Mindbenders

Mindbenders is a term used in science fiction and fantasy to describe individuals who can influence, manipulate, or alter the thoughts, emotions, or perceptions of others. The concept commonly appears as a psionic or supernatural ability and is distinct from mere mind reading or sensing; mindbenders actively change mental states rather than simply detecting them. In many works, mindbenders employ powers such as telepathic control, memory alteration, illusion creation, or hypnotic suggestion, sometimes through focused concentration, mental discipline, or the use of artifacts, implants, or specialized training.

Depictions vary on range and sustainability. Some mindbenders can affect individuals at great distances, others only in direct contact or within a limited field. Effects may fade without ongoing effort, cause cognitive backlash, or require high mental energy, making sustained control taxing. Ethical considerations are central in many stories, with protagonists debating consent, coercion, and the risks of memory tampering or identity disruption.

Mindbenders recur as antagonists or antiheroes, used to explore themes of autonomy, manipulation by institutions, and the fragility of memory. They appear in novels, comics, films, and role-playing games, often serving as plot devices to motivate resistance, undercover operations, or ethical conflict. The trope raises questions about power, control, and the boundaries of personal agency within fictional worlds. See also mind control, psionics, hypnosis.