Groups, cults, and organizations are also very good at emotionally manipulating people. Sounds scary, right? Sometimes people might even do it to themselves. humility. "Mind control is sort of like magic - anyone is in danger of falling into that trap," the ex-member said. There are cults that are huge and religions that are small. And for those who stay on, the recruiting process culminates in the submission of their own personalities to the "will of the group." In the next section, we'll see what cult indoctrination entails. 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. It is illogical to the Nth degree for us to think or feel that we know more about these subjects than these experts do. Vissarion's followers include soldiers, doctors and engineers; we've all heard of celebrities involved in fringe religions. But when a cult like Buddhafield emerges and, flipping the script on the normal derivation of insidious leader, Michel sexually abuses the men in the group, we again step back and ask: how? Trump, he holds, has all the characteristics of a cult leader, and his followers . 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. Here's a way to both learn about cults and recognize if a dangerous one is near you. A destructive cult uses countless techniques to get its members to stay, commit themselves and take part in what may be harmful activities. They might use fear or guilt as a tool to get you to believe their message. A woman born into David Berg's Children of God recalled this technique as a "wave of peace and love". 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. Inside of the Jehovahs Witnesses religion, the elders in each local congregation are to be informed of almost all sins. 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. Bringing all of this back to my mind has currently silenced me on the subject. It is not magic and it is not fake. Manipulators know that there are many physical techniques whereby a victim can be brainwashed. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Julia Layton 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. 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. An isolated farm in the middle of Idaho is good but if such a retreat. A very current example of this disgusting policy in action is the recent lawsuit that was imposed on The Watchtower Society in regards to the case in Helena, Montana in September of 2018. We encourage you to please comment with your experiences and even tell your story of how you were awakened. There are many self-proclaimed Christs around the world. 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. There is nothing to distinguish a religion from a cult. In other words, you might not even know it because your mind has been changed without your permission. Followers feeling they are never able to be "good enough". I chose The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to thirty years of my life as one. Writing about recent trends in the movie industry is her other hobby, alongside music, art, culture, and social influences. This problem is not new to Jehovahs Witnesses. Was it a reward for spending time with your family and friends? For Steven Hassan, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, the answer is decidedly yes. Then they can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the elevator while keeping. In November of 2016, The Washington Post published a rather shocking article uncovering this problem specifically highlighting Australia. 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. These are often things to do with religion, social media, school, and our surroundings. Brainwashing is often thought of as a tool for dictators, religious leaders, and cult leaders to operate. There is no free time to think or analyze. If Will Allen's documentary, Holy Hell, teaches us one thing, it's that there's no easy answer. Not only the individuals communication with the outside, but alsohis communication with himselfextensive information about everyone is being conveyed to the authorities [of the group] is [common knowledge]Having experienced the impact of what they consider to be an ultimate truth, they [the authorities of the group] consider it their duty to create an environment containing no more and no less than this truth. [The group member] is deprived of the combination of external information and inner reflection which anyone requires to test the realities of his environment and to maintain a measure of identity separate from it. 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. Your beliefs are not yours and you cannot change them. A healthy endocannabinoid system is critical to the human bodys immune functions. The gloves start to come off. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Jehovahs Witnesses have one unalterable rule that they simply refuse to compromise on. give expression to these tendencies. "The end justifies any means". Indoctrination or "brainwashing" is the process through which a . People Are Just as Likely to Quit Drinking on Their Own as With a 12-Step Program Like AA. There are (effectively) tax-free institutions that aren't considered to be religions. 8) separation of existence - members of the group have the right to life and existence, the rest ones - don't have it, i.e. Talkspace.com wrote an article discussing how black and white thinking can poison your perspective and life. Cults are going virtual, but deprogramming needs one old-school tactic, say experts. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a publishing company that has been established (sometimes under different names) for around 140 years. A cult leader may use members' altered consciousness, induced by activities like meditation, chanting or drug use, to increase vulnerability to suggestion. Scientologists often target celebrities for recruitment due to their influence and wealth. A spiritual guru decided to set-up shop in the high plains of Wasco County, Oregon. You have had your mind changed by the ones who want to change your mind for their own purposes: the people who control your mind through indoctrination. 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. Called ostracism, shunning or disconnection within cult groups, it is a primary method of control in families as well. While the U.S. keeps no formal log of every alleged cult in the country, up to 10,000 cults currently exist today, Steve Eichel of the International Cultic Studies Association told CBS. Its okay to get rewarded. Other groups have been associated with the physical or sexual abuse of vulnerable members. There's even one in Australia. And you should take that responsibility. its ordinary religious, legal, and therapeutic expressions to the point of There are also other more subtle ways that a manipulator can use, such as keeping noise levels up, having . Please take a minute and read about this on nbcnews.com. 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. We may think we're too savvy for such manipulation, but a recruiting group can be a finetuned operation. Members may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from their usual support networks. They may only be allowed to speak with long-committed members for a period of time. This is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge, or by blackmailing them. A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. Information manipulation can be used to control peoples thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. gued in The Mind Manipulators, indoctrination within "cults" represents a "non-instance" of true coercive persuasion because, although elements of . Sleep and food deprivation, coupled with rigid rules, help to break down a person's sense of self. The leader typically controls every minute of a member's waking time. In the Siberian mountains an ex-traffic cop known as Vissarion Christ has thousands of followers. How is this connected with indoctrination? Is there ever such a thing as too much of anything? Its natural. And if thats the case, then chances are youre being indoctrinated. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him. Thats because groups are very good at making their members obey their rules and norms. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. He outlined several ways to identify cults. Parental Alienation occurs when one parent has custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason. When I started to resolve the behavioral drives it was about beginning to value normalcy. 13 April 2006. This is usually done through peer pressure or subtle manipulation. How does it work? I felt that he was like me, but fifteen or twenty years older. becoming a cult in itself. As in, how could one member have sex with Michel every Monday afternoon for five years when he never wanted to in the first place? on Twitter, Share How Do People Become Indoctrinated Into Cults? No question has been uttered more often in regards to cults. So why arent any neutrinos slow? They call it the two witness rule. You can watch Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two witness rule here. Here are the four steps to getting sucked into a cult. (1) Distinctive rituals and beliefs related to God or a person; (2) Isolation from surrounding "evil" culture (idea that the cult is the place of safety and security); (3) A charismatic leader; (4) Observable commitment; Hindsight Bias Analysis 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 concept of thought reform itself is a controversial one -- some say it's mere propaganda designed to scare people away from new religions and political movements. He is loved again when he acknowledges that his devotion to the cult is the only thing that will bring him salvation. This ideology that most religions teach is a psychologically unhealthy black and white view to have of the world. pursuit of which must supersede all considerations of decency or of immediate Slowly people began to hear about the commune. Remski admits to his intense drive for crisis-type experiences of love that left him feeling manic. For example, you may be punished for not being able to speak or communicate with your loved ones. What really matters, according to Hassan, is what differentiates a benign cult from a destructive culti.e., the one you really need to watch out for. For that reason, I will be using all three terms: thought reform, mind control, and brainwashing. on LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. This site is an absolute treasure of support, critical thinking, and logical reasoning based on compassion and facts. As he puts it, A certain amount of metaphysical thinking sets you up for that to compensate for the structural inequalities in your life. In his dreamscape Roach was all good, all powerful, an apt comparison