Bruce Jessen - Notes on Detainment Strategies
Transcribed to the best of my ability
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Outline of Instruction:
Work on your conviction, eliminate doubt by job proficiency, study, discussion with others, understanding the big picture. Conviction results in a focus of your abilities and a belief in the necessity of your mission.
Training to deal with detention is extremely important. Obviously, you are making this preparation by attending this course. The benefit which comes from this type of training is the result of academic stress inoculation, and stress resolution. The instruction you receive makes you aware of those issues most critical to dealing with detention. The stress inoculation comes with a realistic exposure to a setting(s) which approximate(s) the potential detention situation you may find yourself ion. Just like you receive inoculations for potential physical illness, stress inoculation produces psychological antibodies which reduce the overall effects of the captivity and improve your ability to resist. The third part of your training is stress resolution. Your experience with instruction and the laboratory allow you the opportunity to "resolve" potential resistance problems in the best way possible; by trying them out (or seeing others try them), determining how you have done, and making necessary adjustments. A dedicated effort to apply what you have learned in academics in the laboratory and then examining your performance and resolving any problems you encounter will be the single most important thing you can do to prepare for detention. This training can give you a distinct advantage over those who have not received it, should you find yourself in a detention situation.
Once in detention, it is vital that you understand your detainers' motives. From the moment you are detained (if some form of exploitation is your detainers' goal) everything your detainer does will be contrived to bring about these factors: Control, Dependency, Compliance and Cooperation. "Collaboration is the most prominent deliberately controlled force against the prisoner" (Albert Biderman)
Pressure you receive from your detainer will be a contrived application of stressors which are designed to manipulate you towards his goal of collaboration (i.e. fear of the [?], lack of control, dehumanization, isolation, sensory deprivation/flood, physical deprivation/flood, [?], Depression, etc.)
Detention stress and its cumulative effects: Before we talk about stress in detention, we need to understand some basic information about stress in general. Under normal, everyday conditions, the typical pattern of human functioning can be compared to a mildly undulating line wave contrasted on the ideal or perfect line of functioning. The ideal line (homeostatis) is just that, an ideal which is never maintained all the time. The wave line more accurately represents typical, day-to-day functioning. The waves in the line represent physical and psychological stressors, which occur in life and cause us to adjust and seek to move back towards the ideal (an infection results in increased production of white blood cells, a depressing experience causes us to withdraw socially, a promotion results in increased responsibility/visibility, significant weight loss results in increased attention from the opposite sex, etc.) Under normal circumstances, we have a tremendous ability to correct these imbalances and move back towards ideal balance.
So, we see that stress, in and of itself, is not bad. Stress, in fact, results in improved performance when experienced at optimum levels (stress results in improved muscle strength, intellectual ability, coping behaviour, endurance, etc.) However, the relationship between stress and performance is not linear. Initially, as stress increases, so does performance, but when stress continues at increasing levels, performance declines. In normal everyday life, we are usually able to maintain a desirable balance between stress and performance. Only infrequently do we experience a decrease in performance caused by too much stress. When this happens, because we have control of our world, we make necessary adjustments to reduce the pressures of stressors and as a result we move back to the peak performance range (remember tacometer [sic] example.)
The stress of detention will also evoke increased performance. The detainee will mobilize his/her resistance and coping mechanisms and prepare to deal with the situation. Unlike every day experiences, however, as a detainee we could be subjected to stressors/coercive pressures which we cannot completely control. If these stressors are manipulated to [?...] and increased against us, the cumulative effect can push us out of the optimum range of functioning. This is what the detainer wants, to get us "off-balance." The detainer wants us to experience a loss of composure in hopes we can be manipulated into some kind of collaboration. He does not, however, want to push us too far because that would degrade the cooperative appearance he hopes to obtain. If the detainer would choose to push us as far as he could (Worst Case Scenario) in terms of applying all the physical and psychological pressure he could, what would happen? If we were subjected to that much stress, we would experience "Loss of Consciousness". In this state, we would be of no collaborative value (in this sense, you would be safe.) In fact, in the eyes of the world, this would be a liability to our detainer.
