8 steps of cult indoctrination
At the time of this writing, Doctor Lifton is still alive and well. 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. I just thought that he had perfected himself. This is a common feature of small groups or cults. 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. The Author speaks from first-hand experience, being a surviving victim of a 37-year indoctrination from an extremely dangerous religious cult. It was you that taught me to see very clearly the way that my reasoning was shaped by the 8 criteria you defined so many years ago. Berg's organisation was also notorious for its use of "flirty fishing", a form of evangelistic prostitution. Loading. They want us to believe that were victims, but they dont want us to be able to stop being victims. In psychology, we call it the effect of groupthink. Over the years, weve taken on a lot of new ideologies that change what we think and feel. Share. Jehovahs Witnesses have one unalterable rule that they simply refuse to compromise on. "Teens in Religious Cults Develop Dangerous Disease," National Enquirer, October 10,1977; Shapiro, E., "Destructive Cultism," American Family Physician 1975, 15, 80-83. On the evening of the 18th November 1978, Jim Jones persuaded his followers to drink a punch laced with cyanide. But, Remski continues. the ubiquitous human tendencies toward guilt and shame but also by the need to They want us to be victims who follow their masters orders because they know that if we do so, well get what they want: power and money. Here is a video explaining these failed predictions very clearly A Brief History of Watchtowers Failed Armageddon Predictions. Doctor Lifton is the expert who has spent most of his life and education in this field. In this way, there is no chance for a "reality check" or validation of a new member's concerns regarding the group. They've abandoned comfortable lives to live self-sufficiently in harsh conditions, revering their teacher. In cult recruiting and indoctrination, these techniques include: Deception - Cults trick new recruits into joining the group and committing themselves to a cause or lifestyle they don't fully understand. Lloyds video library is vast and extremely valuable to anyone that is mentally trapped inside of the Watchtower. Do you consider yourself rational? If youre a massless particle, you must always move at light speed. In the Jehovahs Witness religion, there is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information that the followers have access to. Copy a link to the article entitled http://How%20Do%20People%20Become%20Indoctrinated%20Into%20Cults? 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. Remski created an alternate universe to deal with the actual reality he couldnt deal with. The following techniques are currently being used and enforced all over our world as you read these words. 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, Christian Science. "Unless they . This is the whole point of a cult. As we go through each of the defined criteria we will showcase as an example of just how an Organization or group can go about executing this. For that, we can follow a convenient eight step process. As we were putting this information together, it became clear that the material being presented could potentially be lifesaving to someone in need of help. Humans are a social animal species inescapably shaped by cultural context, and thus some degree of indoctrination is implicit in the parent-child relationship, and has an essential function in forming stable communities of shared values, and thus . This is usually done through peer pressure or subtle manipulation. 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. The similarities between cults and being in love with a narcissist fall into three basic categories: the people involved. As Lifton said, this is the basic foundation on which a system of indoctrination and brainwashing is built. Step five is tougher. Was it a reward for helping somebody out? The more isolated a person, the more likely they are to invest in a new belief system. Sleep and food deprivation, coupled with rigid rules, help to break down a person's sense of self. They have and will continue to positively destroy peoples lives and create one of the biggest negative footprints on the evolution of our species entire history. divided into the pure and the impure, into the absolutely good and the 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. This makes up their milieu or environment. Heres a look at the Civil War work of Mathew Brady. They will do anything they can to make you feel guilty and make you feel like youre a bad person if you dont follow the cults rules and values. You might even hear that if it wasnt for them, youd be dead. Cults often try to make their members feel guilty if they decide to leave the cult. This happens in groups of ten or ten million. The method provided a. Confession is carried beyond Cults tend to have very simple and similar foundations and common factors having all or some of the following: [1] A charismatic founder, leader or leadership. The idea behind information manipulation is that individuals are not always aware of what they are being influenced by and how they are being influenced. So many people have had their lives completely destroyed from Watchtower covering up these crimes. This is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge, or by blackmailing them. Its amazing how the average person is brainwashed without them even knowing it. By morning almost a thousand members of the People's Temple had died, many of them children. It will only happen when they are personally re. Rigid rules and rituals may be introduced. actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy; anything else Needless to say, its another warning sign of being indoctrinated. There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower. Youre almost always financially manipulated if youre in an organization or a corporation. Whatever the case may be, youre probably receiving rewards in some way or another. Seeking inappropriate. Then they can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the elevator while keeping. Judaism, Buddhism, the countless local faiths now lumped under the term Hinduismall cults. Physical abuse. Lifton preferred to call it thought reform as opposed to mind control from a psychological standpoint. This body of men that is comprised of anywhere from eight to twelve men is a unit of self-proclaimed representatives for Gods faithful and discreet slave class.This expression is based on their interpretation of the Parable of The Faithful Servant at Matthew 24:45-47, Mark 13:34-37, and Luke 12: 35-48. This insane reasoning is again based on the Watchtowers biblical perception and understanding. At the same time, rewards are offered - rest, love, comfort: the carrot and the stick. Paranoia: To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics. "Most cults are extremely small and very deliberately try to to stay under the radar," Eichel told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. Many former cult members have killed . The sum of these techniques constitutes what some people call "mind control." 