I was doing some thinking about mind control over the past few days and given that Agents of SHIELD is talking about mind control today I thought I'd look at the history and see if I could assauge my fears about the loss of Agency and it's history in science fiction. I'm - supremely bothered by the idea of Daisy Johnson losing her sense of agency to Hive. It's reminsicent of Jessica Jones and there are parts of me that don't trust the writers to do it well given that there have been other characters who have been mind controlled who they have not given the same sort of treatment to and it has not been addressed well.
Did they need to address it? I asked myself. Do they have a responsibility to show the severity of this to the audience? Yes, I said. I bet they will, since Daisy is the main character and star of the show, however what could I do, if anything, to help them further this agenda? This has not been addressed well in the past. While my favorite was and is Grant Ward, I recognized that there were dozens of other characters who were also suffering from a need for psychological help. I have no training but I could find facts. Yes! Facts that might help ease my fears as someone who was thrown into a fit by last week's episode. Facts and relating this to the real world, reminding myself that these characters are in no way shape or form real, will help me and possibly help others. good!
According to Wikipedia, mind control is a narrative device that is used to "induce changes in behavior in the characters, used as a device for raising tension in the audience and uncertainty in the context of the cold war and terrorism. It's true historically that individuals have attempted mind control and brain washing in our reality. Let's take a look - briefly at what that means.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brainwashing.htm - this is the third entry on google about brainwashing. It relates to attempts by chinese and korean captors to change the minds of American soldiers. By the end of the war they had confessed to practicing germ warfare as well as promised to convert to communism. At least 21 soldiers refused to return to the United States after the war.
However as the article points out, 21 out of over 20,000 soldiers isn't particularly encouraging statistics. It's still an impressive idea. What if you could change a person's thoughts? Hypnotists make people cluck like chickens and dance like monkeys, that's a loss of agency that people laugh at. Why when it's not funny? Can you give up your free will willingly?
It turns out that yes, you can. A form of this happens every day called "Social Influence" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_influence. This occurs when someone's behavior is influenced by others. There are three different types of this:
Compliance is when people appear to agree with others, but actually keep their dissenting opinions private.
Example: "People enjoy riding flying bananas. I find flying bananas are unsafe, but because the majority of my friends have strapped in and are taking off I want them to be happy so I support their trips on flying bananas.
Identification is when people are influenced by someone who is liked and respected, such as a famous celebrity.
Example: Chloe Bennet, Clark Gregg, and Brett Dalton have all been paid ungodly sums of money by the flying banana company to ride around on flying bananas and sell them to me. The majority of my friends would walk through fire to bring Clark Gregg a glass of water, and who am I kidding Brett Dalton could sell ice to eskimos not to mention Chloe Bennet is - well. Chloe. Therefore I set aside my misgivings about flying bananas and purchase one. I could die since I don't have the expensive model they're riding. But their image is so convincing to me that I am willing to obey my corporate masters and procure one.
Internalization is when people accept a belief or behavior and agree both publicly and privately.
Example: I have always enjoyed my flying banana it has carried me through good times and bad ones therefore I support it's existence.
In essence, social influence is something that we give up every day living in a world where cocacola exists, marvel wants us to buy their products, and there's a thriving flying banana industry. How does that relate to agency? That's a word that was also thrown around a lot last episode in regards to Daisy as well as in regards to Kilgrave. What's Agency? Why does it matter to me?
Google defines The "sense of agency" (SA) (or sense of control) refers to the subjective awareness that one is initiating, executing, and controlling one's own volitional actions in the world. It is the pre-reflective awareness or implicit sense that it is I who is executing bodily movement(s) or thinking thoughts.
That's the first google entry. Right below that is an article by Mary C Lamia, PHD. The first paragraph reads like this.
Your ability to take action, be effective, influence your own life, and assume responsibility for your behavior are important elements in what you bring to a relationship. This sense of agency is essential for you to feel in control of your life: to believe in your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behavior, and have faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks or situations. Having a sense of agency influences your stability as a separate person; it is your capacity to be psychologically stable, yet resilient or flexible, in the face of conflict or change.
As an abuse victim, that's pretty important and reading it I recognize that in my day to day life I don't have a sense of agency on a day to day basis - or at least a lot of it. I give into other people's opinions, I allow myself to be influenced socially (damn you flying bananas) and my personal opinions are often a little skewed by what is right and what is popular. People who have a stronger sense of self can and do manipulate me on a regular basis. It's no wonder I'd be triggered by a person like Daisy getting hit by Hive. It's no wonder that I identified and related to Ward who was also brainwashed in a more conventional sense by John Garrett. The GIs who were subjected to beatings and torturings said they were responsible for their own actions too as well as the bankers in stockholm and Patty Hearst supported the causes of her kidnappers.