What if you were not pushed to unconsciousness but your detainer still overwhelmed you with significant stress? In this range, you would experience "Loss of Reality" Again, this would not serve his purposes. It would be obvious to our neutral observer that your behaviour was psychologically compromised. Again, in that sense, you would be safe. It is not in these states that your detainer wants you, rather he wants you at the stage of "Loss of Composure." Just as your performance starts to drop because of the stress you are experiencing you enter this range of "Loss of Composure." This is where you are most vulnerable to exploitation. This is where you are most likely to make mistakes, show emotions, act impulsively, becomes discouraged, etc. You are still close enough o being intact that you would appear convincing and your behaviour would appear uncensored.
Stress warning signs: There are some universal reactions which can serve as a warning to help you avoid making mistakes and experiencing loss of composure. When you become aware of these reactions, you should use your resistance and coping techniques to get yourself back to the optimum range of performance. These signals include:
· Resentment
· Depression
· Fear
· Anxiety
To help the detainee with resistance and coping with detention, there are some universal coping methods which have proven to be effective over time by individuals in a variety of detention settings. These methods includes:
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Outline of Instruction:
- Motivation: your most important tool in captivity is psychological composure. Your detainers can manipulate and control your external environment almost at will. You have control of your internal processes. Psychological preparation is the most beneficial thing you can do to reduce the effects of detention.
- Overview: Pre-Detention preparation, Psychological effects of detention, coping with detention
- Pre-Detention Preparation: Each individual needs a conviction of purpose in their mission. This conviction should include an understanding of how you fit into the "Big Picture" (individual role, unit mission, service objective, DoD objective, national goals.)
Work on your conviction, eliminate doubt by job proficiency, study, discussion with others, understanding the big picture. Conviction results in a focus of your abilities and a belief in the necessity of your mission.
- Have your life in order! Unresolved life issues drain energy which could be better used in resisting and coping with detention. Resolve intrapersonal issues like self-[?], anxiety, depression, dissatisfaction, and anger by seeking guidance from peers, family or professionals.
- Resolve interpersonal conflicts at home, work and in your social life. Do what you can to resolve or reduce this source of energy drain.
- Financial concerns are another major source of energy drain. Allotments, bank accounts, insurance beneficiaries, etc. should be taken care of now.
- Legal and administrative matters are also important areas to resolve and keep current. Items such as powers of attorney and your will should be completed and discussed with appropriate others.
- Professional preparation is vital! Confidence in your ability to do your job is necessary. As noted before, it is also important to understand how your job fits in the national scheme of things, both functionally and philosophically.
Training to deal with detention is extremely important. Obviously, you are making this preparation by attending this course. The benefit which comes from this type of training is the result of academic stress inoculation, and stress resolution. The instruction you receive makes you aware of those issues most critical to dealing with detention. The stress inoculation comes with a realistic exposure to a setting(s) which approximate(s) the potential detention situation you may find yourself ion. Just like you receive inoculations for potential physical illness, stress inoculation produces psychological antibodies which reduce the overall effects of the captivity and improve your ability to resist. The third part of your training is stress resolution. Your experience with instruction and the laboratory allow you the opportunity to "resolve" potential resistance problems in the best way possible; by trying them out (or seeing others try them), determining how you have done, and making necessary adjustments. A dedicated effort to apply what you have learned in academics in the laboratory and then examining your performance and resolving any problems you encounter will be the single most important thing you can do to prepare for detention. This training can give you a distinct advantage over those who have not received it, should you find yourself in a detention situation.
Once in detention, it is vital that you understand your detainers' motives. From the moment you are detained (if some form of exploitation is your detainers' goal) everything your detainer does will be contrived to bring about these factors: Control, Dependency, Compliance and Cooperation. "Collaboration is the most prominent deliberately controlled force against the prisoner" (Albert Biderman)
- Control: Your detainers will work to take away your sense of control. This will be done mostly by removing external control (i.e. sleep, food, communication, light, personal routines, etc.) You will need to shift more of your energy and concentration to internal control (mind control.)
- Dependency: Your detainer wants you to feel "Everything" is dependent on him, from the smallest detail (food, sleep, human interaction) to your release or your very life.
- Compliance: Your detainer wants you to comply with everything he wishes. He will attempt to make everything, from your personal comfort to your release, unavoidably connected to compliance in your mind.
- Cooperation: This is the end goal of your detainer. He wants you to see that he has "Total" control of you because you are completely dependent on him, and thus you must comply with his wishes, therefore it is absolutely inevitable that you must collaborate with him in some way (Propaganda, special [?], confession, etc.)
