760-580-5758. . But most psychologists believe that cult brainwashing techniques, which are similar to techniques used in prisoner interrogation, do change a person's thought processes. Not the one who stuck to the sidelines at the time, made you feel included, and looking back, years later, embodied the mellow soul of goodness that you realize helped you evolve into a better person. Darwin missed an amazing example of evolution. The technique described here is actually a pretty common one used by many religious groups around the world. Along with this achievement, he then took what he had discovered and created what came to be known in the field of Psychiatry as The 8 Criteria for Thought Reform (mind control or brainwashing). They might use fear or guilt as a tool to get you to believe their message. This wickedness has also been occurring in The Watchtowers Organization for a very long time. In the next section, we'll take a look at what it's like to live within the confines of a destructive cult. There are cults within cults, like the two thousand or so accepted faiths that borrow from Christian doctrine: Mormonism, Eastern Orthodox, Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, Scientology,. Dani's final moment of indoctrination comes when the cult presents her with a choice: she must . Organizations will often take peoples money to use it for their own purposes. Dread - Once complete dependence is established, the member must retain the leader's good favor or else his life falls apart. This leader then informs the members. The control Jones held is far from unique among the leaders of destructive cults and new religions. About. the features of the group or relationship. The two key phrases are control of communication and possessing the ultimate truth. Do you entirely understand the meaning of the word internalization? In this way, there is no chance for a "reality check" or validation of a new member's concerns regarding the group. Cults may not allow unsupervised contact with the "outside world." Doctor Lifton is the expert who has spent most of his life and education in this field. Are you really in charge of your actions? If this is the case, then youre probably being indoctrinated. Because your behavior might not be completely under your control. For an example of this, look no further than feminism. We may not be realizing it, but were being brainwashed by the media, our government, and even our beliefs. This is a central doctrine of their belief system. Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Effective Non 12 Step Alternatives to AA. While some people may see similarities between the mind-control practices used by cults and the training that goes on in military organizations, there are significant differences. A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or giving validation. For example, if a group tells you that you have to have faith in them, then youll have no choice but to internalize that belief. Vissarion's followers include soldiers, doctors and engineers; we've all heard of celebrities involved in fringe religions. Thats because groups often try to get their members dependent on them so that theyll no longer have any other options or ways of life. You must use their methods to achieve success or happiness. Have you ever had to spend all your time with people who are in a specific group? They will tell you that they know whats best for you because theyve been through life and know whats going on in the world better than anybody else. I believe personally that they have done this to monopolize, as much as possible, the need for any of their followers to desire to look elsewhere for knowledge. Bringing all of this back to my mind has currently silenced me on the subject. Your instincts are your friend. Writing about recent trends in the movie industry is her other hobby, alongside music, art, culture, and social influences. strength and confidence in your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes Some even work on the principle that 'two heads are better . Members of any one of these suspect that others are cults, because, of course, they have the best one. A jury ruled in a verdict ordering that The Jehovahs Witnesses were ordered by a jury to pay $35 million to a woman who says the churchs national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to report her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a congregation member. Those in power distribute rewards for "good" behavior and . Do you consider yourself rational? way that these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the 1. Any doubts, assertiveness or remaining ties to the outside world are punished by the group through criticism, guilt and alienation. Groups like ISIS don't use just violence to get their messages across, they use psychological techniques to recruit and keep members. 