We'll get to those guys later.
Is it time to let this trope go? Do the struggles of Jessica Jones and the horrors of what's happened to Daisy, Ward, and perhaps even Phil Coulson and Melinda May (the social influence of an organization like SHIELD that had been corrupted from within for decades by an organization like HYDRA is probably largely responsible for their attitudes too. Phil Coulson is a man I grew up with, why would he encourage Lincoln Campbell to put himself in danger with a murder vest? I may not like Lincoln but that's not okay by a long shot. Is the social influence of someone like Nick Fury responsible for Phil's cold behavior? For Melinda May's lack of emotion and the decision that led to her breaking down and suffering PTSD?)
Are these stories that don't deserve to be told?
If anything the strongest evidence for keeping the mind control trope is purely because this is stuff I didn't know about until I researched it. I didn't know what agency is or was, it was a word thrown around by tumblr as something I should have and I was socially influenced into thinking that it was something that I needed by a group of people without knowing what it was. Why would I listen, to a group of people when I had no idea what they're talking about or why this is a good thing? I instinctively knew it was good, but it was still a form of influence and if I wanted to live a life free of influence, or at least being aware of my choices and agency then I should have known about it. Simple logic right?
It's hard to admit that to be a part of society we have to give up a degree of control. Mostly because the fact about brainwashing is that we don't know how well it works in the long run. Some psychologists say that brainwashing is full proof and others say it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Let's take a look at an important case that relates to brainwashing. That of Patty Hearst and the bankers in stockholm.
In 1974 Patricia Hearst was kidnapped by a radicalized terrorist group and held against her will. She was found 19 months after her kidnapping. It was discovered that she was forced to commit several crimes, during her imprisonment and had joined the terrorist cause. She was eventually jailed before her sentence was commuted and she was then pardoned.
Another example is the case that gave us stockholm syndrome. In 1973 several bankers were held hostage by a group of robbers. For six days they lived with the robbers and became emotionally attached to them. This reminds me quite a bit of Grant Ward - and how even with his history that made him more receptive to Garrett's influence. You can read about that issue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome and how from an evolutionary standpoint we often bond against our will with those who have power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Hearst Patty's story is an ugly one, but it's important not because it relates to Daisy Johnson or Jessica Jones. Those aren't real people and those characters do not have real physical family members or loved ones. They are representative however of something that actually happens to people and has happened to others in history, and it's something that continues to happen every day. The disconnect comes in choosing to just see it as a story and not acknowledge that these are people who are influenced socially every day to give up parts of their agency, not to mention to those unfortunate few who might be - even now under the influence of someone who is taking away their sense of agency or their sense of right and wrong.
This happens, intentionally and unintentionally, all the time. Human beings are social creatures, we want to please and we want to be loved. Fiction can serve as a means of recognizing the flaws within ourselves as well as telling a kick-ass story and the disturbing nature of these stories can only underscore the flaws within ourselves. Stockholm and Patty Hearst are just as important as Jessica Jones, Daisy Johnson, Grant Ward, SHIELD's agents, HYDRA's agents, Clint Barton, and especially Bucky Barnes. From the unending struggle of prisoners of war, and the Iran Hostage Crisis to the modern day depiction of child soldiers in countries like africa These things happen every day
However people's willingness to look at these characters as the only example of how things like this turn out is both frustrating and a demonstration of the collective lack of agency of the internet as a whole. Nine times out of ten these stories do have a happy ending with recovery, positive messages, and acknowledgement that this is an issue that needs to be studied. Nine out of ten people not directly involved in the fandom will see this positivity for what it is, but it is that close relationship with characters and writer that makes it difficult to witness.
Almost as if you've willingly given up your agency or overly bonded with your captor - or a person in control.
The only conclusion I can draw from this is that we shouldn't give up the mind control trope. It's difficult to watch but we should instead think critically about all of those directly affected by it and apply those lessons and the struggle of those who come back in fiction to those who might need to come back in fact. Those who don't should be mourned and without spoiling things I can say that the issue is addressed in Civil War, and they do it beautifully.
The fact comes with the idea that as we've become more educated there's quite a few people who might see this as not okay. In a stunning move similar to what happened to Patty Hearst ( who was clearly brainwashed but still convicted until the science caught up with the emotional turmoil) the internet has become more and more educated about the issues affecting those weaker and those who are in a minority about how to live their lives. This episode might be potentially upsetting for a lot of people and it is the goal and effort of this post ot take people out of the fantasy (It is a fantasy. Chloe Bennet is fine. Brett Dalton is fine. They are in no danger. Neither has actually been abused or abused others.) and try and learn from other fandoms. Let's encourage a dialogue now.
