Changes

Hunter and those who picked up the Chinese term used it to explain why, unlike in earlier [[wars]], a [[relatively]] high percentage of American GIs defected to the enemy side after becoming prisoners-of-war. It was believed that the Chinese in North Korea used such [[techniques]] to disrupt the ability of captured troops to effectively organize and [[resist]] their imprisonment.

Hunter and those who picked up the Chinese term used it to explain why, unlike in earlier [[wars]], a [[relatively]] high percentage of American GIs defected to the enemy side after becoming prisoners-of-war. It was believed that the Chinese in North Korea used such [[techniques]] to disrupt the ability of captured troops to effectively organize and [[resist]] their imprisonment.

==New religious movements (NRMs) and the shift of focus==

==New religious movements (NRMs) and the shift of focus==

After the [[Korean war]] applications of mind control [[theories]] in the United States shifted in [[focus]] from [[politics]] to [[religion]]. Starting in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s 1060's] an increasing number of American youths were coming into contact with [[new religious movements]], and those who converted suddenly adopted [[beliefs]] and [[behaviors]] that differed greatly from those of their [[Family|families]] and [[friends]]; in some cases they neglected or even broke contact with their loved ones. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] the anti-[[cult]] [[movement]] applied mind control theories to explain these sudden and seemingly dramatic [[religious]] conversions.[6][7][8] The [[media]] was quick to follow suit,[9] and social scientists sympathetic to the anti-cult movement, who were usually psychologists, developed more sophisticated [[models]] of brainwashing.[7] While some psychologists were receptive to these theories, [[sociologists]] were for the most part skeptical of their ability to explain conversion to NRMs.[10] In the years that followed, brainwashing controversies developed between NRM members, various academic [[researchers]], and cult critics.

After the [[Korean war]] applications of mind control [[theories]] in the United States shifted in [[focus]] from [[politics]] to [[religion]]. Starting in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s 1960's] an increasing number of American youths were coming into contact with [[new religious movements]], and those who converted suddenly adopted [[beliefs]] and [[behaviors]] that differed greatly from those of their [[Family|families]] and [[friends]]; in some cases they neglected or even broke contact with their loved ones. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] the anti-[[cult]] [[movement]] applied mind control theories to explain these sudden and seemingly dramatic [[religious]] conversions.[6][7][8] The [[media]] was quick to follow suit,[9] and social scientists sympathetic to the anti-cult movement, who were usually psychologists, developed more sophisticated [[models]] of brainwashing.[7] While some psychologists were receptive to these theories, [[sociologists]] were for the most part skeptical of their ability to explain conversion to NRMs.[10] In the years that followed, brainwashing controversies developed between NRM members, various academic [[researchers]], and cult critics.

 

==Theories of mind control and religious conversion==

==Theories of mind control and religious conversion==

Over the years various theories of conversion and member retention have been proposed that link mind control to NRMs, and particularly those religious [[movements]] referred to as "[[cults]]" by their [[critics]]. These theories resemble the [[original]] [[political]] brainwashing theories with some minor changes. For instance Philip Zimbardo discusses mind control as "the [[process]] by which [[individual]] or [[collective]] freedom of [[choice]] and [[action]] is compromised by [[agents]] or agencies that modify or distort [[perception]], [[motivation]], affect, [[cognition]] and/or [[behavior]]al outcomes,"[11] and he suggests that any [[human being]] is susceptible to such manipulation.[12] In a 1999 book Robert Lifton also applied his original [[ideas]] about thought reform to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum_Shinrkyo Aum Shinrikyo], concluding that in this [[context]] thought reform was possible without [[violence]] or physical [[coercion]]. Margaret Singer, who also spent time studying the [[political]] brainwashing of Korean prisoners of war, agreed with this conclusion: in her book ''Cults in Our Midst'' she describes six conditions which would create an atmosphere in which thought reform is possible.[13]

Over the years various theories of conversion and member retention have been proposed that link mind control to NRMs, and particularly those religious [[movements]] referred to as "[[cults]]" by their [[critics]]. These theories resemble the [[original]] [[political]] brainwashing theories with some minor changes. For instance Philip Zimbardo discusses mind control as "the [[process]] by which [[individual]] or [[collective]] freedom of [[choice]] and [[action]] is compromised by [[agents]] or agencies that modify or distort [[perception]], [[motivation]], affect, [[cognition]] and/or [[behavior]]al outcomes,"[11] and he suggests that any [[human being]] is susceptible to such manipulation.[12] In a 1999 book Robert Lifton also applied his original [[ideas]] about thought reform to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum_Shinrkyo Aum Shinrikyo], concluding that in this [[context]] thought reform was possible without [[violence]] or physical [[coercion]]. Margaret Singer, who also spent time studying the [[political]] brainwashing of Korean prisoners of war, agreed with this conclusion: in her book ''Cults in Our Midst'' she describes six conditions which would create an atmosphere in which thought reform is possible.[13]