Changes

The term [[mind]] control (also referred to as “'''brainwashing''',” “coercive [[persuasion]],” “thought reform,” and the “systematic [[manipulation]] of [[psychological]] and social [[influence]]”) refers (according to Michael Langone) "to a [[process]] in which a [[group]] or [[individual]] systematically uses unethically manipulative [[methods]] to persuade others to [[conform]] to the wishes of the manipulator(s), often to the detriment of the [[person]] being manipulated .[1] Various commentators identify broad ranges of psychological tactics seen as subverting individuals' sense of control over their own [[thinking]], [[behavior]], [[emotions]], or [[decision]] making.

The term [[mind]] control (also referred to as “'''brainwashing''',” “coercive [[persuasion]],” “thought reform,” and the “systematic [[manipulation]] of [[psychological]] and social [[influence]]”) refers (according to Michael Langone) "to a [[process]] in which a [[group]] or [[individual]] systematically uses unethically manipulative [[methods]] to persuade others to [[conform]] to the wishes of the manipulator(s), often to the detriment of the [[person]] being manipulated .[1] Various commentators identify broad ranges of psychological tactics seen as subverting individuals' sense of control over their own [[thinking]], [[behavior]], [[emotions]], or [[decision]] making.

[[Theories]] of brainwashing and of mind control originally developed to explain how [[totalitarian]] regimes appeared to succeed systematically in indoctrinating [[Solitary confinement|prisoners of war]] through propaganda and [[torture]] [[techniques]]. These theories were later expanded or modified to explain a wider range of [[phenomena]], especially [[conversions]] to [[new religious movements]] (NRMs). Since their application to NRMs, mind control theories have become controversial within [[scientific]] and [[legal]] [[contexts]]; Both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychological_Association American Psychological Association] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sociological_Association American Sociological Association] have found no scientific [[Value|merit]] in them.[2]

[[Theories]] of brainwashing and of mind control originally developed to explain how [[totalitarian]] regimes appeared to succeed systematically in indoctrinating [[Solitary confinement|prisoners of war]] through propaganda and [[torture]] [[techniques]]. These theories were later expanded or modified to explain a wider range of [[phenomena]], especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_conversion conversions] to [[new religious movements]] (NRMs). Since their application to NRMs, mind control theories have become controversial within [[scientific]] and [[legal]] [[contexts]]; Both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychological_Association American Psychological Association] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sociological_Association American Sociological Association] have found no scientific [[Value|merit]] in them.[2]

==The Korean War and the origin of brainwashing==

==The Korean War and the origin of brainwashing==

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] records its earliest known [[English]]-language usage of "brainwashing" in an article by Edward Hunter in New Leader published on 7 October 1950. During the [[Korean War]], Hunter, who worked at the time both as a journalist and as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence Agent U.S. intelligence agent], wrote a series of [[books]] and articles on the theme of Chinese brainwashing.[3]

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] records its earliest known [[English]]-language usage of "brainwashing" in an article by Edward Hunter in New Leader published on 7 October 1950. During the [[Korean War]], Hunter, who worked at the time both as a journalist and as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence Agent U.S. intelligence agent], wrote a series of [[books]] and articles on the theme of Chinese brainwashing.[3]