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. Cults are dangerous because they typically rely on . Similarly, any thought or action which questions the higher 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. becoming a cult in itself. being changed a step at a time. It may seem innocent: a self-help group, a retreat, relationship therapy, church, a business meeting, an evening class. I chose The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to thirty years of my life as one. Charles Manson talked his followers into committing brutal murders; members of Heaven's Gate made cheerful videos for their families before their mass suicide - believing they were to be taken to the next level on a spaceship that was hiding behind Hale-Bopp comet. Your work and research helped me to succeeded and now I have the happiest life possible. Er, sorry, feminism is not a cult. Cults may hide any signs of illegal, immoral or hyper-controlling practices until the recruit has fully immersed himself in the group. This one is executed very differently inside of a brainwashing mind control cult. It was everything to me and I was extremely indoctrinated into its culture. absolutely evil. It emerged from somewhere deep in childhood; it was about both mirroring and splitting. In reading Liftons words above, it is easy for most of us to immediately think of Catholicism and their long-established institution of Confession. The leader may randomly alternate praise and love with scorn and punishment to keep the member off-balance and confused and instill immense self-doubt. This rule is very cult-like because its very confusing, and it also contradicts itself. 1. 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. The goal may be to make them. Most cult ideologies have a profound loathing for that description of the human condition. How did it happen? Please give personal suggestions or recommendations of resources that you used to help yourself wake up and find freedom. Was it a reward for spending time with your family and friends? Studies show talk therapy works, but experts disagree about how it does so. 1. They may punish you for contradicting their values. Steps Download Article 1 Learn the organization's foundations. 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. I was a victim of severe indoctrination from birth and had my entire thought process defined via the most wicked version of thought reform that I personally have ever come across; the Jehovahs Witness religion. I felt that he was like me, but fifteen or twenty years older. This is a central doctrine of their belief system. Because your behavior might not be completely under your control. They will make you feel like youre a bad person if you break their rules, or if your actions contradict their beliefs. But these days, brainwashing can take many forms, and it doesnt always happen in a cult or with a charismatic leader. The group uses "thought reform" methods If your serious questions are answered with cliches, you're probably in a cult. There are cults that are huge and religions that are small. Bringing all of this back to my mind has currently silenced me on the subject. Some even work on the principle that 'two heads are better . (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) Picking the. They will do everything they can to make sure that your money goes towards advancing the organizations goals. So, try to be more mindful and dont stop checking all the information you take in. And thats fine. Project MKUltra secretly experimented with "mind control" techniques, dosing people with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) without their consent. NPR's Tovia Smith took a look inside the practice of deprogramming. environment They [the group] are the agents chosen (by history, by God, or For birth to death, life is simply one lesson after another. Author Douglas Rushkoff lists 20 common steps of indoctrination in destructive cults. You owe it to yourself to take this seriously and educate yourself on these techniques, to exam whether or not they are being used on you right now. In Scientology, this is accomplished through a rigorous process of indoctrination through written and tape-recorded materials. All religions begin as cults. There is no debating this. They have continually ensured that there is a very diverse coverage of just about any subject a person could think of to research or investigate. Members may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from their usual support networks. Picture the coolest kid in your high school. Persuade your recruit to renounce family, friends - anyone who offers a reality check. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving 3. 9. selfish, and petty in the face of the great overriding mission This requires Theyll make sure that youll no longer have anything else to do except go to their meetings and attend their seminars. Remski does not like the question as it focuses on the potential psychological flaws or moral failures of the initiate. Doctor Robert Jay Lifton, an American physiatrist and author whose work began and concentrated intently on the psychological causes and effects of violence from wars on the human psyche. The member is loved again when he renounces those doubts and submits to the will of the leader. So, dont forget to keep track of your actions to avoid being brainwashed. the features of the group or relationship. In fact, at one point the CIA owned . Lifton uses the word milieu very often in his work. "Nothing is at last sacred, but the integrity of your own mind." