What is Mind control?
[[File:Brainwashing 1, acrílico sobre lienzo, 100 x 80 cms.JPG|thumb|[[Satire|Satirical]] art about brainwashing]] '''Mind control''' (also known as brainwashing, [[Coercion|coercive]] [[persuasion]] or thought control) means trying to control other people's beliefs and behaviours. In this process, a person or group persuades others to change their basic beliefs and values.<ref> Kowal D.M. 2000. Brainwashing. In A.E. Kazdin (ed) ''Encyclopedia of psychology'', vol. 1 (pp. 463-464). American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10516-173</ref> They may use [[Ethics|unethical]] methods and [[wikt:Manipulation|manipulation]], which often harms the people being manipulated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csj.org/studyindex/studycult/cultqa.htm |title=Cults: Questions and Answers |first=Michael |last=Langone |work=www.csj.org |publisher=International Cultic Studies Association |accessdate=2009-12-27 |quote=Mind control (also referred to as 'brainwashing,' 'coercive persuasion,' 'thought reform,' and the 'systematic manipulation of psychological and social influence') refers 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. |archive-date=2016-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803145605/http://www.csj.org/studyindex/studycult/cultqa.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The term has been applied to any tactic which damages an individual's control over their own [[thinking]], behaviour, [[Emotion|emotions]], or decision-making. Theories about brainwashing and mind control were originally developed to explain how [[totalitarian]] regimes indoctrinated [[prisoners of war]] using [[propaganda]] and [[torture]]. == History == According to some authors, ideas about mind control can be found in all stages of [[human history]].<ref name=S>Sargant, William 1957. ''Battle for the mind: a physiology of brain-washing''. London: Heinemann. Especial