MORI 190713

[PAGE 1]
Office Menorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

To: Chief, Security Research Staff

FROM : Chief, Technical Branch

SUBJECT: Attached

Attached herewith is a self-explanatory memorandum of in connection with the recent work done here I am certain the work was very profitable
and as far as I can tell, was impressed and
appreciated the opportunity of working with C

[PAGE 3]
1. I apologize for submitting a document as long as this ouc. The subject is highly controversial and even thia treatment, which may appear long, is abbreviated. 41

2. Frankly,I now distrust much of what is written  academic experts on hypnotism. Partly this is because many of them sppear to have generalizeß:frtm a very few cases; partly because much of their cautious pcasimism is contradicted by Agency experimentera; but more particularly because I peroonally have vitnessed behavior responses which rcspected experts have said are impossible to obtain. In no other field have I been so conscious,of the mental claustrophobia of book and lecture hall knowlcdge. I don't think we have enough evidence to say positively that hypnotism is a practicable covert weapon, but I do say that we'll never know whether it is or not unlcsa we. experiment in the field where we can learn what is prncticable (materially and psychologically) in a way that no laboratory worker could possibly prove.

3. Even the terminology of hypnotism 1s 1n confusion. I have
used terms like "suggestibility", "catalepsy" and "fascination"
becnuse they seemed to me dcscriptive, but these are argued to be
inaccurate in current journals. As an example of the confusion, and I spent the better part of two days arguing with i hattor nart of tuo davs arguing with

an academic practitioner of foruidable reputation before we discovered that his vehement and perplexing disngreement with what we knew to be facts was based on semantic hair-splitting and congealed pigheadedness.

4. If, you decide that the should pursuc this oubject 一 A further, I suggest that you meet with and myself to discuss the firat recoumcndation of the attached paper.

Distribution: Orig. - Addressce 1 - C/Security

MEMORANDUTI FOR:

5 May 1955

SUBJECT:. Lypnotiam and Covert Operations

[PAGE 4]
This paper bricfly describes liypnotism as it haa been used in medicine, the laboratory and on the stage; oome adaptaticns whlch may make it useable in covert operations; and scne clondestine operational research requiremcnts. The reader shouldkeep in ind that we are here dealing with aspecte of humnu behavior which do not permit hathematically.exact definitions or classifications. T TVONOTOM

A. What Is It?

Hypnotism is a stnte of exaggerated or heightened suggestibility. It is a natural mental condition which superficially resembles slcep and like sleep it can be induced by suggestion. It ia characterized by extreme rcsponsiveness to auggestion and heightened stimulation of the imagination. During hypnosis, the autonomic ncrvous system nnd the unconscious mind can be reached ond, within distinct but not thoroughly underatood limita, affected by an operator. Whatever dcgree of control can be developed is not only cffective during hypnosis but, throygh a phenomenon known as post-hypnotic suggcstion, may in favorable circumstances be extenãed into subaequent waking stages as well.

. Thie proceso of inducing hypnosia sppears to place the couscious mind in a state of suspended animation and to permit an opcrator to reach and affect the unconscioun mind directly. In this way thc conscious mind of a good subject can be affected without his being aware of how pr why; for in the deepcst stages of hypnosio, thic subject may have

[PAGE 5]
HYFHOTISM AID OFERATIONS

COITENTS

I.HYPNOTISM

A. Wbat Is It? 1

B. Who Can Be Rypnotized?

C. The Mnduction of Hypnosis し

1. Pre-Testing for Suggestibility

2. Induction Frocedures

a Verbal Suggestion a.

b. Fascination Plus Verbal Suggestion

c. Narco-Hypnosis

3. Awakening : J

4. Post-Aypnotic Suggastions

5. Age Rcgression

D. Other Factors U. Uuler raL

1. What Makes a Good Subject? L. ml sace

2. What Charaoterizes a Good Operator?

3. Stages of Hypnosia

4. "Lawa of Hypnotism" 4. "La of ynotis

5. Can a Subject be Hypnotized Against His Will?

II. APPLICATION OF IYPNOSIS TO COVERT OPERATIONS

A.Disguised Fre-Testing

B. Disguised Induction

C. Specific Operational Situations

III. RESEARCH

IV. SUMARY oF CONCLUSIONS

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

[PAGE 6]
amneeia both for the fact of hoving be n liypnotized and the origin of whatever new idca or impetus to action has been implanted in his unconscious mind. le simply ponscsses ns a development of "his oum free will", as far as he ia aware, whatever ideas and motives have been succeasfully transplantel into his unconscious duriog the hypnotic proccse; though for how long ond with what modiflcations by $1 2 1 2 5$ owa peraonality ovcr long periods of time are not kowu.

B. Who Can:Be Hypnotized?

Suggestibility is a characteristic of the norml mind and it seema possible, even likely, that all normal persona could be hypnotizcd if we possessed adequate techniques.

