Analysis Of Project MK-Ultra

Though 45 years have passed since the end of Project MK-Ultra the name remains evident in the media of the United States today. The 1953-1975 experiments ran by the CIA are known to be one of the most notorious clandestine projects ever conducted to this date. Project MK-Ultra strived to gain a deeper understanding of the human mind through mind control. During the time the experiments were conducted, it was believed that mind control could be made possible by using the correct drug. The studies conducted during the MK-Ultra project period left the subjects’ brains and personalities in a state that they did not begin with. The use of psychedelics in experiments is the reason for this. Project MK-Ultra was a top secret project conducted by
The fear of communism brought rumors and suspicion of the brainwashing of American prisoners of war (Dunne, 2013, p.14). Suspicion eventually turned into reality when American soldiers would return home and tell stories of the horrifying brainwashing techniques used across the seas. To combat the claims, the director of the CIA at the time, Allen Dulles, approved Project MK-Ultra. The project intended to create techniques that could be used against enemies to control human behavior with drugs and psychological manipulation ( History.com staff,
Subject’s claims and scientific study have worked to make it clear that, that belief is not true. Test subjects and their family members have made claims that the subjects current personality is not what it once was. Study has shown that psychedelics commonly help users to open up. A user could be a very closed in introvert but psychedelics can help to open them up and cause a change that resembles extrovert activity. Psychedelics tend to change personalities to be intellectually curious, artistically sensitive, and to have active imaginations. Evidence supports that personality traits can change over time due to major events happening or even just over a person's life span. While using psychedelics an instant change is shown, it is possible for this change to remain even after the effectiveness of the drug has left the body. Studies have shown that experimental users who showed openness, two weeks later they were more optimistic without having to use the drug. Study supports the likeliness of MK-Ultra experiments leaving lasting personality changes (McGreal,S,