Pressure you receive from your detainer will be a contrived application of stressors which are designed to manipulate you towards his goal of collaboration (i.e. fear of the [?], lack of control, dehumanization, isolation, sensory deprivation/flood, physical deprivation/flood, [?], Depression, etc.)
Detention stress and its cumulative effects: Before we talk about stress in detention, we need to understand some basic information about stress in general. Under normal, everyday conditions, the typical pattern of human functioning can be compared to a mildly undulating line wave contrasted on the ideal or perfect line of functioning. The ideal line (homeostatis) is just that, an ideal which is never maintained all the time. The wave line more accurately represents typical, day-to-day functioning. The waves in the line represent physical and psychological stressors, which occur in life and cause us to adjust and seek to move back towards the ideal (an infection results in increased production of white blood cells, a depressing experience causes us to withdraw socially, a promotion results in increased responsibility/visibility, significant weight loss results in increased attention from the opposite sex, etc.) Under normal circumstances, we have a tremendous ability to correct these imbalances and move back towards ideal balance.
So, we see that stress, in and of itself, is not bad. Stress, in fact, results in improved performance when experienced at optimum levels (stress results in improved muscle strength, intellectual ability, coping behaviour, endurance, etc.) However, the relationship between stress and performance is not linear. Initially, as stress increases, so does performance, but when stress continues at increasing levels, performance declines. In normal everyday life, we are usually able to maintain a desirable balance between stress and performance. Only infrequently do we experience a decrease in performance caused by too much stress. When this happens, because we have control of our world, we make necessary adjustments to reduce the pressures of stressors and as a result we move back to the peak performance range (remember tacometer [sic] example.)
The stress of detention will also evoke increased performance. The detainee will mobilize his/her resistance and coping mechanisms and prepare to deal with the situation. Unlike every day experiences, however, as a detainee we could be subjected to stressors/coercive pressures which we cannot completely control. If these stressors are manipulated to [?...] and increased against us, the cumulative effect can push us out of the optimum range of functioning. This is what the detainer wants, to get us "off-balance." The detainer wants us to experience a loss of composure in hopes we can be manipulated into some kind of collaboration. He does not, however, want to push us too far because that would degrade the cooperative appearance he hopes to obtain. If the detainer would choose to push us as far as he could (Worst Case Scenario) in terms of applying all the physical and psychological pressure he could, what would happen? If we were subjected to that much stress, we would experience "Loss of Consciousness". In this state, we would be of no collaborative value (in this sense, you would be safe.) In fact, in the eyes of the world, this would be a liability to our detainer.
What if you were not pushed to unconsciousness but your detainer still overwhelmed you with significant stress? In this range, you would experience "Loss of Reality" Again, this would not serve his purposes. It would be obvious to our neutral observer that your behaviour was psychologically compromised. Again, in that sense, you would be safe. It is not in these states that your detainer wants you, rather he wants you at the stage of "Loss of Composure." Just as your performance starts to drop because of the stress you are experiencing you enter this range of "Loss of Composure." This is where you are most vulnerable to exploitation. This is where you are most likely to make mistakes, show emotions, act impulsively, becomes discouraged, etc. You are still close enough o being intact that you would appear convincing and your behaviour would appear uncensored.
Stress warning signs: There are some universal reactions which can serve as a warning to help you avoid making mistakes and experiencing loss of composure. When you become aware of these reactions, you should use your resistance and coping techniques to get yourself back to the optimum range of performance. These signals include:
- Intense emotions not well controlled such as
· Resentment
· Depression
· Fear
· Anxiety
- Impulsivity
- Intellectualization - Need to prove competence
- Arrogance
- Hyperverbalization
- Hypervigilance
- Heightened self-orientation
- Using "Black and White Responses"
- Having a total success or failure orientation
- Unrealistic expectations of self or others
- Guilt over mistakes
- Poor attention span
- Difficulties with decision making
- Regression
To help the detainee with resistance and coping with detention, there are some universal coping methods which have proven to be effective over time by individuals in a variety of detention settings. These methods includes:
- Take control (internal and external where possible)
- Communicate
- Set realistic goals
- Use humor
- Faith keeping
- Understand your detainer's motives
- Adapt (food, language, culture, fellow detainers)
- Organize self / group
- Discipline self, have a regular duty day