There are differcnces of opinion among practitioners as to the : percentage of normel persons who are susceptible to the techniqucs now in cowmon use. Children and youths from 7 or 8 to 18 are generally good subjects. Of adults, most medical and laboratory workers accept a figure of l out of 5 as capable of entcring the deepcst stages on the first induction.(1) This figure ignores pre-testing for susceptibility and, so far os I could determine, is derived froun the use of a single favored method of induction by various experimentcrs.

l. These figures were derived frou expcriments using peoplcs of Central and Western European origin. Hlowever, hypnotism as 8 phenomenon -though not always under that name - has been noted in the literature of India, China, Japan, etc. There lo probably little difference in susccptibility on the scorc of racinl origin, oex or social claas, although naturally induction techniquea used differ according to local traditions.

二

[PAGE 7]
Sone stage operators claim 4 succesaes out of 5 attcmpts using dioguised pre-testing to select good subjects and several alternntive methods of induction used in rotation should one method fail.

As a working hypothesis, I believe that we need not quarrel at this time ith an estimate by:a professionnl operator with almdst 30 years experience who-is also familiar as a consultant with someof the operational problems of this Agency. Hc believes that vith skilled operators, an array of induction techniques and disguised pre-testing, ve should expect success with a minimum of l out of 2 sclected sub-Jects. With drugs, of course, the pereentage should be much highcr.

C. The Induction of Hypnosia

Thereare a large number of methods of inducing hypnosis, nost of which use variations of the following general approaches.

1. Fre-Testing for Suggestibility

We are all familiar with situations in which thc thought or
idea of a thing or condition can evoke human responses very
like those which would occur if the stimulus were "real" inotcad
of "imaginary". ;For examplo: salivation at the sight or smell
of food; fear and discomfort at the thought of being stung or
bitten by a snake, spider or hornet; yawning when others do; etc. Some people are much more susccptible to sugccstlons of
this nature than othcrs. Stage hypnotists have for years taken advantage of the apparcnt high correlntion between waking suggestibility and hypnotic ausccptibility to pre-tcst nudiences beforc selecting aubjects.

[PAGE 8]
For exauple, one well-known atopc hypnotiat carrics a lcmon in his pocket and, as part of his introduction, says:

"Now please dircct your attention towards me and towards this yellow, juicy, bitter lemon. It's such a sour, bitter lemon. I take this knife and cut through ita rind. Look at the juice, that so bitter juice dripping down to the floor. Now I'm going to suck that sour, bitter lenon juice. (Sucks it audibly) Sez, is bitter and tart! So sour! :And as I suck it notice how your … mouths begin to fill with saliva--how they water!"(2)

And so on.. Meanwhile he fs on the alert for unconscious 1 reactions on the faces of people in the audicnce. The ones who screw up their faccs, swallow salive, Crimace in distaste are the ones he trics to coax on the atage for progressively more intensive pre-teots of suggestibility.

This is an examplc of suggestion and pre-tcsting of the simplcst sort. Obvioualy it is not adaptod to operatioual uae by a clandestine service, except in the unlikely event that 8 stage performance of hypnotiom can be utilized as part of the cultivation of a potential し agent. Later on this paper will be found a few pre-testa and induction procedures which utilize the same principles but which are translated into more familiar agent recruitment routincs.

The point to bear in mind is that disgulsed pre-testing appcars to be practicable and would be indispensable in the selection of good their hypnotic subjocts without /being aware that a teat of any kind had been gade.

2. The raader may notice some reaction on his own part to this dialogue.

111

[PAGE 9]
2. Induction froccduures

Generally three types of induction are, used: verbal suggestion alone; fascination plua verbal suggestion; and narcohypnoais.

a. Verbal Suggestion

The ability of a subject voluntarily to concntratc his attention-.or, alternatively, of an operator to oreate a situation in which the subject concentrates without necesoarily understanding the trie purpope--is the determining factor in the induotion of hypnosis. The prime requisitc is the need of gaining 8 subject's attention so that his thoughits can be concentrated on one idea or along one particular channel.

In verbal suggeotion, the hypnotist progresses through a series of tcats which use such elcmentary psychologicnl phenomenn as the fact that, with his eyes cloacd, a standing person will lose his balance and fall forwards or backwards if the operator can perauade him through suggestion td; imagine that he is prccariously balanced on a plank over a chasm, in a yawing boat, or Just falling. Rapidly procceding from this demonstration of his "powers", the stage operator will then ask the subject to fix his attention on a real or imaginary spot on the wall 'or ceiling and keep his eyes open while he listens to what the bypnotist says. This will involve suggestions in a monotonous, rhythmic litany that the subject's

11

5

[PAGE 10]
.eycs are watcring, his lid, growing hoavy, his body relnxing, drowainess is creeping over hin. Very soon--in a matter of minutes usually, of scconds on occaàion--thc subject will enter a "trance" -- a state which looks like sleep but Suring which in faot he is acutely responsive to the: operator'evoice and suggestions. 111

b, Fascination. plus Verbal Suggestion

The vell-knoin crystal-ball technique is an example, although any point of concentration will do as well: the tip of an operutor's fingeri a flashlight, any shiny object vhich concentrates the rays from a ligit source. The purpose of the device is so to tire the optio nerve by intense staring that the subject's natural reaction will be drowsily to clooe his eyes. This usually occurs in from 30 oeconds to several minutes. The device of fascination is accompanicd by monotone verbal suggestions by tho hypnotist as described above.