If you are triggered by any of the things in this episode tonight, here is a list of websites that might be able to help. Remember, there is not a single person in this series,- yes I will make that blanket statement - who isn't a victim and who doesn't represent some real life trauma or tragedy. Art is the vanguard to education. Arm yourself with knowledge.
https://rainn.org/ - Rape, abuse, incest national network. I should hope that ABC won't decide to consummate Haisy, but should they do that then this issue has counselors for those who might be triggered.
http://www.cultwatch.com/how-to-leave-recover.html - escaping from a cult, similar to something that Hive has going on or seemingly wants to build with his sect of inhumans.
http://www.irct.org/news-and-mediaold/multimedia/video/overcoming-psychological-torture.aspx - overcoming psychological torture in the real world and what that can mean for you.
http://stoprelationshipabuse.org/educated/barriers-to-leaving-an-abusive-relationship/ - Leaving an Abusive relationship and talking about it. If something that you see on tonight's agents of shield resonates with you personally please reach out to someone within the community or to these links and speak to a trained professional.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ - if ANY PART of this story, ANY PART IN ANY CAPACITY makes you question your self worth or feel like taking your life please reach out to these professionals. I am unashamed to admit that I have used them, the tools are there for a reason and there is no judgement whatsoever.
http://verbalabusejournals.com/about-abuse/brainwashing-and-domestic-abuse/how-to-control-your-mind-brainwashing/ - How to regain control of your mind after brainwashing.
http://emergingfrombroken.com/emotional-healing-and-busting-through-brainwashing/
http://leavingabuse.com/emotional-abuse-help-guide/ - what is abuse? how do we define abuse?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201305/confronting-emotional-abuser - how to confront an abuser in your life. It does not entail murdering them or encouraging them to murder themselves.
http://www.hiddenhurt.co.uk/cycle_of_abuse.html - the cycle of abuse is a large part of Grant Ward's storyline. How real is it? Are you doomed to repeat the mistakes of those who hurt you? Is an abuser a victim as well? Draw your own conclusions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hostage_crises - a list of hostage crisis's - and their outcomes. Which is what this is, a hostage crisis set in a fictional universe.
Just in case this needs this:
THIS IS A POST I MADE TO HELP MYSELF FEEL BETTER. It became a post about trying to offer assistance because I - as an abuse victim and a person who has experienced individuals like Kilgrave in both friends and family - am taking control of this particular storyline FOR MYSELF, and wanted to share what was helpful to me with others.
I DID THIS BECAUSE i WANTED TO HELP this post is in no way any attempt to hurt or mislead others. I did my best to report all of these facts as impartially as I could and provide links to the information.
I AM SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LIST OF LINKS If you feel it's incomplete or you have a story to share please feel free to reblog and share! HOWEVER-
THIS IS NOT A POST FOR CHARACTER BASHING, BLAMING, VICTIM BLAMING, OR ANY OTHER CHARACTER DISCUSSION. The whole aim of this post was to provide real world examples of fictional horror in an effort to point out that These are things that actually happen and it turns out different then stories portray it for everyone. If Grant Ward really existed he would have been jailed and then executed for his crimes against the United States, same as Bucky Barnes no matter what the circumstances.
That happens however because people don't know a lot about brainwashing and are unwilling to confront the realities of mental and emotional abuse.
Which brings us back to this post.
IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT I HAVE POSTED PLEASE KEEP IT OFF THIS POST.
This post is meant to be a repository of links for people who might be concerned about tonight's storyline or feel triggered in the wake of this particular story. It is meant to be a safe haven. Feel free to send any hate to me, but I can pretty much promise that dissenting opinions will be read and then deleted. I will not be responding. I'm not doing this to start a character war, this needs to be done so that people don't send hate to brett, or chloe, or any of the other actors or writers over these creative decisions. It's gonna happen anyway, but at least ideally this post might exist with some helpful notes
If you feel triggered, or you are hurt, or you feel any sort of emotional imbalance on behalf of any character in this story your feelings are valid. Taking those feelings out on others however is never okay. Sending harassing anonymous messages, harassing messages period to any particular fan of anything connected to this show or trying to rile up anybody makes you grosser then hive, nastier then the red skull, and more disgusting then Kilgrave. If you are feeling these feelings strongly please avail yourselves of these links or - most importantly - step away from the internet and disengage with the fantasy
If you cannot stand idle while you have these feelings then engage with these causes on a real world level, or write a respectful letter as many others in fandoms have done.
Do not give control to people who have never met you, who don't know your story or your struggles. Our stories are different but we're all still human and it's past time we tried to reach out to each other.
blakekathryn
kianamaiart
titsay
germansingergirl
pixelskylines
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
stormborns
