PROJECT PROPOSAL ON COERCIVE PERSUASION

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00184447
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: October 1, 1956

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su-BsEcTe......r:- -:-.--::�.-__--7-7. .-.' "Project Proposal on Coercive Persuasion � ' _ - '
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-I ' CIA Is considering" a. re search project on the above- stibject.% � - ,.....tt., � . . . _ _
A"bilef description of the project Is attached. May I hive all expression, �-�
_ of sour Interest in project artd any coeats you =lay care to =aka.:
by the close of 'business on IT October 1956. The present estimate for
enditure azain' st this,proje-ct isillIllr _2- - .. _ , ...... ,......,
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- . � -- 2: Certain resear'41whichltas been done in this and related
ifelile---will 'beim- ought to beer-in support of the project In so far as it
is pertinent. -t, ..5 4 - ALT, ,......-
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3 Please kee In mind that the relationahip between CIA and
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where the project will be
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Thei'project proprifia-tO Investigate the social 'role, the leant- guise;
-: and-the effecti-liknese,75,..c�coar.c ire-persuasion, .The study willitIislise the'
seffeii ot the "brainwashing"applied by Communist
regimeste.prisoiters of "wie as weltia the "broader role played by coercive
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persuasion vrithin Communist societies:tt,
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� - This war in Koiescbrouilit home to the U31b3r1 States the Urgent - �
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ta.isiedetiltand and t.;:fCeatz'qemzouiii., "brairiivashine: - If this
- - Is to -be 'brought oper,perspe
Vik no-ri ht into pr dive it must be reIated%.-
e employed by Communist
loCommunist regimes
to the tecbulti*--.-.1!...-..'`'er-"-Ire i - agriniit
their Aiiiirii4;opeatioitiso,-A study of coercive persuasion must also
be related to the psychology of the individuals Who submit to Or-resist-
efforts to induce IdeoIoecal change. : ,
Plan for the study. --.-.- The final product should include the following "
sections:
-
-'; The Tirst:section'ehould be primarily historical, containing �
- a chapter an the 'tomtit' iques of coercive persuasion employed
through the ages (e.g., extraction of confession, ideological
'indoctrination) and another chapter on the general role of coercive
.persuasion in Corarawiist societies (e.g., treatment of political
.:prisoners,--:ofrprisoners of war, of the population as a whole.)
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The second part should discuss the specific techniques
-adoptedby the Russian and Chinese; Communist leaders in dealing
with their populations, with political prisoners, and with prisoneri
of war.
'A third section Might present case material illustrating
the 'carious reed:Li:awns underlying ideological change or
resistanco-thUieto.-= Models of ideological change might be
constructed through the use of case histories. Data compiled
from previoua interviews of Americans released from Communist�
'Imprisonment should should be utilized and, if possible, a follow-up
series of interviews organized.
The final section could'explain some of the different
points of view from which the phenomenon of "brainwashing"
can be examined. A series of theoretical analyse should be
undertaken to show how the problem would be approached from
281,
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