C. Narco-Hypnosis

Barbiturates, acting as cortical depressanta, can be used to produce hypnotic sleep even if all other methods fail. Chloroform and ether were the first narcotics used for this purpose. How various derivatives and modifications of the phenobarbital fanily are used. Sodium amytal and sodium pentathol are the most commonly uoed brief-acting barbiturates, though others of quite different derivation show great promise and may be more adaptable to clandestinc use.

[PAGE 11]
The consultant referrél to avove, who has participated in Agency operations as a mcmber of an Artichoke tcam, fecls that narco-hypnosis as he knows it is not as effective as it might appear at first glance to be. He feels that the stupor hich ensues does not in every case permit as dcep a stage of hypnosif, 1s very difficult to control and, further, certain post-hypnotic phenomena, of great valuc in clandestine work, mny be laoking. 2: (3) On the other hand, ho agrees that drug-assisted bypnosis is esoential in CIA work.

3. Awakening

There is no recorded instance in which a hypnotized subject has failed to awaken. Not one subject in a hundred will "alccp" beyond the hypnotist's suggestion, "In a moment I am going to awaken you. You will fecl fine, happy and checrful. There will be no ill.effects--no hendache, drowsiness, stiffncss or other liscomfort. I am going to count to three, and at the count of three I will snap wy fingers and you will be complctely awake. One--you are sleeping much more lightly. Two--almost awake now. Three--(snap!)--you are wide awake!"

If for any reason a subject does not desire to awaken 三 (usually connected with awsh to continue the plcasure and comfcrt of release from anxiety and worry which acconpanics hypnosia, apparently), there are several other techniqucs to be tried.

3. ind some other psychiatrists do not agree, D at least inoofar as the therapeutic use of narco-hypnosis is conccrned.

[PAGE 12]
Should all fail, onc makes the subject comfortable and leaves him slone. The bypnotic trance will of itself change to natural sleep and the subject will awaken in auythirg from a few uinutco to a couple of hours at the most. But failure to awaken at the first suggestion to do so iá quite extraordinnry. … 1

4. Fost-lpnotic Suggostions

Let us suppose that a good hypnotic subject has cntered ::
the deepest stags ofhypnosis. If tho operator then suggests,
"After I awaken you, you yill have no recollcction of what has
occurred. Furthermore, exactly l hour after you are awakened
you will go to the nearest telephone and dial (any number). To
whomèver ansvers you will say (any message)," in all likelihocd
the subject will do just that; andiextraorlinarily enough within
a minute or two of 1 hour. This is a post-hypnotic duggestion. If the subject after awakening remembers or is tolü that he has been given a post-hypnotic suggestion, what it is, and when it will become operative, he otill will experience the greatest difficulty in résiating it. Almost the only way in vhich hc can obtain release from an almost intolerable fceling of discomfort is to carry out the post-hypnotic suggestion aa given him; or, alternatively, have the suggestion removed under hypnosis. For what has been created is very similar to, if not identical with a compulaion neurosis.

[PAGE 13]
During a dcmonstration with an excellcnt. subject who is a staff employce of Agency, the opcrator suggcsted, "Any time that anyone asks you any question the answer to which would involve a breach of security, you will imodintely fall into è ; a deep coma." After the subject was uwakened, I began to question hin about his background, education, where he,was ewployed, what his duties. were ("clerical"), I finally aoked, 'What is the combination of your office aafe?" The subject's eyeo rolled up, his head fell forward and he cntered a decp hypnotic sleep. Naturally, other reactions than coma could have been substituted, or any other "trigger" established tlan that of a security question.

The application of variations of this phenomenon to tho work of tho clandestine services is obvious. Practically any effrect which cnn be developed in the deepest hypnotic statc can also be obtained as a post-hypnotic suggestion. Post-hypuotic suggestions,reiterated during several sessions of hypnosis have 8 been knova to endure for yeara. The image that comes to mind is of a blackboard on which a mesaago will endure until erased or blurred by time.

5. Age Rcgression

One of the most remarkable phenomena of hypnotism 1s the ability of an operator to regress the time sense of a dccply hypnotized aubject. The recollection of circunstnnces which

9

[PAGE 14]
have'been completely lost to ordinary mcmory, and which are not recoverable in the normal state of mind, becomes possible.

to the age of l0,.asked her to describe her day'a doings,
friends, home, etc. Shè answered in a child's voice and ntonntion. When presented with a pencil and puper and asked to wrte her
name, she wrotein the aviward sprawl of a child. Upon being awakened, she had no recollection of what had gono on, could
not remember the names of her sclool chums (but squealed in
?
delighted recognition when the names she hcrself had rceled off five minutes before vere read back to her). To all intents and purposes, she had once again been 10 years old. The implications of age regression for covert operations my be obvious, cspecinlly in the interrogation of suspected doubleagents. A skilled operator with a good subject can not only find out completely about a subject's past; be can cause the subject to re-enact a recruitment, training, briefing, etc. Perhaps less 1
obvious, is the possibility of using regrcssion to build a new
identity, and in some degree,a changed personality. The almost unbelievable recall of detail under hypnosis to an individual. whose conscious mind docs not "remember" makes feasible a far
richer harvest of intelligence even from agents who have "given their all". Furthermore, a hypnotized person can be regressed (say) to a time when ho saw a piece of equipment, a factorj, an cvcnt --

10

[PAGE 15]
and he can be caused to draw what he saw, whether he understood its significance or not, he will roproduce.accurately vhat he witnensed; though, of course, unless he is on artist, he vill not present the operator with a creative masterpiece.

