Igor Smirnov (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Igor Viktorovich Smirnov (Russian
: Смирнов, Игорь Викторович) (April 5, 1951 – Nov 5, 2004) was a controversial Russian scientist best known for his role in Soviet-era mind control
research as well as an obscure field of human behavior study he called "psychoecology".
military enlisted Smirnov's psychotechnology in the 1980s to combat the Mujahideen
and treat post-traumatic stress syndrome in Russian soldiers during the war in Afghanistan. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union
, Smirnov transitioned from military research to the treatment of patients with drug addiction and mental problems. He founded the Psychotechnology Research Institute at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
to work on ideas like "psychocorrection", a term he used to denote the use of subliminal messages to alter a subject's will, or even modify a person's personality without their knowledge.
Struggling to gain acceptance in the West, the Institute caught the attention of former science-fiction writers turned Pentagon
consultants Chris Morris
and Janet Morris
, who in 1991 tried unsuccessfully to market the technology to the United States military. Smirnov gained brief fame in the U.S. in 1993 when the FBI consulted with him in hope of ending the Waco Siege
. Smirnov proposed blasting scrambled sound over loudspeakers to persuade David Koresh
to surrender, however the FBI declined the plan. Smirnov died in November 5, 2004, leaving his wife to run the Institute.
In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced plans to award a contract for testing of an airport screening system based partly on Smirnov's concepts to ManTech SRS Technologies
in association with Northam Psychotechnologies, a Canadian company acting as distributor for the Psychotechnology Research Institute.
1995 ISBN 5-01-004582-6
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Diagnostics and correction using Psycho-semantic methods. Sb. Scientific. Works for non-medicinal therapy of diagnostics and correction of health. MMA him. Setchenov, î., 1993.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Computer psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Journal of Medical Help N 4, 1994.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Method of not subconscious psychotherapy, Psycho-correction and Psycho-semantic analysis with subthreshold introduction of the information. Journal Psychotherapy of Russia, N 3, 1994.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Computer Psychotechnologies of the semantic analysis of the unconscious. Russian Psycho analysis bulletin, N 3, 1994.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Смирнов, Игорь Викторович) (April 5, 1951 – Nov 5, 2004) was a controversial Russian scientist best known for his role in Soviet-era mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
research as well as an obscure field of human behavior study he called "psychoecology".
Career
Smirnov has been characterized in the media as a Rasputin-like character with "almost mystical powers of persuasion". According to his wife Rusalkina, the SovietSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
military enlisted Smirnov's psychotechnology in the 1980s to combat the Mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
and treat post-traumatic stress syndrome in Russian soldiers during the war in Afghanistan. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, Smirnov transitioned from military research to the treatment of patients with drug addiction and mental problems. He founded the Psychotechnology Research Institute at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia is an educational and research institution located in the South of Moscow and is ranked by the Ministry of Education of Russia as the country's third-best university after Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University...
to work on ideas like "psychocorrection", a term he used to denote the use of subliminal messages to alter a subject's will, or even modify a person's personality without their knowledge.
Struggling to gain acceptance in the West, the Institute caught the attention of former science-fiction writers turned Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
consultants Chris Morris
Chris Morris (author)
Christopher Crosby Morris is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc...
and Janet Morris
Janet Morris
Janet Ellen Morris is an American author of fiction and nonfiction, best known for her fantasy and science fiction and her authorship of a nonlethal weapons concept for the U.S. military.-Writing:...
, who in 1991 tried unsuccessfully to market the technology to the United States military. Smirnov gained brief fame in the U.S. in 1993 when the FBI consulted with him in hope of ending the Waco Siege
Waco Siege
The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located east-northeast of Waco,...
. Smirnov proposed blasting scrambled sound over loudspeakers to persuade David Koresh
David Koresh
David Koresh , born Vernon Wayne Howell, was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect, believing himself to be its final prophet. Howell legally changed his name to David Koresh on May 15, 1990. A 1993 raid by the U.S...
to surrender, however the FBI declined the plan. Smirnov died in November 5, 2004, leaving his wife to run the Institute.
In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced plans to award a contract for testing of an airport screening system based partly on Smirnov's concepts to ManTech SRS Technologies
Mantech International
ManTech International Corporation was co-founded in 1968 by George J. Pedersen. The company’s main purpose is to deliver upcoming information technology and technical services to federal government customers. ManTech has grown to become one of the U.S...
in association with Northam Psychotechnologies, a Canadian company acting as distributor for the Psychotechnology Research Institute.
Books
I.V. Smirnov, E. Beznosyuk, A. Suravlyev “Psychotechnologies”, 416 pages –M.: Progress PublishersProgress Publishers
Progress Publishers was a Moscow-based Soviet publisher founded in 1931.It was noted for its English-language editions of books on Marxism-Leninism....
1995 ISBN 5-01-004582-6
Articles
Smirnov I.V., Kvasovets S.V., Fedorenko V.N. Principles of Psycho-probing // Reports of information. The collection of abstracts VIMI. Publication N 11.90.9.39, î., 1990, With. 101–109.Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Diagnostics and correction using Psycho-semantic methods. Sb. Scientific. Works for non-medicinal therapy of diagnostics and correction of health. MMA him. Setchenov, î., 1993.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Computer psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Journal of Medical Help N 4, 1994.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Method of not subconscious psychotherapy, Psycho-correction and Psycho-semantic analysis with subthreshold introduction of the information. Journal Psychotherapy of Russia, N 3, 1994.
Smirnov I.V., Beznosjuk E.V. Computer Psychotechnologies of the semantic analysis of the unconscious. Russian Psycho analysis bulletin, N 3, 1994.
External links
- Northam Psychotechnologies Ottawa, Canada