Ludovico Technique
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The Ludovico Technique is used to reform prisoners in the novel A Clockwork Orange. It is a form of aversion therapy by which a criminal is "trained" or "conditioned" (some might say "brainwashed") to suffer physical distress when thinking of committing a violent or criminal act. In essence, this takes away the criminal's freedom of choice and causes them to become simple "moral machines" capable of doing only "good". The technique works by associating extreme feelings of physical illness, such as nausea and headaches (brought on by an injection) with video footage of various violent crimes and acts taking place. Some of the footage is of rape, murder, theft, or even World War II-era Nazi and Japanese torture. The subject is forced to watch the film by a device that locks their head in place, and pins that hold their eyelids open. Alex, the main character of A Clockwork Orange, undergoes this therapy (the first to do so), and although he no longer desires to commit violent acts (due to the physical distress associated with violence) he discovers that he no longer can enjoy music and other pleasures that may involve violent aspects, or stimulate the same emotions. The prison chaplain for whom Alex had worked for and befriended before choosing to undergo the therapy expresses his dislike for the technique because it removes the individual's ability to make moral decisions, thus depriving them of an essential facet of humanity.
The Ludovico Technique has been used in only one state as an actual method of rehabilitation. The technique was used in New Zealand between 1989 and 1992 in Wellington State Penitentiary (main article, Wellington Ludovico Procedure) with an apparently adequate amount of success. It was used on a total of 82 inmates. Of the 82 24 reported no effect from the procedure. The other 58 reported to have a large range of side affects, ranging from slight discomfort, to moderately severe headaches when put into violent or unlawful situations.