If hypnotism can be used in covert operations at aly age regression may be the hypnotic phenomenon of gxeatest potential value..

D. Other Factors

1. What Makes a Good Subjeçt?
4

No one appears to know. The insane, the ignoront or stupid, the brilliant and erratic ncurotic--these are usually regnrlcd as : poor subjects. Other than the apparent correlation between waking suggestibility and bypnotic susceptibility, little seums to be known.

2. What Characterizes a Good Operator?

Although almost anyone can be taught to lrypnotize, the idcal charactcristics are:

(a) In age, 35 or older.

,(b) Healthy in a radiant, vital wey.

(c) Dignified (prcstige is important) with a good voice.

(a) Personal appeal of a kind thet inspires admiration rather than warm liking.

(e) Impenetrable rcserve.

(r) Calmneoa under pressure.

(g) A high degree of self-confidence.

(h) A physically large man, of impressive carriage, may make a botter operator than a small one, other thingo being equol.

-11.-

[PAGE 16]
3. Stagea of Hiypnosis !

A mmber of different classiflcntions are in use. Sore laborntory nnd ncdical workers reconize up:to 50 different degrees, dopending on responses. Most atage operators use five For practical underatonding, the folloving three stes adequater

(a) Lethargy--a lack of facial expression, Derfect passivity, :öyelidą beavy or quivering. Tho gubject can open hia eyes if challenged, but often fails to do so, : saying that he prefers the cpmfort of keeping them closcd. The mind is alert and the mecory aharp. The breathing is Like that of normal sleep. The subject will often coment on his pleseant relaxed feelings. He is alert and able to reaist suggeotiono.

Almost every cooperating subject can be brought to thris stage.

(b) Catalepsy--encompaases all of the characteristics of lethargy, but is a dceper stage. The subject camot open his'eycs. The eyeballs ray turn upwards. The cyelids do not quiver. The limbs feel hoavy. His breathing is slover and deeper. There is ingensitivity to pnin and muocular rigldity if this 1s suggested. Motor activity is inhibited. If the subject's arm or leg is placed in a ccrtain position and suggestions given that be cannot wove the linb, it will romin

12

[PAGE 17]
stationary or in a state:of rigidity until the suggestions nre removed. After awakening, the BubJect hos a hazy recollcction (as in a dreom) of some of the things that were said or done, but cannot remember clcarly.

A cooperating subject who rcaches the lethargic. state :
on a first trial can usually be taught to enter the çatalcptic
stage in later scssionc.

(e). Romnambulism. This ia the deepest state of hypuosis and exhibits all of the characteristics of the cataleptic stage. There is extraordingry immobility. The subject will not move his limbs or change his pcaition of his own violition. .Ho can perform acta suggested to him and angwer quentions without awakening. When he does awake, however, he has no recollection of vhat oocurred. He can be made to opon his eyes, walk about, and exhibit evcry sign of being awnke. In this state, it is possible to produce visual hallucinaticus as vell as auditory, gustatory and olfactory ones. There is almost complete insensitivity to pain if anesthesia is súggested; on occasion, qurgical operations have been performed without ci of distress by the patient in this state of hypnosis. Hany if not all of the phenonena asoociated with Indian yoge derive from self-hypnotisu to this stage by yogis.

It is the somnambulistic stage that the laboratory figure of 1 succesa out of 5 in the adult subjccts refers; furthermore,

[PAGE 18]
. 1 out of 5 reaches this stage on the first induction.

With training, a fair percentage of all willing subjects may be taught to do so.

Naturally there are exceptions and unuaual casès, 14 such as when a subjoct in the "lethargic" stage will exhibit some behàvior of the "somnambulistic" stage, or various other combinations of hypnotic responses which do not entirely fit the clássifications as given.

4. "Lawa of Ilypnotism"

In considering the use of hypnosis as an operational tool, one should bear in mind that the laboratory or stage techniqucs described above exist in their prosent veraions because therc was need for them in those forms. In other words, they have no necessary standing apart from the context in which they vere developed. They may or my not be suitable for clandestine purposes. On.the other hand, there is conaiderable reason to believe that analogous techniques could be worked out for clan- 3 destine.uae which would achieve the same results in completely different ways. The expericnced informant mentioned obove gives the following "lawa" or basic requirements in adapting a mcthod of induction:

(a) The operator must give. the impression of absolute confidence in his own ability.

[PAGE 19]
(b) The procedure should be progressive in psychological intensity. In other words, the method 1 of induction must proceed from simple reactions coumon to nearly all mankind, through more complex ones, to the point where the subject finally enters one of the dcgrees Qf trance.