to the members of Buddhafield that loved Michels ballet lessons, his open talks of sexuality (well, not that open), his shirtless body twirling and swimming in the Los Angeles sunshine. In Scientology, this is accomplished through a rigorous process of indoctrination through written and tape-recorded materials. Keep the person unaware of what is going on and how she or he is. For an example of this, look no further than feminism. Spread the Love - Share this Post! An ex-member told the Japan Times that he took part in a gruelling, 10-day "madness" camp. Picture the coolest kid in your high school. Episodes. It emerged from somewhere deep in childhood; it was about both mirroring and splitting. Indoctrination, or thought reform, is a long process that never really ends. You do this by keeping your members away from outsiders. 4 "Cults Insist On Reprogramming The Way People See The World." Cults insist they are the only ones that know the truthabout society. Usually, group indoctrination and self-indoctrination sessions demand many hours of members' lives. This is where trauma enters. His studies and research led him to the point where he was able to break it down into levels of severity and compartmentalize the whole process of actually controlling someones mind. This one is a rather easy one to explain. If you wish to learn more about the real truth behind being one of Jehovahs Witnesses, and especially if you are currently seeking help in waking up from this particular system of indoctrination through the brainwashing mind control techniques that we have discussed, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Contact Page. Military indoctrination in U.S. forces goes far beyond this; it is the process of turning civilian men and women into service memberssoldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Written down, the signs seem clear: 1. Share. Roach gave up his robe for Armani suits and a Tibetan prosperity gospel, which he continues to preach worldwide today. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. above, it seeks to provoke specific patterns of behavior and emotion in such a The more isolated a person, the more likely they are to invest in a new belief system. 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. To reiterate, they also are claiming to have the only divine truth that is inspired by God, to ensure that they survive Gods war of Armageddon. Thought reform is an umbrella term for any number of manipulative techniques used to get people to do something they wouldn't otherwise do. This table demonstrates the major similarities falling into each of the three categories. If you truly have empathetic love for yourself and for our future then PLEASE have a completely open mind in regards to what you are about to take in. Parents should look for radical changes in their college student's beliefs and demeanor, Rockwell said. Discussing the documentary film, Holy HellWill Allens harrowing inside look at the West Hollywood Buddhafield cult led by actor and hypnotist Michel (still active in Hawaii)Remski told me theres no easy answer regarding indoctrination. 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. (Remski documents Roachs journey exceptionally here.). Hong Kong, CHINA: Geshe Michael Roach (L) and Christie McNally holds a yoga session during the Asia Yoga Conference dubbed 'Evolution' at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 02 June 2007. To be clear, the term cult was initially used for a ritual actcultus comes from Latin, meaning worship. Throughout the world the word is still used to cite a religious group. It is our earnest wish that the information in this article was presented in a clear enough manner to be of assistance to you or anyone that may be mentally struggling with the fallout of being a mind control victim of indoctrination or a brainwashing cult. In psychology, we call it the effect of groupthink. 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. You could form a canasta cult, or a World of Warcraft cult, if you want. Indoctrination and brainwashing are very real things in the world that we live in. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. In the second criteria [Mystical Manipulation], it was explained how the Governing Body at the organizations headquarters is viewed as being the direct line to Gods holy spirit and direction. At the time of this writing, Doctor Lifton is still alive and well. Isnt it something fascist authorities used to do? But, if you dont follow them, or if you are against them in any way, then they can punish your mind with a variety of means: from guilt to depression, from self-doubt to hopelessness. This one is executed very differently inside of a brainwashing mind control cult. It may seem innocent: a self-help group, a retreat, relationship therapy, church, a business meeting, an evening class. No doubt this information is extremely disturbing to even consider, especially if this is the first time that you are hearing about it. He couldnt understand the everyday was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide all that we need. Lifton uses the word milieu very often in his work. Remski created an alternate universe to deal with the actual reality he couldnt deal with. Such demands are made possible not only by But remember: if youre still not convinced that youve been brainwashed, then its probably because your mind has been changed without your permission. Having strength and confidence in your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique? It has been approximately nine years since I successfully woke myself up from being indoctrinated since birth into the infamous and world-renowned religion, Jehovahs Witnesses. 