History Main / BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood

So, the heroes have finally captured [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Duke Diabolico]], yay! ... [[AndThenWhat so now what?]] He's repeatedly proven he not only [[CardCarryingVillain doesn't want to reform]], but will turn any such attempts into another [[EvilPlan dastardly scheme]] by [[CiVillain masquerading as reformed]], and the CardboardPrison is looking especially porous right now. Plus, he's proven smart enough to defy being a {{Self-Disposing Villain}} and even if the heroes [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim weren't too principled to kill]], he's also avoided [[IDidWhatIHadToDo giving the heroes]] (and [[BigDamnVillains other villains]]) reasons to kill him.

So, the heroes have finally captured [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Duke Diabolico]], yay! ... [[AndThenWhat so now what?]] He's repeatedly proven he not only [[CardCarryingVillain doesn't want to reform]], but will turn any such attempts into another [[EvilPlan dastardly scheme]] by [[CiVillain masquerading as reformed]], and the CardboardPrison is looking especially porous right now. Plus, he's proven smart enough to defy being a {{Self-Disposing Villain}} and even if the heroes [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim weren't too principled to kill]], he's also avoided [[IDidWhatIHadToDo giving the heroes]] (and [[BigDamnVillains other villains]]) [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim reasons to kill him.]]

* ''DoctorWho'', "The Mind of Evil." The Keller Machine removed the impulse to commit evil acts by subjecting its victims to their worst fears. Sometimes those fears would kill the people the machine's inventors intended to cure, which anticipates ''ANightmareOnElmStreet'' as well as echoing ''AClockworkOrange''.

There's only one thing to do, administer [[{{Brainwashed}} Brainwashing]]... but for the greater good! This can be done with varying degrees of squick. Heroes might go the "soft" route and administer {{Care Bear Stare}}s, use ThePowerOfLove and [[ThePowerOfFriendship Friendship]], and in conjunction with [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath "motivational" speeches]] trigger a [[MoreThanMindControl quasi-voluntary]] HeelFaceTurn. In cases when the villain isn't so much [[AntiVillain Anti]] as CompleteMonster, more extreme methods are used. LaserGuidedAmnesia, implanting an entirely new (good) personality and putting it in control, a RestrainingBolt, and basically [[LossOfIdentity killing the original person(ality)]].

The creepy thing isn't so much that [[WhatTheHellHero it's the heroes who are doing this]], but that it often ''[[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans works.]]''

Who cares about MindOverManners if Duke Diabolico is no longer a threat and is helping old ladies cross the street? He might even join the heroes, and help capture and brain wash other, less evil villains. But why stop there? Why not [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul paint smiles on everyone's soul?]] Eventually the heroes will be dumped at the bottom of the [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope slippery slope]], a world of GreyAndGrayMorality where the horrific after-effects manifest. And trust us, it will always eventually GoHorriblyWrong.

If Duke Diabolico doesn't spontaneously relapse and kill willy nilly in reprisal for being demeaned into planting poseys in the park, his minions or allies will come by and [[{{Deprogram}} break the brainwashing]]. Simply seeing the hero fight crime might trigger it all on its own. And when this happens, the more heart-wrenching consequence is if he [[BecomingTheMask likes good]] [[GoodFeelsGood more than evil]]; it will cause a HeroicBSOD as he [[AmnesiacDissonance grapples with]] a hidden [[{{Heel Face Mind Screw}} lifetime of evil.]] And of course it might turn out the brainwashing had the side effect of turning the victims BrainwashedAndCrazy.

* ''DoctorWho'', "The Mind of Evil." The Keller Machine removed the impulse to commit evil acts by subjecting its victims to their worst fears. Sometimes those fears would kill the people the machine's inventors intended to cure, which anticipates ''ANightmareOnElmStreet'' as well as echoing ''AClockworkOrange''.

* May be justified as his personality isn't changed, he just felt guilty about his actions, essentially curing him of sociopathy.

* In ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', the Justice Lords brainwashed dangerous villains like TheJoker. Or rather, Superman [[FateWorseThanDeath lobotomized]] them.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'': 3E ''Book of Exalted Deeds'' has it, including magic specially made for this, and doesn't even treat it as anything but "cool". Unsurprisingly, as it's probably ''the'' most [[RunningTheAsylum immature]] official supplement in the game's whole history.

* In an episode of StarTrekVoyager, a ruthless amoral criminal was found to have a faulty brain connection, which was easily repaired. After that he felt total remorse for everything, but it wasn't enough to convince his planet's justice system to let him go scott-free.

* In ''{{Xenosaga}}'', criminal justice involves multiple levels "personality reconditioning." Albedo was sentenced to and underwent high level "personality reconditioning" twice--one that saw him stripped of human status and permanently assigned the status of a Realian--for two separate killing sprees.

* The Legion in MSFHigh used to do this. A lot. Or, at least they saw it like that. Most people saw them as the 'Heels', at times, and Legion transformations can have this effect, if done unwillingly. One of the reasons people don't like them very much. Generally, they don't do it now, though.
** Threatened iin the forums, to this one guy, Dracon, by a Legion NPC. He HATES said NPC now, with a passion.

* In the ''DocSavage'' stories, Doc performed "a delicate brain operation" on criminals to cure their criminal tendencies. It also removed all memories of their criminal past.

* In GreenLantern, the Star Sapphires will brainwash members of other Corps that they capture to turn them into servants of Love. While not exactly good-guys, the Sapphires are far from evil and this is easily the most questionable thing they've ever done. [[spoiler:Also, the Indigo Tribe is made up of "born again" villains and evildoers who's exposure to coalesced compassion turns them into beings dedicated to helping others. Unfortunately, they all seem a'ok with brainwashing...]]

* In ''Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century'', criminals who are captured are all put in a machine that removes their desire to commit crimes. The series kicks off when a MadScientist finds a way to protect himself from this and starts committing crimes again, including cloning Professor Moriarty.