:(c) Whatever:the procedure, the conditions and :: oral suggestions (which need not, of course, ever mention the word "hypnoais") must be presented to tlic 1 subject in a manner and foim which are acceptable and logical to him.

5. Can a Subject be Hypnotized Against His Will?

Excepting the use of drugs, the anawer must be "no" if (4) he unlerstands what 1s going on. However, if the qucstion can be rewritten to read, "Can a subject be hypnotized without his knowledge?" the answer appears to be "yes" under favorable circumstances: disguised induction and a good subject.

Conneated-with this question is whether a hypnotizcd subject will do anything to violate his moral code. Can a person under deep hypnosis be made to violate a security cath or commit murder or steal? There is much disagreement over the answers to these qucstions. The usual ansuer is that he will nct, unless he "unconsciously" wants to brcak security, comnit murder, steal, etc.

15

4. See, however, "instantancous" hypnosis below.

[PAGE 20]
But suppose that while undcr lopnoais a aubject ia told that a loved one's life is in danger from a mauiac aud that the only means of rescue is to shoot a peraon dcsignated as the maniac? Thrce expert practitioners (two from universities and the Agency consultant quoted above) aay that there is no doubt on the basis of their experience that in such circumatancès murder would be attenpted. The only roquirement is that the proposal be put "in a. form and manner acceptable to the subjcct." Most modern authorftiea feel that s subject will carry out any suggestion which he can rationalize within the frawcwork of hia moral code.

· (Currently, there is a wurder txial in in which the murderer has been judged to have been under bypnosis at the time of the crime. Ee haa been retried, relcascd and the hypnotist tried and convicted. The case ia now under appeal. The comacnt of the three knowledgcable informants was that the hyppotist must have been a rank amateur to have been found out aince any experienced operator would have kncwn how to suggest avay the fact that be had arranged the crime.)

II. APPLICATION OF KYFNOSIS TO COVERT OPERATIOIS

Obviously, dioguiacd pre-testing and induction are nccessities for the use of hypnosia in clondestine opcrationa. Without at lenst the second of thenc I am unablc to see that nny covert hypnotic tociniquc

[PAGE 21]
is fensible.(5) With these, a number of offensive and defensive useu are immediately apparent and othiers would undoubtedly suggeot themselves in field operations.

A. Disguiaed Pre-Testing

The pre-test, of course, is for suggestibility. I can conccive of a, very clever cerator's working out verbal techniques whilch vould induce unconacious reaçtions in a possible subject; but this vould require enorious experience and a really impressive degrce of skill. While this appronch ohould not be ignored, it would be a frail foundation on which to erect'a progrom.

However, any situntion in which any kind of intelligence or peychological test is given can be converted rather easily, without the subject's knowledge, to a test. of suggestibility as well. For example, the Rorshach Test (ink-blota) and the Thematic Apperception Test, (TAT) bothmay lend themselves to disguisod mass preteoting, I am 1nforncd. Or perhaps the addition of yet another qucstionnaire to those given cither in-coming staff employees or to refugees ccaing into the West could-do the job.

B. Disguised Induction

To achieve hyprosis, the subject must be coaxed,frightened, or drugged into a trance. Disguiscd tezhniqucs mny be based upon situations such as the following:

5. I include the une of drugs, gases, aerosola, ctc. in disguised
1nduction tecliniques.

[PAGE 22]
1. A Medical Examination

Under the guiae of taking a blood pressurerending, the subject way be coaxed into relaxntion. Or a blood teat may be used to administer a drug. Or an eye examination to causo thezsubject to follow the movements of a tiny light or to stare into a flashlight while verbal suggestions are given.

2. A Pölygraph Run

I amtoluthat a diaguised induction based upon an adaption of the normal polygraph procedure would not only be ideal : (because any curiousity-would be soaked up by intercst in the polygraph itself), but has been succeoofully tested in a limited way:

3. Electro-encepheldgraph Tcst

Bimilar to polygraph run. Tho subject would logically accept sugsgcotiono to relax and follow the operator's words.

4. Electro-cardiagran Test

5. Vitamin Injections, etc.

Thcre ara-also at least two methods of "instantancous induction" vhich'are carried out so quickly that they may bo used, if one ia quite sure of a subject's ausceptibility, on the statiotically good assunption that the memory or what happened can be auggested away during the trance which ensues. Both methods require cxpert operators, lowever, sinco ono could cauoe death and the other

[PAGE 23]
requires vast expericnce, abeglute assurance and a high degree of muocular coordlination.

C. Specific Operntional Situntlons

l. There is a very real possibility that hypnosis could he us gnin a detailed kowlcdge of how the opposition;is handling both their own agents and thoec of our people io 三 have been captured and "brain-waahed". For a hypnotzed person can recall pajt events with astonishing clarity anl detail, in many cases when he does not realize with his conscious mind that he "remembers".

Consequently, hypnotic techniques sboula be most useful in:interrogations, whether friendly or hostile, with or without drugs, aasuming that a good subjeot is being questioncd.

