Line #22 Main/MindRape


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_34_identitycrisis_8816.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:"Oh, relax. It's all in your head."]]
6
7	->''"Somewhere on Beta Colony there is an institution. In one room of the institution, there is a man who spends his days and nights screaming at things that only he can see. Things we planted in his mind. They have to keep him in a straitjacket twenty-four hours a day or he'll claw his own eyes out just to make it stop."''
8	-->-- '''[[MutantDraftBoard Lyta Alexander]]''', ''Series/BabylonFive''
9
10	A character is attacked by a villain in the most painful non-physical way possible: their mind and [[OurSoulsAreDifferent soul]] are assaulted with painful, horrifying visions, sensations, and/or memories, and their will and sanity broken until afterward they're [[HeroicBSOD powerless, hopeless]] and [[ConvenientComa numb]], but [[EmptyShell not dead]], although they [[FateWorseThanDeath may wish they were.]] Minimal to no sexual contact actually occurs, but as the name indicates, everything else is there to resemble a rape -- the ultimate violation of privacy and consent, extreme humiliation that annihilates all sense of self-esteem, near-absolute helplessness even against your very own mind and body, and the corrupt perversion of what could otherwise be a source of identity and joy.
11
12	The physical attacks are just icing on the cake; most of the focus of the agony is inflicted mentally and emotionally, and it's chilling to see a villain be that cruel. The traumatized victim suffers all of the side-effects afterward almost immediately (such as DespairEventHorizon and RapeLeadsToInsanity). May include further sexual symbolism for good measure, such as severe and unfunny ClothingDamage and sinister {{Double Entendre}}s.
13
14	Comes in two variations: one is a [[BreakThemByTalking completely "mundane"]] but no less horrifying brand of [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] that nonetheless [[TwoPlusTortureMakesFive breaks a character's mind]]. The other is the above done via MindProbe, PsychicPowers, BrownNote, [[PsychologicalTormentZone illusions,]] [[PersonalHorror your worst]] [[{{Room 101}} nightmares]], or [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow something Man Was Not Meant to Know]] that will cause [[GoMadFromTheRevelation permanent damage to your sanity]]. Of course, Mind Rape can also involve forced exposure to {{Mind Screw}}s.
15
16	Just as RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil, a character indulging in the Mind Rape of another character primarily for [[ForTheEvulz their own pleasure or enjoyment]] is a good sign they have crossed the MoralEventHorizon. Doubly so if the sexual symbolism is present. A WellIntentionedExtremist, AntiVillain, or even the heroes may resort to Mind Rape [[IDidWhatIHadToDo if circumstances force them to]] ([[MyGodWhatHaveIDone and will probably regret it with all grief for the rest of their existence]]), but only the most disgusting lowest of the low shall take a sick enjoyment out of it.
17
18	The less said of the things that are created when this trope meets RuleThirtyFour, the better.
19
20	Can be a possible cause of ImHavingSoulPains, and can function as a StupidityInducingAttack. It can also lead to a MentalShutdown if pushed to its natural conclusion.Heroes will try to protect themselves from these by entering HeroicSafeMode or trying out some BrainBleach.
21
22	See also {{Room 101}}, TwoPlusTortureMakesFive, FateWorseThanDeath, {{Gaslighting}} and PsychologicalTormentZone. Contrast with the CareBearStare, which assaults the target with happy thoughts, like rainbows and stuff.
23
24	JustForFun/NotToBeConfusedWith MoreThanMindControl (though Mind Rape ''can'' have some elements of this). Also not to be confused with MindScrew, although sometimes a Mind Screw might leave the audience feeling this way. And for a literal rape by mind, see FantasticArousal.
25
26	[[noreallife]]
27	----
28	!!Example subpages:
29
30	[[index]]
31	* MindRape/AnimeAndManga
32	* MindRape/ComicBooks
33	* MindRape/FanWorks
34	* MindRape/{{Film}}
35	* MindRape/{{Literature}}
36	* MindRape/LiveActionTV
37	** ''MindRape/DoctorWho''
38	* MindRape/TabletopGames
39	* MindRape/VideoGames
40	* MindRape/VisualNovels
41	* MindRape/{{Webcomics}}
42	* MindRape/WebOriginal
43	* MindRape/WesternAnimation
44	[[/index]]
45
46	!! Other examples:
47	[[foldercontrol]]
48	!!! Examples of Psychic Assaults:
49
50	[[folder:Multiple Media]]
51	* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'':
52	** [[EldritchAbomination Tren Krom]] tends to inflict this when he searches someone's mind for information, as it also gives the victim [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow glimpses into Tren Krom's mind.]] The fact that he tends to assault his victims with his long, red, fleshy appendages while doing this only adds to the disturbing subtext.
53	** Toa of Psionics are also capable of doing this, and it's implied that they can cause permanent brain damage with their powers.
54	** The Makuta species has many mental powers, too, and where a Toa of Psionics may stop, they will gladly push further. When Teridax unleashed his full powers on Karzahni's mind, it reduced the latter into a vegetable on two legs. Yet Karzahni was the one most famous for his soul and mind-crushing visions. Makuta evidently like beating others at their own game.
55	** Speaking of Karzahni, he liked to do this with his [[WhatIf Mask of Alternate Futures]] when he was feeling particularly sadistic, even managing to get one over on Teridax by showing him a vision of a future where he lost and [[AwakeningTheSleepingGiant Mata Nui awoke none too pleased]]. The result was actually enough to get Teridax to ''scream'' in horror... until he recovered and decided in a rage to pay Karzahni back with interest.
