Line #45 Main/EmotionControl


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10	Controlling emotions is quite different from regular mind control. It lets you toy with people, brainwash them, and in some cases get a lot of result from much less effort than actual mind control demands.
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12	The SuperTrope of EmotionBomb and GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul, a character who can do Emotion Control often has one or both of these powers in their toolbox. EmotionBomb itself has a SubTrope in SupernaturalFearInducer, where the control is over fear alone.
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14	However, actual Emotion Control generally demands far more subtlety then simply [[EmotionBomb flooding someone with emotions]] or [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul stimulating someone]]. While these latter are mostly combat and incapacitation super powers, Emotion Control is more about social effects and long-term brainwashing.
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16	Unlike the subtropes, Emotion Control does not necessarily require magic, superpowers or supertech. It can also be done by an [[ManipulativeBastard extremely manipulative character]] or by mundane brainwashing techniques, making it MoreThanMindControl. Most {{Emotion Eater}}s and higher-end versions of TheEmpath have this as a {{Required Secondary Power\|s}}. Compare MindVirus. Not to be confused with EmotionSuppression, in which one keeps one's own emotions under control.
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18	----
19	!!Examples:
20	[[foldercontrol]]
21
22	[[folder:Comic Books]]
23	* Brain Boy, who appeared in ''Four Color'' and a self-titled comic series, has the power to alter people's emotional states.
24	* The ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' villain Psycho-Pirate has alternately either had the Medusa Mask that allowed him to project emotions into people or has been an "emotion vampire", able to drain emotions from people. The first mask often seems to work through intensifying emotions a person already feels, no matter how small.
25	* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
26	** The ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' villain Hate-Monger used to have to use a "Hate-Ray" to project hate, anger and fear into people... but after he [[DeathIsCheap died and was resurrected]], he was able to do the same without the ray. Oh, also he's UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler.
27	** The ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' villain Psycho-Man uses an emotion-controlling device that can instill fear, doubt and hatred. In one arc, he builds a new Hate-Monger, a {{Humanshifting}} android who infiltrates various hate groups in different disguises to spread a HatePlague.
28	** This is the mutant power of Manual "Empath" de la Rocha of the Hellions from ''ComicBook/NewMutants''.
29	** When the Terrigan Cloud starts empowered humans with latent [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Inhuman]] ancestry, two Nuhumans end up with this. One, Swain, also ends up with a prehensile tail, and the other, Romeo, is mainly notable for dating [[ComicBook/AllNewXMen the teenage version of Iceman]].
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Fan Works]]
33	* In ''Fanfic/HisDaughtersTheMiraclesOfTheFamily'', Eva's gift is the ability to control other people's emotions.
34	* In ''Fanfic/ForwardPeptuck'', this is what the "Inducer" class of psychics are capable of, coupled with more outright mind control and the periodic EmotionBomb. One of them uses these abilities to [[spoiler:take over an entire village and turn them into a killer mob]], and later [[spoiler:causes an entire space station of hundreds of people to turn on each other in a murderous fury]]. The same Inducer also uses these powers to [[spoiler:MindRape River and turn her into an effective bodyguard/human shield]].
35	* Done very subtly by Mindy to Ringo in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World''. She wants him to abandon the others and embrace the Guardians. It almost works....
36	* In ''Fanfic/PokemonTheGreatAdventure'', it is revealed to be one of Ash's empathic powers and the way he can tame some of the Pokémon he meets. The Heart Flute amplifies it, and it is implied he can also do it on non-Pokémon beings.
37	* In ''Fanfic/WarAndPeaceInMind'', this is the power of Warren's mother, Joy Peace a.k.a. the Peacemaker, one of the world's greatest superhuman diplomats.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
41	* In ''Film/TheCityOfLostChildren'', the former circus act Marcello can invoke homicidal rage out of people with a combination of Mind control music and injected poison carried by his flea minion unto the unsuspecting targets.
42	* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'': Mantis, TheEmpath, weaponizes her ability to instill emotions in a variety of creative ways over the course of the film. This includes causing a gun-wielding enemy to friendly-fire by making her overcome with rage. Drax is not amused that she induces a crush on him as a means of getting past a security guard.
43	* ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy2005'' includes the "Point of View" gun, which makes whoever you shoot it at see things from your point of view.
44	* ''Film/MysteryMen'': Dr. Heller's "Blame Thrower" influences emotions to cause groups of people to argue with each other.
45	* Kayla Silverfox from ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' can control people's minds. A major plot point is whether she [[spoiler:used her powers to influence Wolverine's emotions or whether he is truly immune as a result of his own powers]].