"Brain-washed" people, we should underatand, may not recall consciously everything that happened to them. Under hypnosis, there is a strong probability that thcy will do oo, particularly if age regression is possible. Furthermore, if hypnotic tcchniques were used on them by the opposition to "brain-wash" and "brainchange" them, this fact may be learned under hypnosis and a re-conversion achieved through suggestion.

I do not feel that it is completely outside the boundo of rcality that we might be able to achieve thc "conversion" of a proninent Western communist if wo could havo acccss to one who was highly suggeatible, if we had sufficlent tine. This subject

19

[PAGE 24]
requires operatianal expcrimentation. The possibilitics are
not only interesting, they are frightening. A kind of double
think Orwellian world of hypnosis, while unlikely, is not
utterly fantastic. One thing is clear: we really do not
kno within what limits "belief" may be changed by hypnósis. Based on what I have read, I Judge that tho 1 H 2 use an elaborate conditioned-reflox procedure in
their "brainivashing".. Even so, hypnosis may be able on the
one hand to pre-condition a gubject against the preosures,
or after the fact to help undo the damage.

Analogoua Cage 1

One of the foremost U.S. laboratory experimenters with hypnosis on one occasion (1939) "converted" a campus atheist to a devout believer. The aane operator was on the point of trying a similar experiment in reverse with a divinity student when thc university authorities forbade further tests. Before the "conversion" to religion through mypnosia had becn erased by negative suggcstions, the aubject hnd for over two weeks given every sign of being a dedicated rcligious convert. Ee was restored to his former disbelief. I kow of no way of estimating how long the hypnotically-imposed orientntion would have endured; but once inplanted, of coursc, circumstances tended to reinforce it. Given a subject who could be'converted at all, the new orientation might becowe permanent, the experimenter felt.

2.  As part of their indoctrination procedure, CIA staff personnel might be tested for hypnotic symccptibility. Actually, it appears to be easier to hypnotize large numbero of people than a oingle subject, for the beet subjects go "under" quickly

20

[PAGE 25]
and help to condition othera in the audience who might not, as single subjecta, have been susccptible to the techniquc being used.

. Conditioning against "brain-wasling" is only ono use of

hypposis on staff peroommel. Morale and security purposes 1
might be served as well. It would certainly be of consider
able value tothe Agency to kmow which of its peroonnpl werc
highly muggeutible in any case; for these vulnerablc people
could be quite easily protected by a poot-hypnotic suggcotion
:such as the following: :"If anyone attempts to hypaotize you, 1
to put you under preasuro of any kind to give up security data,
convert you to communism, or otherwiso attexpt to persuade you
to go against your Becurity oath, you will immediately fall
into decp coma, snd contimue to do so ngain and again as long as the pressuro is maintained;" or, "Your will to resist will becone rcater and greater;" ete.

While these post-hypnotic suggestions could probably be 'broken" if enough time were taken, there is an excellent chance that the subjéct would be considered too difficult.

Analogous Case 2

. During World War II, stage hypnotiats vere employed to entertain troops. As one part of the proceodings, audience hypnosis waa used and up to 8 out of l0 persons were succcssfully put; to "sleep". During this proccdure, morale suggcstions were given very succcssfully. Aftereffecta were noticcnblc wonths later, in many cascs.

[PAGE 26]
3. Agonts might be givoh cover-storics while unlcr hypnosls and not only learn then faultlcssly, but believe then. Every detall could be zade to sink in. The conviction and apparent sincerity with which an individual will dcfend a false identity given, as a post-bypnotic suggestion isalmost unbelievable One's wemory for detail under such conlitions appears to. be boundless-

A CIA Security Office employee was hypnotized and given a false identity. She defended it hotly, denying her truc oane and rationalizing with conviction the poosesslon of identity cards made out to her real self. Later, having had the false identity crnsed by suggcation, ahe vas naked if she had ever henrd of the name she had been defending as her owmn five winutes before. Sle thought, shook her head and said, "That's a pocudo if I ever henrd one." Apparently ahe hnd a true amncsia for the entire episode.

4. Hypuosis would peruit the rccruitment and bandling of high-level political action agents, in particular, under ideal control. Convictions could be reinforced, political courses suggested, appointments influenced--with a really good subject, only the imagination and skill of the handling operator and the inherent limitations of bypnosis as a techniq.ue would limit the .posaibilities.

5. Double-agents could both be discoveredl and used with much higher defree of assurunce if hypnotic control sufficicnt to permit rcgression were operative. They could be given

21

[PAGE 27]
suggestions which would have the force of true compulsiona to tell of opproaches mnde, targets, bricfing, true identity, etc.. There is also the possibility that such persons could be used udder a control much stronger that any we nov posscss. 三 ;

Examples of this kind could be continued almost indefinitely. 三
The sine qua non is hypnotic control. Hypnosis for clandctine
operations badly neéls dioguised pre-tests and disguised induction
methods. These rcquire operationally-oriented resoarch. ：

III. RFSFARCH

The difficulty with bypnotic research done in medical, laboratory or stage contexts is that techniques and results volid priuarily for therapy or entertainment are obtained. Once aanin wo are faccd with the familiar problem of narrying a moans developed for other purposes to tho requircments of covert opcraticns. It: sccms clear tht the only way in which we can make hypnosis into an effective clandcotine weapon--assuming that this is possible--will be by testing and experimenting under field'conditions.

