feature of the Chinese brainwashing system that was used on enemy prisoners.

Small step by small step, the technique often worked better than torture in

altering prisoner cognition in favor of Chinese captors.

 

The practice of Franklin, whereunder he got approval from someone by maneuvering

him into treating Franklin favorably, works viciously well in reverse. When one

is maneuvered into deliberately hurting some other person, one will tend to

disapprove or even hate that person. This effect, from Inconsistency-Avoidance

Tendency, accounts for the insight implicit in the saying: “A man never forgets

where he has buried the hatchet.” The effect accounts for much prisoner abuse by

guards, increasing their dislike and hatred for prisoners that exists as a

consequence of the guards’ reciprocation of hostility from prisoners who are

treated like animals. Given the psychology-based hostility natural in prisons

between guards and prisoners, an intense, continuous effort should be made (1)

to prevent prisoner abuse from starting and (2) to stop it instantly when it

starts because it will grow by feeding on itself, like a cluster of infectious

disease. More psychological acuity on this subject, aided by more insightful

teaching, would probably improve the overall effectiveness of the U.S. Army.

 

So strong is Inconsistency-Avoidance Tendency that it will often prevail after

one has merely pretended to have some identity, habit, or conclusion. Thus, for

a while, many an actor sort of believes he is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. And

many a hypocrite is improved by his pretensions of virtue. And many a judge and

juror, while pretending objectivity, is gaining objectivity. And many a trial

lawyer or other advocate comes to believe what he formerly only pretended to