I recall reading, many years ago, an account of POW’s in the Korean war. My
memory is a bit vague, but as I remember there was a psychological study done,
including extensive interviews, on POW’s from a specific North Korean interment
camp. This was supposed to have been an experiment intending to turn the POW’s
into strong believers in the communist cause. As I recall they started out by treating
the POW’s very humanely w/ good food, comfortable quarters, etc.
They had english speaking instructors who were fairly subtle in coercing the
prisoners. One of the early exercises consisted in having each man recite an mildly
embarrassing event from their past. Apparently this went on for several days and
there was even some camaraderie established including an atmosphere of humor. The
sessions escalated to a point where the men had to tell a story or suffer a loss of
privileges and/or some punishment. The stories became more and more personal and
revealing. Some tried to fabricate stories, but even that proved to have negative
impact on the individual, and if they were caught lying they also suffered punishment.
The pressure became so great that some of the men actually went into deep
depression and several died w/o any obvious reason, other than simply having lost all
hope of ever being able to return to their former lives. Of course this process took
place over many months.
I seem to remember that the psychiatrist, who conducted and oversaw, this project
was named Fox or Wolfe, something like that.
Has anyone heard of this?
I’ve tried to find a reference on the net, w/o success.
Would this be what you’re looking for?
Found in the bibliography to this article.
Yep, that’s it. Now I’m trying to find the actual study, may have to go to the library. Thanks.