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Literature]]
49	* ''Literature/CodexAlera'': This is one of the secondary powers granted by some types of [[ElementalPowers crafting]]. [[DishingOutDirt Earthcrafters]] can calm animals or induce lust, while [[PlayingWithFire firecrafters]] can inspire a broad range of other emotions. However, [[TheEmpath reading existing emotions]] is specific to [[MakingASplash water]].
50	* In ''Literature/TheCurseWorkers'', Emotion workers can manipulate emotions through touch, and the effects can last for several months. One emotion worker got in serious legal trouble for [[GoldDigger making several wealthy men fall in love with her]]. However, people with this ability become emotionally unstable themselves for a time whenever they use their power. The more often they use it, the more unstable their own emotions become.
51	* In ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'', a powerful empath such as Talia can force a person to feel another person's emotions. This is used to great effect when she takes a man who sexually abused his daughter and forces him to relive the event from her perspective and feeling her emotions about it. And it won't stop until he sincerely repents.
52	* ''The Leeshore'' by Creator/RobertReed has the "wires", which are a simple form of emotional control used by [[TheAlliance both]] [[ReligionOfEvil sides]] of the [[BlackAndGrayMorality conflict]]. The good guys use it to subtly reinforce certain emotions in their soldiers and ensure loyalty, such as making them more courageous. The enemy use the device to essentially MindRape or "conscript" captured civilians soldiers into worshiping their [[DeusEstMachina artificial god]] and the priests; filling the conscript with joy whenever they please the controlling priest, or filling them with blinding rage when they think of their former allies.
53	* ''Literature/MagicForLiars'' has two examples:
54	** Ivy suggests Alexandria can do this with magic after witnessing the effects Alexandria has on peers and school staff. The staff have to inform non-magic Ivy of the enormous practical difficulties that render this magic effectively impossible.
55	** Ivy herself, though not magic, is such an extraordinary student of psychology that she regularly imposes this on others by acting mysterious or dismissing a target's strengths to draw them out.
56	* ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'': Soothing and Rioting are powers that allow you to do this -- a Rioter can inflame emotions, a Soother can damp them, and a full Mistborn can do both ([[EvilOverlord the Lord Ruler]], for example, turned himself into a walking EmotionBomb, damping all emotions in about a mile radius around him apart from fear and despair). However, a Soother or Rioter can't ''sense'' emotions, so they need to be very good at reading people to get the results they want.
57	* "Literature/TheMule": The titular Mule's PsychicPowers allow him to permanently change people's emotions, such as anger, creativity, fear, loyalty, and even lust. He explains it as like being able to see and adjust a dial in people's minds.
58	* ''Literature/PurpleHazeFeedback'' has Vladimir Kocaqui's [[FightingSpirit Stand]], Rainy Day Dream Away, which has the power to "lock in" a feeling. When his sister was fatally wounded, he locked a brief moment of happiness, causing her to experience a pleasant DyingDream; conversely, if someone fighting him feels even the slightest doubt that they can win, he can make that feeling permanent, making it impossible for his opponent to defeat him. This also extends to physical sensations such as loss of balance.
59	* Used through social conditioning throughout the ''Slaveworld'' series. Also in the form of supertech, but for the first few books, this is limited to GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul.
60	* Jasper from ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'' has this as his vampire power. The implication is that he could do this to ''non''-supernatural levels pre-vamping.
61	* ''Literature/WildCards'' has Senator Gregg Hartmann. His ace allows him to manipulate the emotions of those he has touched at least once, but he can only boost or soothe what his targets are feeling at the moment.
62	* In ''Literature/{{Zeroes}}'', Bellwether and Mob both have powers that influence the emotions of others. It's not quite to the degree of mind control, but nonetheless makes them potent at manipulating people by selectively inducing pride or shame, joy or anger.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
66	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
67	** Both Betazoids and Vulcans are shown to be able to do this [[PowerIncontinence involuntarily]] when suffering from certain neurological illnesses, as shown in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E23Sarek Sarek]]" and the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E10Fascination Fascination]]". To what extent they can do it at will is not explored.
68	** The ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]]" features an entity that [[EmotionEater feeds on hateful emotions]], and can manipulate them in others by subjecting its victims to paranoid mania, thus allowing their hateful emotions to come to the surface.
69	** In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' story "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E24S7E1Descent Descent]]", Data's "brother" Lore does this to Data by using Data's stolen emotion chip to beam emotions into Data's brain, which causes Data feel pleasure from causing pain and [[TemporarilyAVillain temporarily causing him to turn on the Federation]].
