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. All religions begin as cults. Codifying Consent w/Joyce Short & Nina Lucas. Special Knowledge. Changing - Indoctrination Refreezing - Reinforce the new identity These three steps are key to understanding how authoritarian cults operate and create a new identity (the "cult self"). Writing about recent trends in the movie industry is her other hobby, alongside music, art, culture, and social influences. In Scientology, this is accomplished through a rigorous process of indoctrination through written and tape-recorded materials. 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. Marshall Herff Applewhite, who founded the organization known as Heaven's Gate, led 38 others in a mass suicide near San Diego. 77SharesSubject and Expectation: In part two of this ongoing series recounting the story of how he escaped the most dangerous religious cult in the, Spread the Love - Share this Post! gued in The Mind Manipulators, indoctrination within "cults" represents a "non-instance" of true coercive persuasion because, although elements of . This leader then informs the members. Directory of Cult Recovery Resources. Modern day experts such as Steven Hassan have done the same. By then they'll have invested heavily in the organisation and will be immersed in its magical thinking. But, Remski continues. They are collectively revered as Gods only prophet on Earth and the exclusive channel for which new spiritual light is to be continuously revealed to the Jehovahs Witness Organization. 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. Ultimately, feelings of worthlessness and "evil" become associated with independence and critical thinking, and feelings of warmth and love become associated with unquestioning submission. Synonyms of cult 1 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious (see spurious sense 2) also : its body of adherents the voodoo cult a satanic cult 2 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book) criticizing how the media promotes the cult of celebrity For an example of this, look no further than feminism. 10 possible signs of ideological indoctrination 1) Your behavior isn't controlled entirely by you Be honest. In psychology, we call it the effect of groupthink. You do not need to write an 'inventory' and confess to a sponsor who has no place, credentials, training, anything advising you on anything in your life. So, dont forget to keep track of your actions to avoid being brainwashed. Cult Indoctrination through Psychological Manipulation by Professor Kimiaki Nishida 9. For enlisted personnel, this process occurs during Army Basic Training, Navy Boot Camp, Air Force Basic Training, or Marine Corps Boot Camp. Remski created an alternate universe to deal with the actual reality he couldnt deal with. on Facebook, Share How Do People Become Indoctrinated Into Cults? Cults may hide any signs of illegal, immoral or hyper-controlling practices until the recruit has fully immersed himself in the group. Have you ever had to spend all your time with people who are in a specific group? 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. The gloves start to come off. 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 . In my 46 years, I have intently studied seven or eight of the more dominant religions of the world. 16 There is little non-group leisure time or vacation time away. I chose The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to thirty years of my life as one. T he "real self" is never completely destroyed but is suppressed by the cult self. 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. Here is a great example of an empathetic activist exposing the issue. There are people that are completely self-interested; there are people projecting all kinds of qualities and needs out of trauma; there are people that dont really care about his racism or incredible misogyny but are really interested in his tax plan. Opposing critical thinking 2. He outlined several ways to identify cults. Those robes were also part of what drew Remski in. Was it a reward for helping somebody out? Then, lets get a clearer idea of what indoctrination truly is. It will only happen when they are personally re. Cults mislead new recruits/members as to the true expectations and activities of the group. The more isolated a person, the more likely they are to invest in a new belief system. As most people would agree, life is anything but black and white anymore. "Teens in Religious Cults Develop Dangerous Disease," National Enquirer, October 10,1977; Shapiro, E., "Destructive Cultism," American Family Physician 1975, 15, 80-83. Cults may not allow unsupervised contact with the "outside world." Cult behavior involves a fervent devotion to a particular person, object, or idea. A cult member's sense of self is systematically destroyed. on Twitter, Share How Do People Become Indoctrinated Into Cults? I was in 4th grade. Studies show talk therapy works, but experts disagree about how it does so. This group of about 8 imperfect human men adamantly claim to be governing the exclusive organization for the entire planet of 7.6 billion humans, possessing the divinely-gifted authority to oversee the single organization on Earth that contains the only system of principles to guide humans in living a life that will ensure the best chance possible of surviving the impending destruction at Armageddon of about 99.887% of the entire population of the planet. If you notice yourself becoming increasingly devoted to any type of group, then its time for you to take a step back and get your mind checked for any signs of brainwashing. These broken people have been coming forward so much in recent times with their stories of pain and hurt, that a worldwide support group campaigning for the exposure of it was founded in 2001 called Silent Lambs. He is loved again when he acknowledges that his devotion to the cult is the only thing that will bring him salvation. Lloyds video library is vast and extremely valuable to anyone that is mentally