Coercive Persuasion : A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists

This is one of the earliest books written about mind control. As such, it is a valuable book to have in your collection, if you are extremely interested in this topic. However, given its age, the information is out-dated. Also, it is very scholarly and dry. Difficult to get through. I have not completed reading this book, and I may never, unless I decided to dig into this topic further than I already have.

It is based on studies done after brainwashed POWs returned from Korea after the Korean war. These American soldiers had come to identify with, and defend their captors, even though they had been poorly treated. It was the beginning of the realization that people could be "brainwashed". This research proceeded later studies based on show more the New Religious Movements of the 1960s, many of which came to be understood as cults or high demand groups. show less