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
73	* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' adventure ''Wrath of the Seven Horsemen'', the supervillain Fear can use his scepter to cause intense terror in everyone within a large area.
74	* ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' has the Great Courts of changeling society, with seasonal motifs and a corresponding emotion (Spring = Desire, Summer = Wrath, Autumn = Fear, Winter = Sorrow). Each Court also has a corresponding [[FunctionalMagic Contract]] chain titled "Fleeting [Season]" which involves manipulating said emotion.
75	* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': Most Presence and Performance charms have this effect.
76	* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': The "Sway Emotions" form of the Enthrallment skill can induce anger, boredom, depression, disgust, fear, greed, hate, jealousy, joy, love, lust, patriotism, peace, sadness, or unrest.
77	* Part of Red's portfolio in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''. After all, one would expect the colour of emotions to have magic manipulating them.
78	%%* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' has this as a stock superpower that can induce Calm, Despair, Fear, Hate, Hope, or Love.
79	* In ''TabletopGame/MutantUA'', there are several mind-altering psychic powers: "Påverka" (affect) for Emotion Control, "Skräck" (terror) for EmotionBomb, and "Dominera" (dominate) for mind control.
80	* This is a potential mutant power in ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}''; the mutant in question may or may not be immune to the effect.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Video Games]]
84	%%* Laroth in the ''VideoGame/FallFromHeaven'' backstory.
85	* In ''VideoGame/JudgmentRites'', a being of pure emotion known as The Savant kidnaps Spock off the ''Enterprise'' and forces him to experience joy. This is speculated by Kirk to be part of the Savant's addiction to that emotion, which it can only feed through other telepathic beings like Spock. Of course, as a Vulcan, Spock's emotions are incredibly powerful and he had spent his entire life trying to suppress them, causing him both joy and agony. There is no explanation as to why the Savant keeps Spock despite this.
86	* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'':
87	** The series has a lot of DemonicPossession, most of which involve a straight GrandTheftMe and a direct conflict between the host's mind and the possessor's will. However, when [[spoiler:Raziel]] gets possessed by the Hylden after killing and consuming [[spoiler:the possessed Turel]], the control seems to take this form. Presumably, the reason for this is that he is too strong for those particular Hylden to completely dominate, and if they tried, he would realize they were there and join Kain in fighting them, whereas he apparently remains unaware of them as long as they simply amplify his already-present anger enough to make him impulsive.
88	** Kain's "[[HatePlague Inspire Hate]]" spell from ''VideoGame/{{Blood Omen\|LegacyOfKain}}'' is also an example.
89	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
90	** [[EldritchAbomination The Reapers]] (both in the games and books) have the ability of [[MindRape Indoctrination]], which sometimes takes this form. While they are able to completely overpower an organic mind through sheer force of will, the internal conflict stops the host being as effective as they might be. Consequently, with certain victims who might be useful as more than mindless drones, the Reapers are more subtle about it, and simply nudge the host's thoughts and feelings in the right direction. This also weakens the host for when the time comes to completely dominate it.
91	** The Leviathans, [[spoiler:the race that created the Catalyst which in turn created the Reapers]], possess similar mental powers which they used to establish a galactic empire. [[spoiler:The Reapers' indoctrination was even based on the Leviathans' power.]]
92	* Mesprit from ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' is the [[FantasyPantheon god of emotion]], and is said to be able to manipulate the emotions of others as a defense mechanism.
93	* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'':
94	** The Prismriver Sisters can do this through their MagicMusic (Merlin causes happiness, Lunasa causes depression, Lyrica deadens them altogether).
95	** [[GreenEyedMonster Parsee]]'s power is explicitly to [[DrivenByEnvy manipulate feelings of jealousy]].
96	** Kokoro's power is the ability to control all emotions at a wide-scale. Losing her Mask of Hope created the incident behind ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade'' [[PowerIncontinence as her out of control powers caused everyone to lose hope]].
97	* ''VideoGame/XCom'':
98	** ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'': Psionically gifted troopers can optionally use Psi Inspiration at rank 2. It boosts the willpower of those affected and calms down panicked allies.
99	** ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' has Solace, a passive ability of the Psi Operative. It's a mental aura that radiates around the Psi Operative, giving complete immunity against negative mental effects[[note]]Panic (including Berserk and Shattered), Disorientation, Stun, Mind Control and even Unconsciousness[[/note]] to anyone within it; it also neutralizes said mental effects if they're moved within Solace radius or the Psi Operative is moved near them.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Webcomics]]
103	* In ''Webcomic/AliceAndTheNightmare'', this is the Traumen gift of Hearts, although it works only in dreams.
