Notes

The Coworker Theory (hypnotics)

Imagine you're a scary villain working to try and find sensitive information for whatever reason, so you decide to hypnotize two authority figures.

HA is a friendly high authority figure who works in a large office filled with the sensitive information you want.
LA is a friendly lower authority figure who works in the same office as HA.

When HA is successfully hypnotized and is making their way to the sensitive information, they run into one of their coworkers.

"Hello, HA! Where are you heading?" The coworker says with a smile.
"Oh, hello, coworker. I'm just heading out to the documentation center to check out a few things really quick." Responds HA with a similar smile.
"Ah, I see. I'll leave you to it. Bye, HA!" The coworker gives another friendly smile before walking off, leaving HA in peace.

As you can see, this played out smoothly. HA acted naturally and will most likely succeed in the goal you have given them, leading the sensitive information to your hands. Why, might you ask?

HA was given a simple goal, and that was to access sensitive information and bring it to you. Assuming this is plain hypnotics, HA will not actually have many neurological differences in this situation, nor will their coworkers, because this is a normal situation for HA.

HA has enough authority to access the sensitive information freely. Their brain is used to this by now, so when a little hypnotic energy comes in and causes HA to fixate on this goal, the brain won't be confused. The brain will act naturally when running into a coworker, because this isn't unusual, and there is no reason for the brain to seem in distress or be distracted in any way.

This is the same for the coworkers, too. HA has high authority; they're allowed to access those documents- why would you defy them for such an innocent interaction?


Now, let's say when LA is successfully hypnotized and is making their way to the sensitive information, they run into one of their coworkers.

"Hello, LA! Where are you heading?" The coworker says with a smile.
"Oh- Coworker! I am just heading out to the documentation center for... reasons." Responds LA with a sheepish smile.
"I'm afraid I'll need to accompany you, LA. You don't have enough authority to do that by yourself." The coworker frowns.

Now, this sets a path for two events, chances depending on more detailed factors.

1. Malfunction in the hypnotics --> The Zombie Theory
2. Increased hostility for LA

Why might these happen, you ask? Because the neurological functions for LA change drastically because of this goal.
LA is used to signing papers or being an assistant for higher-ups or something like that, not accessing sensitive information.
You'll also notice that LA's brain did not respond naturally to the coworker like HA did. The brain panicked, because it's not used to accessing sensitive information, because that is an unusual goal, and LA knows they aren't supposed to do that.

HA's mission went without a hitch, while LA's mission could've led to a malfunction in the hypnotics (see The Zombie Theory) or LA's non-hypnotized life being ruined because they lost their job for trying to sneak sensitive information out and hostility towards a coworker, causing you to lose that information...

all because of a slight difference in the situation.