(DELETED) RE BRAINWASHING

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00146127
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: May 27, 1955

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V.EMORhNLUM TO : � 27 May 19!.;
Chicf0'... -Chemical Division.
FROM �
Chief, Lediciae Divioion/CSI
SUBJECT
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1. In an experiment on influencing conversaticnal continuation,
twenty four subjects, divided into four groups, carried on cenversatiens
.-erith seventeen experimenters. This reduced the situation, already �
numerically small in a statistical sense, to an almost person to
person relationship. The extensive amount of individual interpretation
possible in such a situation reduces the scientific aspect to almo.st
zero. -
2; As indicated in transmittal mem from author, an implication
for "brainweshin7" might be found in such an experiment as this. in
its present rem this repert of experiment'offers little to either
"'brainwashing" or interroation techniques. This lac: is best manifest
by the author's recognition that_ the relationship effect between ths
experimenter (interroator) and. subject (interrogee) wss not measured.
The authcr himself poses our qUestion as to whether or not verbal
behavior would or could be reinforced by agreement in a situation
Ilherein the subject (interrogoe-prisoner).disliked the e57Arimenter
(interrogator - captor) -
� 3. Despite the individualistic assessment afforded by seventeen
experi2enters intervieng twenty four subjects, the results obtained
are practically tnivorsally constant, and are as would nomally.be
expected, viz:.
a) the rate of. opinions expressed showed no simificant
changes as a function of reinfercement during the
� operant (initial control) period;
b) Each of the subjects shood an increased frequency-
of opinions expressed during-the agreemo.nteriod;
� e) Twenty one of twenty four of the subject's showed
a decreased frequency of opinions exprenced during
the extinction (disagrecr.lont) period.. '
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h. 'These results would seem then to offer little pronpect
for their utilination by a Co::caunist Hexperimentcr" to achieve eny
degree of succees in a "brainweshing" or "brainchanging" attelLpt except
in the very ime.ediate initial stage.
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5. The application in this initial stage would be the situation
wherein the subject (prisoner) is enecuraLee by the experimenter
(captor) to express his opinions as to 'what the war is n.eout';- 'why the
prisoner joined the military service'; etc. By the experimenter's
encouragement through agreement, the subject may go on and on in his
opinion expressicn. Thus the subject might afford the experimenter a
psychological profile of himself, and thus might expose a peychological �
point of vulnerability which could be used es a departure point or
entry wedge in the depersonalization of "brainwashing".
6. Even this initial annlication to "brainwashing" cannot be
deduced frem this report of experiment, however, because the effect of
a situation of antagonism between experimenter and subject (see paregfe.ph
2) has not been measured:
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