104	* In ''Webcomic/AliceGrove'', the [[SuperSoldier superhuman fighters]] who were created during the apocalyptic wars prior to [[ResetButton the Blink]] were given mental compulsions to keep them under control. Sedna, who only worked in a support role, is compelled to fix machinery, while Alice and Church, who were apparently front-line soldiers based on their abilities, are compelled to serve others.
105	* [[SuccubiAndIncubi 'cubi]] in ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' can do a variation on this to other 'cubi who let their guard down, by exploiting their own EmotionEater abilities against them.
106	* [[TheEmpath Empaths]] in ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' have the ability to manipulate emotions, draw out existing ones, and overcharge them to the point of death. The Drowussu peoples, specifically the Val'Kyorl'solenurn clan, have a huge number of empaths, and they generally serve as either [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul Inquisitors]] or {{Seers}}, the latter which obtain visions by sensing the desires and goals of other drow (early chapters did portray them as genuine Seers, but was later quietly {{Retcon}}ned to a special type of empath). While Inquisitor is a gender-neutral position, Seers among the Kyorls are [[GenderRestrictedAbility always female]], and the Order of the Holy Eye is populated by women with the ability.
107	* Magus from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' has the ability to strongly amplify existing emotions in his targets. Afterward, his targets have splitting headaches and short-term amnesia.
108	* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'': Miho's character could do this within the Endgames world. It's a matter of much [[EpilepticTrees debate]] of whether she has the ability to do this out of game or not.
109	* Moodswing from ''Webcomic/{{Mindmistress}}'' could do this. It worked even on Mindmistress. It was a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome when MM managed to trick and defeat her, despite being under her control.
110	* Malloy from ''Webcomic/{{Morphe}}'' casts an emotional-urging spell on Adrestia in [[http://morphe.thewebcomic.com/comics/1784893/chapter-2-page-13-emotional-urging/ this comic]] to force her to remain calm after subtly threatening people close to her.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Web Originals]]
114	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'':
115	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-288 SCP-288 ("The "Stepford Marriage" Rings")]]: When an appropriate woman wears one of the "female" rings, she displays very few (if any) negative emotions.
116	** [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-708 SCP-708 ("The Big Orange Forklift")]]: When someone looks at SCP-708 for more than 20 seconds, they become extremely enthusiastic about it and want to operate it. Anyone restrained from operating it will engage in emotional outbursts like a young child. Anyone who has been looking at SCP-708 or has operated it before feels jealousy at seeing anyone else operating it.
117	* Frank of the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' can't help broadcasting emotions. Frank isn't his name, it's his codename, because you always know what he's feeling. Without his power-limiter helmet, he would be swamping entire sections of the school with his emotions.
118	* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'':
119	** Heartbreaker has the ability to instantly cause other people to feel any emotion he wants. His favorite hobby is brainwashing beautiful women into loving him and doing whatever he asks of them.
120	** Cherish, Heartbreaker's daughter, inherited her father's emotional manipulation power. She perceives other people's emotions in the form of music. During her Interlude, she claims that she can also make people associate her person with a specific emotion if she manipulates them long enough, [[spoiler:as she plans do to with her Slaughterhouse Nine teammates]].
121	** Gallant can shoot blasts that have kinetic energy behind them but also change the target's emotional status.
122	** The Simurgh also has this power, as a result of being the only actual telepath in the setting.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Western Animation]]
126	* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'': Baron Silas Greenback once used a cornet to heavily influence the titular Danger Mouse's emotions, incapacitating him.
127	* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFourTheAnimatedSeries'', Reed Richards discovers an element that amplifies human emotions while probing alternate dimensions, but it turns out that he unknowingly took Element X from the possession of a shape-shifting tyrant, who tracks it back to the Fantastic Four lab building and, not satisfied with merely trying to take it back, uses his emotion-controlling weapons to kidnap and "punish" the Fantastic Four and Alicia. They manage to escape [[HoistByHisOwnPetard when Suzie turns the alien's Hate Cannon on the alien himself, filling him with crippling self-hatred]].
128	* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'', several Joes have a device implanted on their necks that allows Cobra to control their emotions. Cobra's chosen interface for the system? [[OminousPipeOrgan A pipe organ]].
129	* In the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "[[Recap/KimPossibleS3E2EmotionSickness Emotion Sickness]]", Kim and Shego accidentally get implanted with computer chips which allow their emotions to be changed via a remote-control device.
130	* Wow of the ''WesternAnimation/VBirds'' is capable of influencing those around her into a calmer state, even carnivorous plants.
131	[[/folder]]

Context Main / EmotionControl