interrogator's value-system becomes complete. It is extremely
-important to recognize that a qualitative change has taken place within
,the4rieoner/he_brainwashed victiladoes not consciously change his
Vilue-spitemiqather the change occurs despite his efforts.. He is no
more responsible for this change than is an individual who "snaps" and
becomes psychotic. And like the psychotic, the prisoner is not even
aware of the transition.
DEFENSIVE MEASURES OTHER THAN ON THE POLICY AND PLANNING LEVEL
1. Training of individuals potentially subject to communist control.
.Training should provide for the trainee a realistic appraisal
of what control pressures the communists are likely to exert and what
the usual human reactions are to such pressures. The trainee must learn
10
the most effective ways of coMbatting his own reactions to such pressures
an be must learn reasonable expectations as to what his behaviour should
be. Training has two decidedly positive effects: first, it provides thc
trainee with ways of combatting control; second, it provides the basis
for developing an immeasurable boost in morale. Any positive action that
the individual can take, even if it is only slightly effective, gives him
a sense of control over a situation that is otherwise controlling him:
Training must provide the individual with the means of recognizing
_
realistic goals . -
a. Delay in yielding may be the only achievement that can be
hoped for. In any particular operation, the agent needs the support of
. knowing specifically how long he must hold out to save an operation, pro-
tect his cohorts, orzain:some other goal.
b. The individual should be taught how to achieve the most favor-
_
able*treatment:an&bov::tobehave and make the necessary concessions to
obtain minimum penalties.
c. Individual behavioural responses to the various communist
control pressures differ markedly. Therefore, each trainee should know
his own particular assets and limitations in resisting specific pressures.
Ike can learn, these only under laboratory conditions simulating the actual
pressures - he may have to face.
d. Training must provide knowledge of the gcls and the restric-
tions placed upon his Communist interrogator. The trainee should know
what controls are on his interrogator and to what extent he can manipulate
the interrogator. For example, the interrogator is not permitted to fail
to gain "something" from the controlled individual. The knowledge that,
after the victim has proved that he is a "tough nut to crack" he can sote-
times indicate that be might compromise on some little point to help the
interrogator in return for more favorable treatment, may be useful in-
deed. Above all, the potential victim of communist control can gain a
great deal of psychological support from the knowledge that the communist
interrogator is not a completely free agent who can do whatever he wills
with his victim.
e. The trainee must learn what practical cues might aid him in
recognizing the specific goals of his interrogator. The strategy of defense
against elicitation may differ markedly from the strategy to prevent
brainwashing. TO prevent elicitation, the individual may hasten his own
state of mental confusion; whereas, to prevent brainwashing, maintaining
clarity of thought processes is imperative.
OA 53-37
!Ntralme 'should obtain know edgeehout.communist%"carrots"
L l�emonstPib3e fact .,
h.8Uld' do much to tor=
e!rtjttilikOh
1c Wtheotheehind Crraiirieiningless'cOnnessions
will goner svgood meal.'
g. In particular, it should be emphasized to the trainee that,
although little can be done to control the pressures exerted upon him, he
can learn something about controlling his personal reactions to specific
pressures. The trainee can gain inch from learning something about in-
ternal conflict and conflict-producing mechanisms. He should learn to
recognize when someone is trying ar,o77fee.74gs and what be-
havioural reactions can occur as a response to guilt.
..rinally,-traiangzmat teiCh'Some:method,s that can be utilized
in thwartingtparticularcommunist control techTtlilues:'-
Elicitation. In general, individuals who are the hardest to inter-
rogate for information are those who have experienced previous interroga-
tions. Prentice in being the victim of interrogation is a sound train-
rture. The trainee should learn something about the principles of
and shock. There is a maximum to the amount of pain' that can actually
be felt. Any amount of pain can be tolerated for a limited period of
time. In addition, the trainee can be fortified by the knowledge that there
.are legal limitations upon the amount of torture that can be inflicted
by communist jailors.
Isolation. The psychological effects of isolation can probably be
thwarted best by mental gymnastics and-systematic efforts on the part of
the isolate to obtain stimulation for his neural end organs.
�
Controls on Food and Tbbacco. Food given by the communists will
always be enough to maintain survival. Sometimes the victim gets unex-
pected opportunities to supplement his diet with special minerals, vitamins
and other nutrients (e.g., "iron" from the rust of prison bars). /n some
instances, experience has shown that individuals could exploit refushl to
eat. Such refusal usually resulted in the transfer of the individual to
a hospital where he received vitamin injections and nutritious food. Evi-
dently attempts of this kind to commit suicide arouse the greatest concern
in communist officials. If deprivation of tobacco is the control being
exerted, the victim can gain moral satisfaction trot "giving up";talacco.
Re can't lose since he is not likely to get any anyway.
s plearmreactions tor'fatigue and how to
overcole Ptr example, mild physical exercise
"clears the head" in a fatigue state.
Writing Personal Accounts and Self-Criticism. Experience has in-
dicated that one of the most effective ways of combatting-these pressures
is to enter into the spirit -with an overabundance of enthusiasm. Endless
written accounts of inconsequential material has virtually "smothered"
some eager interrogators. In the same spirit, sober, detailed self-
-critici- themost,minuta:-- sins has sometimes 4ought good results.
Guidance asttthrirityof positions he should defend. Perfectly
compatiblaRi4s*oriabilities4n the� normal execution of an individuals
dutiesanybecaseranatally incompatible in this situation. Take the ex-
ample of a senior grade military officer. He has knowledge of sensitive
strategic intelligence which it is his duty to protect. Be has the respon-
sibility'ofmaintaining:th4pyisical..fitness of his men and
"Ireluaap*�iii-IniTtheirtbegaiioura The officer may go serving as
he camp
t:top;Otest'tbi4"aritment'of the POWs and the commandant as-
sureetim' that treatment improved if he will swap something for
it. Thus to satisfy one responsibility he must compromise another. The
officer, in short, is in a constant state of internal conflict. But if -
the officer is given the relative priority of his different responsibilities,
he is supported by the knowledge that he won't be held as pccountable for
any other behaviour if he doeshis utmost to carry out his highest priority
, responsibility,- There is considerable evidence that many individuals.
tried to evaluate the priority'of their responsibilities on their own,
but were in..conflict,overVbether others would subsequently accept their
,eiraluationWINO:ifethanOnei individual was probably brainwashed while he
was trying to protect himself against elicitation.
CONCLUSIONS
The application of known psychological principles can lead to an
understanding of brainwashing.
.1. There is nothing mysterious about personality changes resulting
-from the brainwashing process..
2. Brainwashing is a complex process. Principles of motivation,
perception, learning, and physiological deprivation 'are needdd-t6-acconnt.
' for the results achieved in brainwashing.
1.; -Brainwashing is an involuntary re-education of the fundamental
,bellefs of the individual. TO attack the problem successfully, the brain-
washing process must be differentiated clearly from general education
methods for thoughtrcontrOl:or nose indoctrination, and elicitation.
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