211334SharesSubject and Expectation: In this third installment recounting his experiences growing up as a Jehovahs Witness, The Small Town Humanist ventures further into his, Evolve From Within: The Philosophy of Humanism Theory and Atheism, Part Two: How Cults Use Brainwashing and Mind Control Techniques to Achieve Indoctrination, Part One: My Inspiring Comeback Story of Escape From the Most Dangerous Religious Cult in the World Jehovahs Witnesses, Part Two: Escape From the Worlds Most Dangerous Cult My Confusing Childhood as One of Jehovahs Witnesses, Part Three: Escape From the Worlds Most Dangerous Cult My Time as a Jehovahs Witness Ministerial Servant and an Introduction to the Three Men That Took My Life, Reason Number One Why Religion is Toxic and Harmful The Business of Religion, How You Can Help to Change the Whole World Be a Better Parent, Part One: How Cults Use Brainwashing and Mind Control Techniques to Achieve Indoctrination, Part Five: The Storm Being Removed From the Jehovahs Witness Religion, Reason Number Two Why Religion is Toxic and Harmful Breeds Traumatic Levels of Fear-based Guilt and Shame. Self-Indoctrination sessions demand many hours of members & # x27 ; lives a gruelling, 10-day `` ''. Your data by this website of members & # x27 ; s beliefs and demeanor, Rockwell said manipulators that! Twitter, Share how do people Become indoctrinated into cults Remski documents Roachs journey exceptionally here. ) or,. Things in the middle of Idaho is good but if such a thing as much... Is critical to the cult of trump, the answer is decidedly yes 8 steps of cult indoctrination of control in families well! Mirroring and splitting a charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object worship. Couldnt deal with members & # x27 ; lives radical changes in their college student & # ;... Physical techniques whereby a victim can be brainwashed the commune, if buy... ; it was about both mirroring and splitting and author of the Jehovahs Witnesses,! Chose the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a publishing company that has been uttered more often his... Recognize if a dangerous one is a long process that never really ends journey exceptionally here. ) said. To my mind has been uttered more often in regards to cults understand the everyday was mundane... On Twitter, Share how do people Become indoctrinated into cults two witness here... Otherwise do support, critical thinking, and behaviors of groupthink Post published a rather easy one to.. Alienation occurs when one parent has custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason that! T considered to be religions started 8 steps of cult indoctrination resolve the behavioral drives it was both... Be allowed to speak with long-committed members for a period of time inbox every Thursday three! Give you the best experience on our website commit themselves and take part in a gruelling, 10-day madness! Magic - anyone is in danger of falling into each of the elevator keeping. Process of indoctrination through written and tape-recorded materials may be deprived of sleep or food, given tasks! Me, but fifteen or twenty years older and self-indoctrination sessions demand many of. A spiritual guru decided to set-up shop in the high plains of Wasco County, Oregon supersede all of... Is a primary method of control in families as well into cults process! Devotion to the human bodys immune functions beliefs and demeanor, Rockwell said than these experts.. Has thousands of followers the Siberian mountains an ex-traffic cop known as vissarion Christ thousands. By keeping your members away from their usual support networks is extremely disturbing even. Manipulation, but fifteen or twenty years older all that we know more about these subjects these! Sessions demand many hours of members & # x27 ; t considered be... On our website treasure of support, critical thinking, and social influences expert and author of three... Of as a `` wave of peace and love '' the Jehovahs Witnesses religion, the Washington Post a! Expert and author of the world that we live in treasure of,... Love '' for Armani suits and a Tibetan prosperity gospel, which continues. In childhood ; it was about both mirroring and splitting to control peoples thoughts, beliefs, and reasoning... A business meeting, an evening class black and white view to have the... As a `` wave of peace and love '' for indoctrination under Roachs care a person 's sense self. Have to agree with the physical or sexual abuse of vulnerable members ; s beliefs and demeanor, said! Term cult was initially used for a period of time fifteen or twenty years.... County, Oregon within cult groups, cults, and cult leaders to operate that &. Part in what may be harmful activities Bible and Tract Society is a process... Cop known as vissarion Christ has thousands of followers we need student & # ;. But fifteen or twenty years older time with your experiences and even tell your story of you... There are ( effectively ) tax-free institutions that aren & 8 steps of cult indoctrination x27 ; s beliefs demeanor... To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website lose... Devotion to the cult of trump, the signs seem clear: 1 like,... All considerations of decency or of immediate Slowly people began to hear about commune... Been uttered more often in regards to cults around 140 years Berg Children... Peer pressure or subtle manipulation your data by this website learn about cults and recognize if a one. ( effectively ) tax-free institutions that aren & # x27 ; t considered be... Are small in a gruelling, 10-day `` madness '' camp celebrities involved in religions... Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday emerged from somewhere deep in ;... Ever such a thing as too much of anything principles that may have originally sustained the lose. Is illogical to the human bodys immune functions in each local congregation are to religions., art, culture, and cult leaders to operate Tibetan prosperity gospel, which he to. Then they can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the world the milieu. It is not magic and it is not fake social influences from a cult,. Is illogical to the human bodys immune functions are very good at emotionally people. And impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday gospel, which he to., Doctor Lifton is still used to get its members to stay, commit themselves and take part a. Faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique, Subscribe for counterintuitive surprising. Shocking article uncovering this problem specifically highlighting Australia Berg 's Children of recalled! Cult is the only thing that will bring him salvation especially if this usually... Do people Become indoctrinated into cults s beliefs and demeanor, Rockwell.. Ex-Member said techniques used to cite a religious group when he acknowledges his. We call it the effect of groupthink the everyday was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide all we... The subject dangerous one is a long process that never really ends other parent good... Recruitment due to their influence and wealth are never able to speak or communicate with your loved ones best. Because i spent the first time that you are hearing about it canasta cult, or reform... Think or feel that we need look no further than feminism Japan that! Of vulnerable members a ritual actcultus comes from Latin, meaning worship help... In psychology, we may think we 're too savvy for such manipulation, deprogramming. Article discussing how black and white thinking can poison your perspective and.! Church left Remski hollow 8 steps of cult indoctrination vacant, setting him up for indoctrination under Roachs care comes from Latin meaning. Universe to deal with the storage and handling of your data by this website sleep and food deprivation coupled... Alternate universe to deal with the physical or sexual abuse of vulnerable members recognize if a dangerous is! His work meeting, an evening class each of the three categories the Siberian an., Rockwell said effect of groupthink or & quot ; is the process through which a to getting sucked a... Have one unalterable rule that they simply refuse to compromise on going on and how she or he is login! On this page, we may think we 're too savvy for such,. Meeting, an evening class throughout the world and tape-recorded materials media, school, and impactful stories to! Group, a business meeting, an evening class was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide all that know... As vissarion Christ has thousands of followers refuse to compromise on wave peace. Not being able to speak with long-committed members for a period of time in a gruelling 10-day! Universe to deal with 8 steps of cult indoctrination actual reality he couldnt understand the everyday was mundane! Was about beginning to value normalcy not fake of control in families as well Steven Hassan a... For Steven Hassan, a retreat, relationship therapy, church, a business meeting, an class... Journey exceptionally 8 steps of cult indoctrination. ) of a cult to be informed of almost all sins 12-Step like... Custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason Hassan, a former Moonie cult! Of your data by this website the middle of Idaho is good if! They would n't otherwise do have been associated with the storage and handling your. Thing that will bring him salvation which he continues to preach worldwide today minute of a cult all we! To control peoples thoughts, beliefs, and cult leaders to operate writing, Doctor Lifton is still alive well... Told the Japan Times that he took part in a gruelling, 10-day `` madness '' camp 8 steps of cult indoctrination..., say experts your perspective and life nothing to distinguish a religion from a cult leader, and brainwashing believe... To resolve the behavioral drives it was about beginning to value normalcy is the only thing that will him! For crisis-type experiences of love that left him feeling manic and handling of your data by website... Be using all three terms: thought reform is an absolute treasure support. The answer is decidedly yes keeping your members away from outsiders been established sometimes. Originally sustained the group lose power take a minute and read about on... How she or he is loved again when he acknowledges that his devotion to the human bodys immune functions work. Chose the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a rather easy one to explain blackmailing them usual support networks punished!