56	** Onewa once managed to do this with his MaskOfPower, which normally only gives him MindControl, after he was pushed into UnstoppableRage when Nokama was dying after saving his life. The narration explicitly describes the act as him focusing the mental energies of the mask into a spear to ram right into his opponent's mind.
57	** Hakann of the Piraka has this as his special third power in the form of "mental blasts", and he ''loves'' using them on his enemies to make them writhe in pain before slipping into unconsciousness. After he temporarily [[PowerParasite stole half of Brutaka's power]], he was capable of frying a person's mind and killing them with it. Of course, once his leader Zaktan showed him the inherent weakness of said power when he dropped a large boulder on him...and Hakann, having been blasting Zaktan with them at the time and acting on instinct when the attack came at him, remembered too late a mental blast doesn't work against an opponent with no mind to blast and gets crushed by it.
58	** Gali Nuva experienced one after being hit by Dalu's SensoryOverload-inducing weapons. Her sight became so advanced that she actually peered into ''other universes'', all of which she just couldn't take in at once, and eventually broke into a furious craze, attacking her partners and running off into the wilderness. Thankfully, Axonn was there to cleanse her mind with his healing powers.
59	** Carapar used to be smart, but isn't anymore thanks to years of being repeatedly hypnotized by Takadox.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Music]]
63	* In Music/TheMechanisms' concept album "The Bifrost Incident" whatever Odin did to Loki [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou instead of executing her]] "messed her head up something awful". The effects include IdentityAmnesia and intrusive thoughts of her past life.
64	-->Flashes like camera bulbs fire in my brain
65	-->Is this truly me, am I going insane?
66	-->In faint bloody flashes I watch people die
67	-->And if that was me, then who am I?
68	* A creepy, somewhat sexual variant: the PV for "AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS" by Music/DirEnGrey does this to the protagonist ''and also the viewer'' for effect. It is a MindScrew, which the maggot monster is forcing on the protagonist and then, as the video continues, moving from Mind Rape to attempting physical rape of the protagonist to MindRape the viewer.
69	* Music/OingoBoingo's "Insanity" has progressively creepier StalkerWithACrush lyrics that lead to this:
70	-->I'd love to see inside your mind and tear it all apart
71	-->To cut you open with a knife and find your sacred heart
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Religion & Mythology]]
75	* Demons in Christianity can inflict devastating mental assaults (see also DemonicPossession). There's also the interpretative depiction of Hell as a place of Mind Rape is an alternative to the rather-cartoonish FireAndBrimstoneHell. Specifically, this Mind Rape effect is reasoned to be self-inflicted and caused by [[RageAgainstTheHeavens eternal separation from God]], resulting to loss of sense of purpose, sanity and even the ability to comprehend love and "everlasting happiness".
76	** One interpretation popular in the Mormon Church is that when you stand before God you will have total recall of all you have done (except those offenses of which you've repented, i.e. confessed and forsaken) and be acutely aware of how every action you took affected those around you (meaning that, in the end, God won't judge you, you will judge yourself), thus it will be one big MindProbe of your deepest memories. Which would be a pretty tortuous thing if you made many mistakes in life, thus hell is a self-imposed state of mind brought on by knowing just how much of a terrible person you are.
77	** Another interpretation is that the [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm true form]] of {{God}} can do this to you, hence why Islam forbids any depiction of God's true form, and why Judaism forbids saying God's true name (which is TheUnpronounceable, while "Yahweh" and "Jehovah" are just approximations).
78	* Numerous beings in Shinto mythology can do this to you. Kitsune, and to a smaller extent, Nekomata , to name a couple examples.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Roleplay]]
82	* In ''RolePlay/YuGiOhEastAcademy'', [[spoiler: Gol'gar does this to one of the cultists on Marcus's orders.]]
83	* ''[[{{RolePlay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers}} WAAPT]]'' has mainly the psychic assault variety, with the result of an unrestrained assault being brain death. Though the "mundane" variant is used from time to time.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	!!!"Mundane" Torture
87	[[folder:Music]]
88	* "MK Ultra" by {{Music/Muse}}, with a title inspired by a US torture and mind-control program [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKUltra Project MKUltra at]] Website/TheOtherWiki, is about Mind Rape:
89	-->''How much deception can you take''
90	-->''How many lies will you create''
91	-->''How much longer till you break''
92	-->''Your mind's about to fall''
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Radio]]
96	* In ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1978'', Zaphod Beeblebrox is abducted and forced into the Total Perspective Vortex. As the guide notes, this is a fiendish torture device designed to strip away every shred of illusion and reveal to the individual exactly how small and insignificant and inconsequential they are to the Universe as a whole. The shock normally annhilates the brain. But the infinite majesty and grandeur of the Universe is outclassed when confronted with an ego the size of that possessed by Zaphod Beeblebrox. it simply cannot compete.
97	%%* In ''Radio/TheBurkissWay'''s parody of ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'', mind rape is attempted on Winston Smoth through the medium of Room 101.
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Roleplay]]
101	* ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'':
102	** A more mundane example without use of supernatural abilities or brainwashing: Dust plays with Lutsky's mind to such a degree that he [[DrivenToMadness turns him into a paranoid psychopath]]. [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Eventually, that comes back to bite him.]]
103	** This is more or less what Loop did to Katerina Schattenberg [[spoiler:just before he died]].
104	[[/folder]]
105	----
106

Context Main / MindRape