Hypnosis and Mind Control - The Differences

There are two phrases that I see get thrown around in the furry community (especially in kink scenarios, but not exclusively), and those are hypnosis and mind control. They get used pretty interchangeably too, but I’d argue they’re not the same. To be clear, I’m not trying to be the grammar police. I’m not saying you have to adhere to these definitions or uses, but it’s something I wanted to write about nonetheless.

Mind Control

Mind control is what most people think of when it comes to coercion: Making a person do something against their will, maybe even something that goes against their moral compass. Prime examples include a super villain brainwashing a hero, military experiments along the lines of MK Ultra, or some kind of technology that forces a person to be influenced. For a prime example, let’s look at one of my favorite bad guys in fiction: The Borg.

I don’t think anyone would call what the Borg does to it’s drones ‘hypnosis’. It’s certainly mind control via the use of cybernetic and neural implants, directly connecting their brain to the group consciousness and overriding their own thoughts. The Borg don’t dangle a pocket watch in front of Jean Luc Picard’s face and get him to betray his own people. No, what the Borg do is 100% mind control.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is the art of suggestion, slipping thoughts and ideas into someone’s mind, and them allowing those thoughts to become their own. It requires consent and trust, and won’t work with an unwilling participant. With hypnosis, the participant is always in control, and at any point can speak up and voice any objections they may have.

The Distinction

I can understand why people would use the two terms interchangeably, as there is some degree of crossover, especially in fiction.