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Mystery Machines in Psychosis: How Did Tasker Reveal the Secrets of the Influence Machine?
In Vienna in 1918, Austrian psychoanalyst Victor Tasker first presented his book The Origin of the "Affective Machine" in Schizophrenia to the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. This article not only stirred up the psychology community at the time, but also continues to influence our understanding of mental illness to this day. Tasker carefully observed and analyzed several types of persecution delusions that plagued his patients, who believed that their thoughts and feelings were being manipulated by some kind of "machine" that they could not understand but that was quietly influencing their lives. .
Task believed that the boundary between the self and the external world is blurred in schizophrenia patients, and they often feel that their own experience is completely controlled by external forces.
In his observations, Tasker found that these patients often reported a strong sense of a machine, an "affect machine" whose presence they found overwhelming. Descriptions of this machine vary, and it can manipulate their minds and even cause visual hallucinations. One of the most famous examples is the story of James Tilly Matthews, who believed he was controlled by a device called the "Air Loom." Matthews' story was elaborated in his published book, which became one of the important documents in the study of mental illness.
Task's article points out that these mind-affecting fantasies are not only the product of the patient's inner struggle, but also a causal interpretation of events that cannot be explained by reality. Perhaps this is why the delusion is so deep-rooted, causing patients to seek solutions to their difficulties, and this solution is both trance-like and mysterious, perfectly reflecting the complexity of schizophrenia.
He found that the descriptions of these machines not only reflected the patients' inner world, but also their reaction and interpretation of reality.
Interestingly, Tasker noted that these patients become very interested in current technology and are eager to learn how these "influence machines" work. Despite modern technological understanding, these machines still carry a mystery that defies scientific explanation. Patients often describe how these machines can manipulate their thoughts and feelings through waves or beams of light, and even change their physiological state, especially the sensations of their sexual organs.
Schizophrenia patients' perception of reality and inner experiences is gradually distorted due to the intrusion of external "machines". In such cases, delusions are both an obstacle and the core of treatment. The disease suffered by the patient is no longer a simple whisper in one's heart, but is often closely linked to the social and cultural background.
This dialogue between spirit and reality questions our view of ourselves and challenges the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness.
In the field of literature, Tasker's "influence machine" theory was further extended to novels and movies. For example, in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the protagonist sees the mental hospital itself as a wider “synthetic machine,” a metaphor for how technological society’s desire for profit devours individual subjectivity. Such narratives make one reflect on the profound impact of contemporary technology on our lives.
This topic is not limited to psychiatric discussions, but also raises thoughts on technology and society. Social activist Jerry Mander commented on Tusk's "influence machine" theory in his book "Four Objections to Television". He pointed out that the role of television is similar to the machine described by the mentally ill: television can cause unexpected influences the audience in a way that creates an illusory reality that is more powerful than the real one.
History, Tasker's research not only provides us with a new perspective on schizophrenia, but also raises a deeper question: In today's era of information technology, are we still being controlled by an invisible Controlled by the "influence machine"?
