March 9, 2018 ▸ People, Psychology

Episode 278: Harvard Experiments: Henry Murray, Mad Scientist!

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On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the most important American psychologists of all time and his unethical Harvard Experiments which may have led to the creation of the Unabomber. Doctor Henry Murray was, flat out, a genius. He earned multiple doctorates and PhD’s from Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge and was eventually hired on at Harvard to run the Harvard Psychological Clinic at a very young age. He developed a very famous test that involved showing images to patients to test their reactions to them. All of this seems legit and above board, but Murray may have had more sinister issues.

For one, he was the head psychologist of the Office of Strategic Services in WWII (the precursor to the CIA). While here, he developed psychological tests for the US and British special forces to use in order to evaluate a candidate’s psych profile before they became spies. In short, he tried to break spies. While in the OSS, he was also tasked to create the definitive profile of Adolph Hitler, and he also pioneered the use of mind-altering drugs such as LSD.

Many people claim that he was a willing participant in the CIA’s MK Ultra program years later, and indeed, his work at Harvard seems to point in that direction. In the 1960s, he conducted an experiment whose goal was to psychically deconstruction students, causing them to experience severe stress. These experiments included revealing their deepest thoughts from personal diaries and insulting them where it hurt the most and then forcing them to watch the tapes of the session over and over again for three years.

Many of the students who participated in these unethical Harvard Experiments led by Henry Murray were permanently scarred. They claimed to have been violated in ways nobody could ever understand. One student, a 16 year old mathematical genius code named “Lawful” had the worst response to the test of any students. His stress levels were the highest on the EKG, and he had the most long-lasting effects. It just so happened this man turned out to be Ted Kaczynski.

So, did Henry Murray’s Harvard Experiments create the terrorist and serial killer known as the Unabomber? Was Murray part of the CIA after World War II? How did they allow these unethical experiments to go on? Listen, laugh, learn.

Complete TAT Images: http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-interview-psychological-tests/psychological-tests/59211-thematic-apperception-test-whole-set-images.html