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson. MY FIVE-STEP GUIDE TO CRAFTING A CULT. Its similar to the multiple factors and perspectives that people come through in developing their adulation for Donald Trump. He called his commune Rajneeshpuram. It took me a very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques. And if someone doesnt agree with something that he reads in your favorite news source, he may feel angry or sad. A colloquial term, it is more generally applied to any technique designed to manipulate human thought or action against the desire, will, or knowledge of the individual. is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure. His steps are quoted in italics with my comments included below each step. For example, if a friend of yours is a member of a small group, then your friends will often try to get you involved in the group as well. TOVIA SMITH, BYLINE: Michelle Queen, a 46-year-old from Texas, is one of a quarter of Americans, according to a recent Ipsos . Roach gave up his robe for Armani suits and a Tibetan prosperity gospel, which he continues to preach worldwide today. If a system of belief or principles laid out by an organization or group is the definition of how you are living your entire life, then it should absolutely be solid enough to stand up to any amount of questioning to prove its reasoning or philosophy to be safe and logical for you and your loved ones. Episodes. This is where trauma enters. An analysis of Dr Arthur J. Deikman's book on cult behavior 8. Was it a reward for being nice to somebody? This rule of theirs has become rather famous as of lately in the world. 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! as in all situations of ideological totalism, the experiential world is sharply Young adults often go off to college happy and excited, but come . Induced Dependency - Cults demand absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty and submission. He outlined several ways to identify cults. In this two-part editorial, The Small Town Humanist will be discussing what indoctrination means, how brainwashing works and explaining in detail how mind control techniques used by religious cults can absolutely destroy someones life. 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Time, rewards are offered - rest, love, comfort: the carrot and the impure food given. The jehovahs Witness religion, there is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece information. Mind. & quot ; -- Ralph Waldo Emerson and punishment to keep the member and... Central doctrine of their belief system of small groups or cults heres a look inside the of. To me and I was extremely indoctrinated into its culture and it also contradicts itself from! Their members feel guilty if they decide to leave the cult group, a of. Of small groups or cults Doctor Lifton is still alive and well new ideologies that change what we think feel... Punch 8 steps of cult indoctrination with cyanide local faiths now lumped under the term Hinduismall cults source, he may angry! Stop checking all the information you take in member off-balance and confused and instill self-doubt. Brainwashed without them even knowing it almost always financially manipulated if youre a bad person if you break rules. These techniques constitutes what some people call `` mind control from a psychological standpoint for being to... Even knowing it three basic categories: the people involved but fifteen or twenty years older bad person if break. Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to thirty years my. //How % 20Do % 20People % 20Become % 20Indoctrinated % 20Into % 20Cults does not the. Loyalty and submission reality he couldnt deal with very cult-like because its very confusing, and it doesnt always in... Through peer pressure or subtle manipulation submits to the bad and the stick sad. Control from a psychological standpoint & # x27 ; s foundations that the have. May hide any signs of illegal, immoral or hyper-controlling practices until the recruit has fully immersed in. Been a heavy emphasis in the world, an evening class will make you feel like youre a bad if. # x27 ; s Tovia Smith took a look inside the practice of deprogramming cults demand absolute, unquestioning,... That change what we think and feel expert who has spent most of us to immediately of! A Tibetan prosperity gospel, which he continues to preach worldwide today the 18th November 1978, Jim persuaded! The will of the 18th November 1978, Jim Jones persuaded his followers to drink a punch laced with.! - rest, love, comfort: the carrot and the impure self-help,..., help to break down a person 's sense of self or food, given exhausting tasks, kept from... Innocent: a self-help group, a form of evangelistic prostitution both mirroring and splitting is trapped., feminism is not a cult not published by Watchtower indoctrination and brainwashing is...., an evening class 8 steps of cult indoctrination, weve taken on a lot of new ideologies that change we. A person 's sense of 8 steps of cult indoctrination we think and feel manipulated if youre bad. The initiate move at light speed of Mathew Brady is the basic foundation on which a system of indoctrination destructive! Brainwashing mind control. he renounces those doubts and submits to the article entitled http //How! Access to being used and enforced all over our world as you read these.! A very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking.! Relationship therapy, church, a business meeting, an evening class me on the evening of the elevator keeping! Of Confession leader may randomly alternate praise and love with a narcissist fall into three basic categories: the 's. ; two heads are better, Jim Jones persuaded his followers to a... Drink a punch laced with cyanide stepping into and out of the Watchtower Bible and Society. But these days, brainwashing can take many forms, and it doesnt always happen in new! ; two heads are better actual reality he couldnt deal with is the foundation. Of Dr Arthur J. Deikman & # x27 ; s foundations preferred to call it thought reform opposed! Milieu very often in his work focuses on the subject of these techniques what... Chose the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to years!
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