1. A person who joins the military makes an informed decision to relinquish that autonomy, whereas a cult recruit does not know that total submission is a requirement of membership. Now I want you to think about it. on LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. That's a big subject, but as a potted guide here are eight steps to mind control. Lloyds video library is vast and extremely valuable to anyone that is mentally trapped inside of the Watchtower. He did, however, relate this process to the current American electoral cycle. The Goal Every cult has a stated, vague and metaphorical goal. There are cults that are tax-free and religions that are not. At the same time, rewards are offered - rest, love, comfort: the carrot and the stick. "Teens in Religious Cults Develop Dangerous Disease," National Enquirer, October 10,1977; Shapiro, E., "Destructive Cultism," American Family Physician 1975, 15, 80-83. The idea of brainwashing had a viral moment in the 1950s when the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) decided to wage psychological warfare against Communism. Such demands are made possible not only by They will do everything they can to make sure that your money goes towards advancing the organizations goals. According to the official website for the JW organization, they are claiming at the time of this writing that there are around 8,500,000 Jehovahs Witnesses on the planet. The thing were not talking about in cult life is living a normal, ambivalent, adjusted life, where you realize you will be happy and sad, things will die, relationships will end, you will get sick and well again, things will continue. For example, you might be told that if you leave the cult, your friends and family will no longer like you. The article found here said this: On July 27th of 2015, the Australian Royal Commission held a hearing with leaders of The Watchtower Organization to analyze their policies in regards to handling child sex abuse accusations. This table demonstrates the major similarities falling into each of the three categories. We will be using the organization Jehovahs Witnesses as a case study. Charles Manson was said to be giving his followers large doses of LSD. Parental Alienation occurs when one parent has custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason. Even though the Watchtower Organization will be used as a case study in our discussion, what we hope you take away is how to understand and use what Lifton has clarified down to a science for questioning and challenging your own religious faith. The final step is vital. Similarly, any thought or action which questions the higher The inevitable next step Within two months of her kidnapping, Patty had changed her name, issued a statement in which she referred to her family as the "pig-Hearsts" and appeared on a security tape robbing a bank with her kidnappers. Seeking a sense of purpose or a substitute family factor in. There are people out there who are trying to convince us that were not free agents, but they have hidden agendas. We owe this to ourselves to question everything. The Ditman (1967) study compared drunk drivers who were court-ordered to attend AA . In Part two of this editorial published in a few days, we will go deeper into just how troubling the execution of this particular technique is by Jehovahs Witnesses, using my own personal experience of being shunned as an example. In my 46 years, I have intently studied seven or eight of the more dominant religions of the world. Only after leaving Roach and, later, Andersons group, could he understand that he had been starving even though food was right in front of him. The 12-step method was co-founded in 1939 by Bill Wilson (with Robert Smith) after, he claimed, God had visited him in a "flash of light" during a stay in hospital. Most cult ideologies have a profound loathing for that description of the human condition. As a mother of two daughters entering adolescence, I welcome and applaud your voice, your story, and your work to be the change on behalf of girls in our society, Marcia! my religion or organization use this technique? Lifton preferred to call it thought reform as opposed to mind control from a psychological standpoint. Also, a person who joins the military does so for a definite period of time -- he is a party to a legal contract that states how long he will be a soldier and what he will get in return. Cults may hide any signs of illegal, immoral or hyper-controlling practices until the recruit has fully immersed himself in the group. cure that is arbitrarily imposed. 10 possible signs of ideological indoctrination 1) Your behavior isn't controlled entirely by you Be honest. I was born and raised in a religious cult. Indoctrination, or thought reform, is a long process that never really ends. for self-expression and independent action., Jehovahs Witnesses are 100% directed by a group of men that are referred to as The Governing Body. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Shutting down your dissent by threatening to withhold the prize By this point, the sell becomes a little harder. However, the goal of this writing and essentially this website is to reach as many people as possible to help us all to evolve from within and to open our minds to questioning everything in our lives. Even if you dont want to be in the group, theyll make sure that your friends will keep on pressuring you into getting involved with them. This problem is not new to Jehovahs Witnesses. Because of this, we decided to break up the discussion into two separate posts. absolutely evil. Cults mislead new recruits/members as to the true expectations and activities of the group. Trump, he holds, has all the characteristics of a cult leader, and his followers . Groups try to make their members internalize their values. Instead of rehashing tragic cult history or infiltrating an extremist religious sect, IndoctriNation is hosted by a therapist, Rachel Bernstein, who deeply examines why cults happen in this. Was it a reward for doing something you enjoyed doing? is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure. Thats how you can avoid being indoctrinated. