Production and Continuity
This episode marks the first occurrence in Star Trek of the Vulcan mind meld. According to the book The Making of Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry and Stephen Whitfield, the Vulcan mind meld was conceived as an alternative to using hypnosis to tap Van Gelder's subconscious. The writers wanted to avoid improperly depicting hypnosis as a medical technique. Also, they did not want to shoehorn into the dialogue an assurance that Spock is legitimately qualified and certified to use hypnosis given his non-medical credentials. Lastly, they did not want to risk accidentally hypnotizing viewers at home.
Read more about this topic: Dagger Of The Mind
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