First, I can sce no application-of hypnosis to covert opcratious unless reasonably effcctive tecluiqucs of disguised induction can be worked out. The usual induction techniques require willing, even enger compliance by the subject. The requirement io for a vnrlety of tectiniqucs built around familiar agent recruitment aituatlonisuch as mcdical. exaainations, sccurity procedures, interrogntlons,.social mcetings, ctc.

22

[PAGE 28]
Fach techmique before being acceptéble must give a strong nssurance first of inducing hypnosis, and seccnd of kecping the subject unaware of what was being attempted whether thc atteupt fails or succeeds.

So the primary rescarch requirement is for disguiaed induction methods, of whateyer nature, with or without drugs. with cven a 44 few of these upon which we could rely, I can ses that hypnosis could play an important part in ccrtain key operations.

The next requirement in oruer of importance appears to mo to be the working out of effoctiva disguised pre-tests for susceptibility. The purpose of theso would be to enable us to select or reject subjectà vith aaourance. owever, this is a dcsirabla requircucnt but not  crucial one if we are highly succcasful with disguised induction. For if we have effective disguised induction we can nfford to run the risk of atterpting to induce hypnosis in bed subjects--as loug as the aubject will not reoognize what was attempted.

Certainly a prime requirenent is for us to knov vhat are tho inherent limitations of bypnosis as a control uicane. Low far is it possible to go in implanting idleas or stimuli to acticn? Beyond what point does rebellion set in? To what extent can wo trust hypnotic surgeations to produce emncsia? And a host of rclnted qucstions.

Frankly, I can sce no way of,cbtaining ansvers which we can trust chort of trying our laowledge in true operationnl situations. For in the laborntory, or with completely willing and witting subjeets,

23

[PAGE 29]
how can we be certain that mlid rebults sre being gotten? Ro mntter what concluaions are reached in aituntiops othor than truly opcraticnal ones, we must still apply theso conclusions to knov what we knov. Headquarters and laboratory rescarch can make a start, but the only couvincing test of thc utility of bypnosis in covert operations will $\vdots$ be the praguatic oile.

Then, assuping that we have had soue degree of succesa with these categories of"research, we obviously must devote serioun efforts to work out counter-measures,: both to protect ourselves and to anticipate what tle oppositicn may do to frustrate our efforto. It $a ^ { 2 } + 0$ should be recalled that thc Russians at least since Favlov have devoted large resources to work in related fields of psychology. If bypuosis really has a potential, we may at this moment be its victims. Tho defensive aspect, while not emphasized in this paper, is an important one.

Finnlly, I think a fev words must be said ebout using bypnoais as a covert tool should further work prove it applicable. In a concrete way, this is conneated with rescarch, for reuearch as I conceive it in this context menns imnginative and critical testing in field situations. I doubt oriously whether any responsible case officer or supervisor in the ficld would be willing to cooperate in an operat;ion dcsigned both to further hin operational purposes and to provide factual fleld research data vithout witncsaing a demonstration of some of the things set forth in this poper-----poat-hypnotic suggeuticn, for example, or

24

[PAGE 30]
nge regression. (For that mntter, I assume that the roaders of thiis paper will be exceedingly skeptical of what is written here and aok to see these phenomena demopstrated.) Yet I an inclined to fecl that it s only when case officers work togethcr with a proficient hypnotist on an opcration that really creative and original techniques will be developed; if at all.

At least a part of the problem of operatiomlly-orienting research on hypnosis, then, appears to be an organizational one. Of the several ways of approaching d soluticn, the most persuasive to me derives from the fact that a Senior Representative or a Station Chief is ultimately responaible for operations under his cowmand, and he vill be a key figure in determining whether hypnotic techniques got a fair shake or not. My dlstinct iwpression ie that field commanders either will not peruit at all, or reluctantly coopcrate with operations that involve new, myaterlous or (to the uminitiatcd) occult techniqucs. Grudging cooperatiou communicates itaelf to the casc officera and the battle is half lost.

If bypnosis hos a potential in covert operations (and I fecl that we must prove that it has not, rather than the reveroe), I bclieve that the good will and open-minded cooperation of field commanders is essential. If thcy can bo persuaded initially that hypnosis is a means that is worth a serious trial, and after it gets that trial if they arc persuaded that hypnoais is useful, then it secus to me that lleadqunrters mey bc certain that such is a fact.

[PAGE 31]
Whuile I would imagine thnt no'd cioicn would ever be taken to 5
uso hypnosis on any large scale, it seoma to follow from the reasoning
above that the most practicable way of handling whatever work is done
would be through nssigning trained bypnotic operators to Pcs duty at
a very fsv major field staticns. A team of, say, two operators at a 1
baac with whatever linguiotic qualifications Beemed indicated would
probably be a minimum, ossuming that the first tosts of. tachniques 2
appear promising enough to continue at all. The chain-of-command, then, would be through the field chiefs back to the area divisions at Readquarters, with whatever functionnl staffs secmed rensonable on leadquarters distribution for operational proposals, reports and suggestions.