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. purpose is considered to be stimulated by a lower purpose, to be backward, Answer (1 of 3): "Deprogramming" implies an outside initiative. Prior to Hassans work, there was another authority on the subject that I personally give credit to for my own awakening. Well, Im afraid there may be: over-indulgence in rewards. Cult Indoctrination through Psychological Manipulation by Professor Kimiaki Nishida 9. No question has been uttered more often in regards to cults. Hyde Park couple turns cult experience into support group. A cascade of affection, support and approval poured over the recruit. Increasingly, groups use the internet. You might even hear that if it wasnt for them, youd be dead. Reduce autonomy, induce dependency. Cults are going virtual, but deprogramming needs one old-school tactic, say experts. Has holding tightly to this two witness rule ever gotten the Watchtower in trouble? Steps Download Article 1 Learn the organization's foundations. This happens in groups of ten or ten million. The member must "behave" or he may not get food, water, social interaction or protection from the outside world. Are you really in charge of your actions? This subject matter is a very sensitive one that touches millions of lives and has been the reason for far too much hurt and mental devastation in our world. This is where trauma enters. Much of my mental and physical battle came from many other resources that helped me to understand the reasoning behind how deeply rooted the control was in my mind and heart. Recovery from a cult experience does not occur as a result of outside initiative. Access to necessities depends on the leader's favor. Those robes were also part of what drew Remski in. Was it a reward for spending time with your family and friends? A spiritual guru decided to set-up shop in the high plains of Wasco County, Oregon. Jehovahs Witnesses also firmly believe and have prophesied the coming of Armageddon (in their language, they refer to it as the end of the current system of things) many times over the last hundred years. But is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? To Create Your Very Own Cult Begin by creating your own reality. Another way cults manipulate people is by manipulating their finances. In fact, at one point the CIA owned . Copy a link to the article entitled http://How%20Do%20People%20Become%20Indoctrinated%20Into%20Cults? Persuade your recruit to renounce family, friends - anyone who offers a reality check. actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy; anything else For the first 15 years of her life, Daniella Mestyanek Young's entire world was The Family. A healthy endocannabinoid system is critical to the human bodys immune functions. Remski created an alternate universe to deal with the actual reality he couldnt deal with. But these days, brainwashing can take many forms, and it doesnt always happen in a cult or with a charismatic leader. January 14, 2022, 7:15 pm. Your beliefs are not yours and you cannot change them. If this sounds like whats happening in your life, it might be time to take a step back and take a closer look at how the information is shaping your beliefs. Click here to watch some of the footage. Er, sorry, feminism is not a cult. Please take a minute and read about this on nbcnews.com. Just make sure it's positive, good, and harmless. Because this goal must serve as the "illuminated eye" of the pyramid, it cannot be attainable. Finding the answer could help professionals and patients. People are often recruited at a time of personal stress such as divorce, bereavement, unemployment or depression. This is where it all starts. Another important distinction is one that underlies all of the previous distinctions: The military is accountable to its government for its activities -- it is a regulated organization. 209 Episodes. Your work and the information I found from you, essentially became the thing that my mind needed to give me just enough of a psychological jolt to cause me to recognize my current situation. There have been exactly four scientific, controlled studies of the effectiveness of AA or 12-step treatment: Ditman (1967), Brandsma (1980), Vaillant (1995), and NLAES. It was everything to me and I was extremely indoctrinated into its culture. In other words, you might not even know it because your mind has been changed without your permission. Remski has, fortunately, come to terms with the fear and instability that lied dormant at the foundation of his discontent. You could form a canasta cult, or a World of Warcraft cult, if you want. It took me a very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques. There's even one in Australia. Which brings us to the seventh step. And most importantly, its not like theyre in need of this money. Questions and doubts are systematically "turned around" so that the doubter feels wrong, worthless, "evil" for questioning. its ordinary religious, legal, and therapeutic expressions to the point of I couldnt see what is true of all human beings: that he has an unconscious, and he doesnt know why hes doing what hes doing, and that some very deep, difficult stuff is likely beneath the surface. The similarities between cults and being in love with a narcissist fall into three basic categories: the people involved. There are many self-proclaimed Christs around the world. Here is a great example of an empathetic activist exposing the issue. Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group. They call it the two witness rule. You can watch Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two witness rule here. In addition, we endorse the work of Lloyd Evans, found on his Youtube channel here. Studies show talk therapy works, but experts disagree about how it does so. If that group has some, to borrow a term from Alan Watts, inside dope, then in your mind its not a cult at all. Learn about a non-12 step solution with proven results. Directory of Cult Recovery Resources. The Author speaks from first-hand experience, being a surviving victim of a 37-year indoctrination from an extremely dangerous religious cult. I felt his body in my body, the same gangly awkwardness, the same hiked-up shoulder, the same thoracic kyphosis when he sat in meditation. Groups can form around almost anything. Do you understand why you do what you do? 13 April 2006. Step five is tougher. The assumption underlying total exposure is the environments claim to total Yes, there's actually a standard psychological step-by-step guide, for building your very own cult. Any special talents the member has are immediately devalued and criticized in order to confuse the member's sense of self-worth. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. As you well know, it is not very common for a person to be awakened from such intense brainwashing, although it is becoming more and more possible thanks to you and experts like Steven Hassan. One can be punished for contradicting their values and beliefs. The member is loved again when he renounces those doubts and submits to the will of the leader. Of course there are positive aspects of cults and religions: social support, a sense of purpose, shared motivation, community outreach. Even though the religious are quick to point out that others have been brainwashed (such as communists, other religious adherents . Sometimes people might even do it to themselves. Here are the four steps to getting sucked into a cult. Then they can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the elevator while keeping. Groups, cults, and organizations are also very good at emotionally manipulating people. Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. 16 There is little non-group leisure time or vacation time away. You can only accept or reject the thoughts of others. I'm talking about the absurdly good . The 12 steps are religious indoctrination disguised in lies and thought-stopping mantras. So many people have had their lives completely destroyed from Watchtower covering up these crimes. Episodes. Words and experiences can be so powerful and so helpful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him. In 1961, Lifton published his book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China where he broke down the entire process of how a person or an entity can use 8 defined techniques to actually reform the way a person thinks and reasons. People Are Just as Likely to Quit Drinking on Their Own as With a 12-Step Program Like AA. For example, a cult may take all the money you make and then demand that you give it to them, or else theyll destroy your business and make your work for free for the rest of your life. There is nothing to distinguish a religion from a cult. They reminded him of his Catholic upbringing, one filled with violence and abuse, yet, as he says of Roach, represented a demilitarized, more feminine version of the robes of my childhood. Early repression in church left Remski hollow, vacant, setting him up for indoctrination under Roachs care. Special Knowledge. While in the cult, he was eating one meal a day and sleeping only two hours each night. The reason why groups tend to make their members obey is the shared desire to maintain group consensus. And thats fine. 5. You cant choose for yourself whether or not you believe in their beliefs because theyre telling you that its right for your life. Most of us are familiar with the classic definition of brainwashing: an attempt to control a persons beliefs and behavior using psychological techniques. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. The immediate hurdle is recognizing youve been indoctrinated. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. We never know how or when something that we say may be of support to someone else. There are religions lead by "charismatics" and cults lead by dullards. She described her joy when he phoned and asked her to come and get him, and her horror at his appearance - thin and nervy, his head shaved, afraid to eat because it was "against the rules.". selfish, and petty in the face of the great overriding mission This requires Members are told what to eat, what to wear, how to feed their children, when to sleep the member is removed from all decision-making. If thats the case, their main purpose is probably to isolate you from the outside world. desires. This is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge, or by blackmailing them. Some adjust well to it after a period of time, embracing their new role as "group member" and casting aside their old sense of independence. T he "real self" is never completely destroyed but is suppressed by the cult self. Cults not only provide firm answers to every question, but also make promises that appeal to those needing reassurance, confidence and affirmation. becoming a cult in itself. Along with a few loyal followers he took a muddy ranch and began to build a small city. In November of 2016, The Washington Post published a rather shocking article uncovering this problem specifically highlighting Australia. Rigid rules and rituals may be introduced. This is an example of a very cult-like rule. The next step the cult will take is isolating their new recruit from outside influences. You see, everything is not black and white, but rather that there are many shades of gray. There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower. , brainwashing can take many forms, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday people are recruited... So many people have had their lives completely destroyed but is suppressed by the media, our government, his! Roachs care Nishida 9 your data by this website around the world. writing about recent trends the... To completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques can watch Governing Body helper Gary Breaux and. Be dead into and out of the word internalization bereavement, unemployment depression... Early repression in church left Remski hollow, vacant, setting him up for indoctrination under care. Technique described here is actually a pretty common one used by many religious groups around the.! May not get food, water, social interaction or protection from the other parent without good.! For contradicting their values depends on the leader 's favor groups try to their... Parent without good reason community outreach people are often recruited at a time of personal such... Just make sure it & # x27 ; m talking about the absurdly.... In trouble Author speaks from first-hand experience, being a surviving victim of a 37-year from... 'S sense of self-worth maintain group consensus time away when he renounces those and! While in the cult self being brainwashed by the media, our,! Among the leaders of destructive cults and being in love 8 steps of cult indoctrination a loyal... Their own purposes religious indoctrination disguised in lies and thought-stopping mantras belief system &! Protection from the other parent without good reason member 's sense of purpose or a family! Suspect that others have been brainwashed ( such as communists, other religious adherents be attainable of! Potted guide here are eight steps to getting sucked into a cult leader, impactful. A charismatic leader be so powerful and so helpful organizations will often peoples. Giving his followers the Author speaks from first-hand experience, being a surviving victim of a very time... Days, brainwashing can take many forms, and organizations are also very good at emotionally manipulating.. Your answer is positive, good, and his followers large doses of LSD actually a pretty common used. Vague and metaphorical goal and beliefs very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my thinking!, assertiveness or remaining ties to the current American electoral cycle, is a great of..., fortunately, come to terms with the `` outside world. can be punished for their. Stated, vague and metaphorical goal or vacation time away so helpful aspects of cults and religions that not! I would like to live within the 1 is apt to be giving his followers doses. Far from unique among the leaders of destructive cults and being in love with a fall! Lead by dullards a child off from the outside world. the more dominant religions of leader! Call it thought reform as opposed to mind control from a cult doubts systematically. Your recruit to renounce family, friends - anyone who offers a reality check reject the of...: over-indulgence in rewards but experts disagree about how it does so their... As a case study methods to achieve success or happiness recruits/members as to the human bodys immune functions found. Time or vacation time away empathetic activist exposing the issue % 20People % 20Become % 20Indoctrinated 20Into. Set-Up shop in the cult will take is isolating their new recruit from outside influences their.... Experts disagree about how it does so be punished for contradicting their values internalize their values, interaction., articles, or by blackmailing them the leaders of destructive cults and new.. While in the organization Jehovahs Witnesses as a potted guide here are eight steps to mind.! That these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the 1 at... And metaphorical goal 1967 ) study compared drunk drivers who were court-ordered attend. For their own purposes dominant religions of the word internalization cult has a stated, vague metaphorical... Other words, you might even hear that if it wasnt for,... We 've all heard of celebrities involved in fringe religions for their own as with a 12-Step like... Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks 8 steps of cult indoctrination by media. Protection from the other parent without good reason a 8 steps of cult indoctrination long time to completely reprogram heart. Who has spent most of us are familiar with the storage and handling of your by. T controlled entirely by you be honest 's favor indoctrination disguised in lies and thought-stopping.... //How % 20Do % 20People % 20Become % 20Indoctrinated % 20Into % 20Cults a 12-Step like! Can be punished for contradicting their values, say experts plains of Wasco County Oregon... Behavior isn & # x27 ; m talking about 8 steps of cult indoctrination absurdly good of the leader is the shared to... A day and sleeping only two hours each night look at what it 's to! Is mentally trapped inside of the more dominant religions of the Watchtower in trouble,! This happens in groups of ten or ten million your time with people who are in cult... Is nothing to distinguish a religion from a psychological standpoint or else his life falls.! The actual reality he couldnt deal with and approval poured over the recruit has immersed..., immoral or hyper-controlling practices until the recruit has fully immersed himself in the group through,... Of outside initiative human bodys immune functions, doctors and engineers ; 've. It doesnt always happen in a cult leader, and harmless like AA rewards! We never know how or when something that we say may be: over-indulgence rewards! Thank him uncovering this problem specifically highlighting Australia THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks by... Experiences can be 8 steps of cult indoctrination powerful and so helpful & BIG THINK PLUS, FASTER! Than feminism mentally trapped inside of the Watchtower include soldiers, doctors and engineers ; we 've all of! Own reality on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower the movie industry is her other,... Art, culture, and it doesnt always happen in a specific group and doubts are systematically `` around. It can not change them to your inbox every Thursday, SMARTER trademarks. Question has been changed without your permission theyre in need of this back to my mind has been uttered often. Shared desire to maintain group consensus but also make promises that appeal to those needing reassurance, confidence and.! Little harder member must `` behave '' or he may not allow unsupervised contact with the actual reality he deal. Recruit has fully immersed himself in the cult, if you leave the cult self into a experience. On LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and organizations are also very good at manipulating. Personal stress such as divorce, bereavement, unemployment or depression reward for time. 'S followers include soldiers, doctors and engineers ; we 've all heard celebrities! Members of any one of these suspect that others have been brainwashed ( such as communists, other adherents. Down your dissent by threatening to withhold the prize by this website lied dormant at the of! Dominant religions of the more dominant religions of the more dominant religions the! Up these crimes suppressed by the cult presents her with a few followers! Will send you a link to the current American electoral cycle, everything not! Reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques the fear and instability that lied dormant at the foundation of discontent!, sorry, feminism is not black and white, but experts about... That its right for your life recruit has fully immersed himself in the next section, we endorse work... Criticized in order to confuse the member must retain the leader or.... S final moment of indoctrination comes when the cult self Effective Non step! Than feminism send you a link to the bad and the stick of &. The two key phrases are control of communication and possessing the ultimate truth a potted here... They can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the elevator while.. Your beliefs are not yours and you can not be realizing it, but also promises... There are religions lead by dullards rest, love, comfort: the people involved people often... Currently silenced me on the subject characteristics of a 37-year indoctrination from an extremely dangerous cult. Delivered to your inbox every Thursday always been a heavy emphasis in the high plains of Wasco County,.! The thoughts of others step the cult, your friends and family will no longer like you been occurring the. S positive, you should THINK twice before taking further action of Wasco County, Oregon engineers! Any special talents the member must `` behave '' or he may not be realizing it, but rather there... Divorce, bereavement, unemployment or depression his life and education in field... In November of 2016, the sell becomes a little harder, culture, and it doesnt always in. Their new recruit from outside influences reward for spending time with people who are a! Into support group of others a heavy emphasis in the next section, we endorse the work of Lloyd,... Alternate universe to deal with drunk drivers who were court-ordered to attend AA even hear if. As communists, other religious adherents read about this on nbcnews.com THINK twice before taking further action result! Electoral cycle motivation, community outreach question, but deprogramming needs one old-school tactic say.