Mind Control and Mass Hypnosis in T2K

[General Pain]

Just found this: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=-6KGZ4UQjgc


And it got me thinking, when you can use mass hypnosis on that scale, what wouldn't you be able to achive in a post-apocalyptic scenario.

REF:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-Linguistic_Programming

http://www.factnet.org/rancho1.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/mkdoctable.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/subliminal-posthypnotic-scripts-nsa.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/mind-has-no-firewall.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/microwave-mindcontrol.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/ciabwash.htm

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/howarepeople-controlled.htm

http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/brainwashing.html

http://www.illuminati-news.com/detect-mindcontrol.htm

[copeab]

Just toss in the psioncs rules from Dark Conspiracy ...

[Targan]

Because the system I use is derived from Harnmaster it was natural that we left in the psionics rules but they are incredibly rare and I only allow those psionic talents that can be explained in other ways. For instance Captain Lamont, the uber-crusty USMC veteran NPC in my campaign has prescience but nobody thinks of him as being psionic, they just know that he has an uncanny ability to detect ambushes and unseen hazards. Another (now deceased) character had psychometry and simply seemed to others to be a natural tracker.

[Marc]

Just toss in the psioncs rules from Dark Conspiracy ...

In "Traveller: The New Era" you will find rules for psionic powers, too. I like both "Dark Conspiracy" and "Traveller:TNE" as a separate games but the chance to use some of their specific rules in a T2K game (the three with the same set of rules) is a bonus point.

[General Pain]

well...

I wasn't looking for a discussion on psionics, since I allready have designed rules for that...I was looking more for a discussion on brainwashing a-la :

Charles Manson
fundamentalist religious groups (like the youtube video provided)
stuff like that...

thanx for input anyway...

the harnmaster system is kind of intriguing,,,,

[Targan]

I wasn't looking for a discussion on psionics, since I allready have designed rules for that...I was looking more for a discussion on brainwashing...

I'm always on guard when GMing my campaign because the player of Major Po is a psychologist in RL and as both a player and as a GM he has seriously messed with my head in the past.

Also in my campaign Major Po has engaged in torture on a few occasions (which I really am not comfortable with but as I've said in the past I don't deliberately punish PCs for doing things I find distasteful). The creepy thing is that Major Po (being a medical doctor and having received fairly advanced interrogation training as an FBI agent) doesn't generally go in for the straightforward brutal type of torture. He mixes it up, combining psychological techniques with physical torture.

The Gunmaster system actually has a skill called Resist Drugs/Torture and a number of PCs and NPCs in the campaign have that skill open but few have a high level in that skill for obvious reasons. Generally they have the skill open because they have done some special forces or spook course in counter interrogation techniques but they don't usually have much opportunity to make development checks in the skill. If they did they would almost certainly have to start making rolls on Gunmaster's Psyche Disorders chart (which MajorPo also created).

[Targan]

To address the thread title, in my opinion even if it was possible to engage in mass hypnosis in a RL, controlled setting (which I doubt), how would you manage such a thing in T2K

As for mind control, what exactly do you mean Turning people into robot-like slaves Beaming instructions right into their brains Hmm, pure fantasy methinks (which is fine if that meshes with a particular campaign's style). Or do you mean brainwashing and psy-ops (which is definitely possible).

I would say that some of Major Po's methods in my campaign amount to brain washing as he has basically set up his own 'cult of personality'. From what I hear of HQ's campaign General Pain engages in much the same sort of activities. It is usually a longer term thing but with drugs and the right kind of specialists I think brainwashing could be successfulyl performed on small groups of people in a matter of weeks.

[bigehauser]

Don't forget!

Psychological Operations! :P

[General Pain]

To address the thread title, in my opinion even if it was possible to engage in mass hypnosis in a RL, controlled setting (which I doubt), how would you manage such a thing in T2K

As for mind control, what exactly do you mean Turning people into robot-like slaves Beaming instructions right into their brains Hmm, pure fantasy methinks (which is fine if that meshes with a particular campaign's style). Or do you mean brainwashing and psy-ops (which is definitely possible).

I would say that some of Major Po's methods in my campaign amount to brain washing as he has basically set up his own 'cult of personality'. From what I hear of HQ's campaign General Pain engages in much the same sort of activities. It is usually a longer term thing but with drugs and the right kind of specialists I think brainwashing could be successfulyl performed on small groups of people in a matter of weeks.

did you see the youtube video I posted

[Targan]

Yes I watched it. I've seen lots of similar demonstrations. It is the opinion of many knowledgeable people that I have seen interviewed and that I have spoken to that to be hypnotised in that sort of public setting you have to want to be hypnotised. The people being hypnotised will do things they normally wouldn't do in public because they have an excuse (consciously or subconsciously) "oh it wasn't me, it was because the hypnotist took over my brain". Its crap.

In terms of a similar but different situation, that of "therapeutic hypnotism", there is a similar effect at work. People helped to enter a relaxed state can allow themselves (consciously or subconsciously) to become more susceptible to suggestion, sometimes for a beneficial result.

To suggest that through hypnotism you can force an unwilling subject to do something they do not want to do is, frankly, farcical. Just my opinion of course.

[General Pain]

Yes I watched it. I've seen lots of similar demonstrations. It is the opinion of many knowledgeable people that I have seen interviewed and that I have spoken to that to be hypnotised in that sort of public setting you have to want to be hypnotised. The people being hypnotised will do things they normally wouldn't do in public because they have an excuse (consciously or subconsciously) "oh it wasn't me, it was because the hypnotist took over my brain". Its crap.

In terms of a similar but different situation, that of "therapeutic hypnotism", there is a similar effect at work. People helped to enter a relaxed state can allow themselves (consciously or subconsciously) to become more susceptible to suggestion, sometimes for a beneficial result.

To suggest that through hypnotism you can force an unwilling subject to do something they do not want to do is, frankly, farcical. Just my opinion of course.

I agree...

It was the video that inspred this thread...when people can agree to "freak out" like that ...what could'nt be achived when the alternative is say...banishment....

[MajorPo]

I think you can generally consider that people will do whatever comes naturally to them when given an 'excuse' like hypnotism to absolve responsibility for their actions. You can look at this from the viewpoint of social role theory that considers that we all take on particular roles or personas depending on the situation we are in and what we think is expected of us (for example you act differently around your friends than you would around your parents, or possibly your workmates) The 'role' of the hypnotised subject is dependant on the suggestions and vibe of the performance so people act accordingly.

Another thing to consider is that we all have very selective attention and will tend to fill in gaps and jump to conclusions when dealing with sensory data. This can be manipulated to make people think they have come up with ideas or to help them jump to the conclusions you want. For some very good work along these lines check out Derren Brown on youtube.

Basically mass hypnosis or 'mind control' is possible but difficult and will only ever work within the bounds of what the subjects are comfortable with. Of course over time and with repeated and consistent effort you could probably move a groups 'zone of comfort' towards whatever you wanted to achieve

[Littlearmies]

As well as T2K I also like GURPS - largely for the pleasure in reading such a well thought out logical system (playing RPGs is another matter these days for me) - one of the best settings I've come across is Transhuman Space. I read these books for pleasureas I think some of the ideas contained in them are wonderful.

One book I bought was "Toxic Memes" which is all about just this kind of subject:

http://www.sjgames.com/transhuman/toxicmemes/

[Targan]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/846821/hypnotist-fined-for-stealing-a-kiss

Points for effort

[kato13]

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