If this ranner of handling should be accepted, the need for Beadqunrters rescarch will be in the initial working out of disguised pre-tests and induction methods, in the standnrdizntion of wiatever techmiques are to be tested and modified in the field, in the procurement.and exploratory testing of drugs which show promise of assisting bypnosis. But I am atrougly persuaded that the only effective way of utilizing whatever potential hypnosis may have. in clandestine work vill be by separating the operational coumand responsibility and the Headquarters rescarch responsibility. The former appears to mc to belong in operational channels; vhile the latter, hovever important, should not be pemmitted for lack of direct opcrational. orientstion to delay or atyny field applications.

[PAGE 32]
IY. SUMMARY OF COICLUSIONS

l. The aura of side-ohow charlatanry whioh envelops hypnosis should not blind us to the realities of a rezarkable psychological phé nomen. :

2. An estimated one out of five adults can be hypnotizad to 三 the decpest stage, somnambulism, on the first induction. giith : disguised pre-teatavas a selecting device, a poseible onc out of two chosen subjects may be put into trance. Further, disguised induction techniques, if feasible, promise to provide us either vith unvitting hypnotized subjects or, should an attempt fail, lceve an unwitting dud behind.

3. If lypnotic control can be cstablished over eny participant in a clandestine operation, the operator will apparcntly have an extraordinery degree of influence, a control in orler of magnitude beyond anything we have ever considered fcaslble.

4.. Some of the induction techniqucs originally developed for stage, laborutory or medicine xay be dlrectly odaptablc for dicguised 1. use in clapdestine opcrations; two or three are avuilable for field tests now (polygraph, medical examination, electro-cnccphalograph, etc:).

5. Reocarch 1o Justified (a) to diecover the inhcrent lindltaticus of hypnosis as n covert operation tool, (b) to develop dioguised pretests (e) to devlop dieguised induction techniques, and (d) to develop counter-ncacures. In the opinion of the writer, no resenrch should be autborized by CIA which is not operationally-oricnted. The most

[PAGE 33]
practicable method of orienting such rescarch accurately sccon to involve carrying it out in the field by epplying cur current kovledge to actual operations.

6. A aodeot operational program will be justified if disguised 1nductien can be mde to work consiotently. In cutlinc, it ould include:

a. Working out otandard disguised induction techniqucs for covert operationa based on the polygraph, the electroencepholograph and the electro-cardiaereph as a beginning.

b. Selectinz four to six CIA staff enployees vith ficld experience end uoeful lnngunge knowledge esœndidates for training only in these techniqucs under the direction of oue professional hypnotist (who can be a consultant).

c. Applying these techniques in a continuing serlcs.of test operations at one or more field ataticns oelected cn thc basis of a flexibly-aindet chicf willing in a positive way to support such an cffort, the languge abilitiea of the candicates, mumbers of inligenous agento or potential ngents being polygraphed or receiving medicol examinations during which logically an elcctro-cncephalogram or clectro-cardisgram could be talicu.

d. Using the rule of reason fron this point forwoards. The following criteria should be appliedl, however: (a) Vould a proposed teat bo orerationally uoeful). if it succcedcd? (b) Would it contribute to our over-all knowledge of hypnotic control andl

28

[PAGE 34]
its inherent linitations? $( \dot { c } ) _ { l } ^ { \dot { \prime } }$ Would it holp in the development or proving of a now pre-teut or diaguisedl induction? (d) In the event of a failure, would the'ensuing 'flap" boomerang againot the CIA cither in a security or a prestig? $\sin ^ { \circ } ( 2 \pi - 3 )$ (e) Would It help us to develop or overcone a cpunter-111 mensure? 三

7. Extraqrdinary security for this program is indicated not only because many doctors and laymen still diabelieve the reality of bypnotic plenomena and the Agency might be made to look rather silly in the public cye for attempting to use hypnosis; but aloo because sure knowledgo by the opposition of vhat ve werc about could lead thcm into effective counter-measures the nature of which we cannot nov foresee.

8. We must constontly recall that we are dealing with an intricate, dymamic psychologicnl plenomenon which appears to be intiaately connccted vith intangibles of interpersonal relations. It would be foolish to expect consistent succeso in a push-buttoil sense. By its nature, however, one successful operation involving hypnotic influence over (say) a senior official. of a foreign governmen could richly repay uo for a fer lorger effort thon anything contemplated by the writer of this paper.

V. RECQTSMDATIOTS

l. Fut on a dononstration of hypnosla specificelly dcoigmed to show possible application to covert operntions. ihe folloring Agency officials shald initially witneso it to satisfy thersclvcs that

29

[PAGE 35]
the stateuents in this papcr are Juotified:

2. Authorize development in detail of the field-oriented ; operational program skctched nbove.

G 3.Select one 2 designate a sirgle individual in the operntional chain-ot-command a8 director of the prograti.

.4. Bet as a re-sppraisol date either onc yeor fron the tire 1
the first teaa nrrives in the test área or sooner 1f the directcr
of the proeraa feels that the test progran has failed or is failing.