Techniques Used by Kidnappers to Control Their Victims

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Many kidnappings that have happened around the United States mainly connect with children wanting to leave with a stranger even though they know that it is wrong. How is it that adults are capable of luring children into coming with them even though they are complete strangers? Furthermore, do not parents teach their kids not to go with strangers and if it does happen that they should scream for help? Sure, yet children still willingly go with strangers. Perhaps something about them kidnapers convinces children that it is okay. Statistics show that ninety-eight percent of abducted children do not survive beyond the first 30 days (Smart 4). Some tactics that kidnappers use on their kidnap children are brainwashing, hypnosis, and physical abuse. The first tactic kidnappers can use is brainwashing. The types of brainwashing methods used on kidnaped children include changing the viewpoints or religious beliefs, finding a victim's weakness and using it to the kidnaper's advantage, and victims deprived of human contact learn to trust their captors. According to Berger, brainwashing is a method of changing beliefs or attitudes by the application of powerful psychological pressure (Berger 25). A recent case of kidnaping occurred with Elizabeth Smart. She was kidnaped by a man named Brian David Mitchell who went by the name of "Emmanuel." He kidnapped Elizabeth from her home and kept her with him for about nine months. Mitchell used religious beliefs to manipulate and control Elizabeth. Since they were both believers of the Mormon Religion, Mitchell claimed that he was a Prophet who received personal messages from God (Christenson ). Elizabeth was a very strong Mormon who attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Da... ... middle of paper ... ...ect we are now one step closer into lowering the number of children that get kidnapped or abducted in the United States of America. In conclusion, the United States has done many things to help prevent more kidnappings and abduction from occurring. Some tactics that kidnappers use on their kidnap children are brainwashing, hypnosis, and physical abuse. Mind control can be a powerful method to turn children from the real truth. But the real miracle that made the Amber Alert law get passed was the return of Elizabeth Smart. She was kidnaped and was held against her will for 9 months. Elizabeth's parents were pushing delegates to pass the Amber Alert law when Elizabeth was returned home to the family after being gone for so long. Now Elizabeth is a sophomore and working hard in school and also on the harp in hopes of one day attending Julliard the School of Music.

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