trapped inside of the Watchtower. TOVIA SMITH, BYLINE: Michelle Queen, a 46-year-old from Texas, is one of a quarter of Americans, according to a recent Ipsos . Because your behavior might not be completely under your control. They want to convince us that we cant be held responsible for our actions because the outside world is always changing and we cant keep up with it. For the first 15 years of her life, Daniella Mestyanek Young's entire world was The Family. January 14, 2022, 7:15 pm. That's a big subject, but as a potted guide here are eight steps to mind control. This site is an absolute treasure of support, critical thinking, and logical reasoning based on compassion and facts. Besides, cults often try to isolate their members from the outside world so that theyre unable to get in touch with anyone whos not in the cult. cure that is arbitrarily imposed. In reading Liftons words above, it is easy for most of us to immediately think of Catholicism and their long-established institution of Confession. In the next section, we'll take a look at what it's like to live within the confines of a destructive cult. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. There are also other more subtle ways that a manipulator can use, such as keeping noise levels up, having . for self-expression and independent action., Jehovahs Witnesses are 100% directed by a group of men that are referred to as The Governing Body. The control Jones held is far from unique among the leaders of destructive cults and new religions. Because this goal must serve as the "illuminated eye" of the pyramid, it cannot be attainable. He did, however, relate this process to the current American electoral cycle. Remski admits to his intense drive for crisis-type experiences of love that left him feeling manic. Of course there are positive aspects of cults and religions: social support, a sense of purpose, shared motivation, community outreach. There are reports that Hearst was locked in a dark closet for several days after her kidnapping and was kept hungry, tired, brutalized and afraid for her life while SLA members bombarded her with their anti-capitalist political ideology. 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. Seeking a sense of purpose or a substitute family factor in. Members can believe that all sorts of horrible things may happen if they don't follow the rules, if they don't earn more money, if they leave the group or even think of leaving the group etc. So lets put all of this into perspective. You now see that there are different sides to every story and that everything depends on how you look at it. Very Important: Please give this next thought your deepest consideration prior to beginning to read the following information. Stay in touch onFacebookandTwitter. It is illogical to the Nth degree for us to think or feel that we know more about these subjects than these experts do. The goal may be to make them. 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. For others, it's a perpetually stressful existence. I was born and raised in a religious cult. MY FIVE-STEP GUIDE TO CRAFTING A CULT. The following techniques are currently being used and enforced all over our world as you read these words. There are cults that are tax-free and religions that are not. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It took me a very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques. Charles Manson was said to be giving his followers large doses of LSD. Americans, perpetually paranoid about foreign ideas, began using cult to describe faith healers about a century ago. Dani's final moment of indoctrination comes when the cult presents her with a choice: she must . Lacey Wood says: January 24, 2022 at 8:19 am. above, it seeks to provoke specific patterns of behavior and emotion in such a Loading. We never know how or when something that we say may be of support to someone else. From day one, it's a process of manipulation and deception. way that these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the In a classic deprogramming scenario, a cult member is physically abducted and held at a secret location or forcibly detained while visiting home. Copy a link to the article entitled http://How%20Do%20People%20Become%20Indoctrinated%20Into%20Cults? If this is the case, then its yet another warning sign of being controlled by a cult. You may or may not be aware of the global epidemic that is spreading of countless former members of the organization coming out with severe accusations of covered up crimes of child molestation, occurring inside of the organization all over the world. This way, they can control the communication and ultimately the environment of the entire group. This will make this information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping a cult. Many cults have compounds or other places where they require members to stay, ensuring that the cult has total control over every aspect of their lives. Heres a look at the Civil War work of Mathew Brady. Each local body of elders in the local congregations of Jehovahs Witnesses is likewise viewed by the entire organization as being the direct line to Gods holy spirit, having the same divine authority. 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. But wait a minute. 5. Some even work on the principle that 'two heads are better . has not committed, to sinfulness that is artificially induced, in the name of a A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. Manson was said to be giving his followers large doses of LSD held is far unique... And facts those that may be of support, a sense of purpose or a substitute Family factor.! Manipulator can use, such as Steven Hassan have done the same held is far from among... When something that we know more about these subjects than these experts Do and Tract Society I! A very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical,! A Loading behavior and emotion in such a Loading by Freethink Media, Inc. all reserved... 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