Theory:Telepathy

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The following fan theories are about telepathy.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Telepathy could extend to incorporate aspects of Bliss and horror.	Bob Bishop says that like his father, Matt Parkman can manipulate people's actions. (Out of Time)	+ Maury created similar sensations to these during the "raid" on his apartment by Nathan and Matt (Fight or Flight). While he may not be able to create the emotions themselves, he can certainly create a mental scenario which leads to them, which is essentially the same conclusion. + Matt told Baby Matt that he can't "drop a whammy" on Janice and make her forgive him for running out on them (I Am Sylar), implying that he can use his telepathy to sway her feelings.
Telepathy may be, more so then most powers, a corruptive influence on the user.	Angela says to Matt Parkman: "If you take this secret from me, you're not just like your father; you are him!"	+ Maury and Future Matt were both noticeably dark individuals. Matt has certainly become more like them as the show progresses, ripping out and implanting thoughts as his power develops, plus trapping Maury in his own nightmare (a very Biblical form of revenge). This trend of using his powers to get what he wants may continue as his powers grow. - Matt trapped Maury in his nightmare but it was really the only way to defeat him without giving him the Shanti Virus and was thus somewhat more humane as it wouldn't kill him. Also Matt has only used his powers to implant thoughts and things like that for a good cause and not to harm anyone like Future Matt and Maury do. + The temptation to wield potentially absolute control over a person's actions would be very strong and hard to resist for anyone. It has already had, in a fairly brief timespan, a large impact on Matt who is a kind individual at heart. - Matt has never thought to use his powers against innocents, only guilty parties. Even still, he was morally bothered after the events of An Invisible Thread.
Telepathy could extend to mimicking/nulling/etc. abilities.	Bob Bishop claims that Matt Parkman can manipulate any of the functions of the brain (Out of Time)	+ If it can control anything the brain controls, and the brain controls abilities, telepathy may be able to control abilities. - Matt was unable to control Arthur Petrelli's telepathy in It's Coming, nor Daphne's superspeed when she ran away in The Eclipse, Part One, even though he was trying to stop both of them.
Telepathy, mental manipulation, and ability suppression should be considered separate abilities.	None.	+ The definition of telepathy is communication from one mind to another (i.e. hearing another's thoughts). Thus telepathy would have nothing to do with control over another's mind. + Mental Manipulation would be the ability to change or control the thoughts of another person, or block or erase memories, or anything else in their mind, etc. Matt, Maury, The Haitian, and Arthur appear to have the ability of mental manipulation. The Haitian's ability of "ability suppression" should be a separate ability in itself, and not part of mental manipulation, because it appears to be a passive ability in which he does not control another's thoughts. + One could have telepathy by itself, if they are not able to control another's mind, which is what it appeared Matt Parkman had before he demonstrated the ability to control another's thoughts (Cautionary Tales). + It has been verified that Arthur has mental manipulation as a separate ability from telepathy. + Arthur has mental manipulation but has not shown the ability to suppress other's abilities by being in their presence. This leans towards mental manipulation and ability suppression as being separate abilities. - Arthur has had no need to nullify any other person's abilities, he can just take them for himself. • Perhaps Arthur suppressed Hiro's ability, thus allowing him to not escape the area by Usutu's home while he erased/blocked Hiro's memories (It's Coming). • Hiro didn't have enough time to react. As soon as Hiro saw Usutu's head, Arthur was already upon him.
Being telepathic would allow a person's mind to survive after their physical body's death.	None.	+ The minds of Charles Deveaux and Hana Gitelman both seem to have survived their physical deaths through their abilities. - Charles Deveaux has only appeared in dreams (How To Stop An Exploding Man) or flashbacks (1961) + This would allow Maury Parkman to return, whether it be in someone's head or in a new body which would make for an interesting plot device. • It would depend on if at the point of someones death, they consciously expelled their mind out into the world. • Not necessarily, because psychics' minds could exist on a different level to others'.