Group Abuse

Characteristics of a Destructive Group

Authoritarian pyramid structure with authority at the top

Charismatic or messianic leader(s) (Messianic meaning they either say they are God OR that they alone can interpret the way.....these leaders are self-appointed.

Isolation from society -- not necessarily physical isolation, but this can be psychological isolation -- the rest of the world is not saved, not Christian, not transformed (whatever) -- the only valid source of feedback and information is the group

Milieu Control: Control of the environment and communication within the environment; hierarchy decides what is acceptable.

Mystical Manipulation: Leaders claim to be agents chosen by God, history, or some supernatural force, to carry out the mystical imperative; the "principles" (God-centered or otherwise) can be put forcibly and claimed exclusively, so that the group and its beliefs become the only true path to salvation (or enlightenment)

Demand for Purity: The world becomes sharply divided into the pure and the impure, the absolutely good (the group/ideology) and the absolutely evil (everything outside the group) one must continually change or conform to the group "norm"; tendencies towards guilt and shame are used as emotional levers for the group's controlling and manipulative influences

Confession: Group confession is carried beyond its ordinary religious, legal and therapeutic expressions; sessions in which one confesses to one's ‘sins’ are accompanied by patterns of criticism and self-criticism, generally transpiring within small groups with an active and dynamic thrust toward personal change (the focus on confessing negatives about themselves creates vulnerability and reinforces dependency on the group to get well)

Sacred Science: The totalistic milieu maintains an aura of sacredness around its basic doctrine or ideology, holding it as an ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence questioning or criticizing those basic assumptions is prohibited; a reverence is demanded for the ideology/doctrine, the originators of the ideology/doctrine, the present bearers of the ideology/doctrine offers considerable security to people because it greatly simplifies the world and answers a contemporary need to combine a sacred set of dogmatic principles with a claim to a science embodying the truth about human behavior and human psychology

Loading the Language: Words are given new meanings -- the outside world does not use the words or phrases in the same way -- it becomes a "group" word or phrase

Doctrine Over Person: If one questions the beliefs of the group or the leaders of the group, one is made to feel that there is something inherently wrong with them to even question -- it is always "turned around" on them and the questioner/criticizer is questioned rather than the questions answered directly the underlying assumption is that doctrine/ideology is ultimately more valid, true and real than any aspect of actual human character or human experience and one must subject one's experience to that "truth" the experience of contradiction can be immediately associated with guilt; one is made to feel that doubts are reflections of one's own evil when doubt arises, conflicts become intense

By cutting off and isolating somehow those that are critical to the organization the leaders don't have to deal with dissent and don't need to worry about the subsequent effect it may have regarding other members. This makes damage control within the organization comparatively easy. Dis-fellowshipping essentially often replaces the need for leaders to have any meaningful dialog with members that don't agree with them.

Dispensing of Existence: Since the group has an absolute or totalistic vision of truth, those who are not in the group are bound up in evil, are not enlightened, are not saved, and do not have the right to exist; impediments to legitimate being must be pushed away or destroyed; one outside the group may always receive their right of existence by joining the group; fear manipulation -- if one leaves this group, one leaves God or loses their salvation/transformation, or something bad will happen to them; (most often heard: get fat, loss of soul, sickness, death) the group is the "elite", outsiders are "of the world", "evil", "unenlightened", etc. Groups like this often feed upon confrontation and claims of "persecution" which bind members together and keep them dependent.

**Newspaper Article: a question and answer that was in the Seattle PI not long ago:

Question: "I work at a community college where two instructors teach the same science course. One explains concepts clearly, and his students do well on standardized tests. The other is scattered and confusing, and his students perform poorly. But the students believe the latter instructor is brilliant: They think that his explanations are simply over their heads! Why does this perception occur?"

Answer: "The kids don't yet have enough confidence in themselves. This is one reason young people are more susceptible to charismatic leaders and charlatans. Adults, especially those who lack a good education, sometimes make the same mistake. (I would add emotional wounding) Both groups are more easily misled into believing that mysterious people are highly intelligent: When listeners hear material they don't grasp, they assume the fault is with them, not the speaker. So, if the listeners consider themselves fairly intelligent, why, the speaker must be brilliant!"

Spiritually Abusive Groups

Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking, guiding members to find comfort and support and a replacement family within the group. Designed bonding to the group creates isolation from friends, relatives, previous relationships; abusive groups over time feed ideologies into their consciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines and requirements of the group. The seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of a member, insisting he be involved and calling him to account if he isn't, is critical or disapproving of involvements with friends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking that members not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or organizational affairs with outsiders, is secretly, openly, or publicly critical of other churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only true one ), is critical when members attend conferences, workshops or services at other churches, questions members in any way, i.e., to determine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makes attendance at all functions mandatory for participating in church ministry or enjoying other benefits of church fellowship.

The leaders may also persuade the members that they have the inside track with God and therefore know how everything should be done. When their behavior results in disastrous consequences, conflicts, as it often does, the members are blamed. Sometimes the leaders may have moments, especially after abusive episodes, when they appear to humble themselves and confess their faults, and the contrast of these moments of vulnerability with their usual pose of being all-powerful endears them powerfully to members and gives hope for some open communication.

There is a feeling of being monitored, watched, and assessed by those in the group or by leaders. In other words, what the organization wants, believes and thinks its members should do becomes everything, and you feel preoccupied with making sure you are meeting the standards. It no longer matters whether you agree that the standards are correct, only that you follow them and thus keep the peace and in the good graces of leaders.

People subjected to this type of spiritual abuse become worn out by tension, fear and continual rushing about in an effort to meet group standards. They must often avoid displays of fear, sorrow or rage, since these may result in ridicule or punishment. Rigid ministry demands and requirements that members attend unreasonable numbers of meetings and events make the exhaustion and ability to resist group pressure even worse.

DECEPTION, DEPENDENCY & DREAD

By Michael Langone, Ph. D.

American Family Foundation

THE CONVERSION PROCESS

Farber, Harlow, & West (1957) coined the term "DDD syndrome" to describe the essence of Korean War thought reform with prisoners of war: debility, dependency, and dread. Lifton (1961), who also studied thought reform employed in Chinese universities, demonstrated that the process did not require physical debilitation. Contemporary cultic groups, which do not have the power of the state at their disposal, have more in common with this brand of thought reform than with the POW variety, in that they rarely employ physical coercion. In order to control targets, they must rely on subterfuge and natural areas of overlap between themselves and prospects. As with all Korean era thought reform programs (those directed at civilians and at prisoners), however, contemporary cultic groups induce dependent states to gain control over recruits and employ psychological (sometimes physical) punishment ("dread") to maintain control. The process, in my view, can be briefly described by a modified "DDD syndrome": deception, dependency, and dread.

Although the process here described is complex and varied, the following appears to occur in the prototypical cult conversion:

A vulnerable prospect encounters a cultic group.

The group (leader[s]) deceptively presents itself as a benevolent authority that can improve the prospect's well-being.

The prospect responds positively, experiencing an increase in self-esteem and security, at least some of which is in response to what could be considered "placebo" The prospect can now be considered a "recruit".

Through the use of "sharing" exercises, "confessions," and skillful individualized probing, the group [leader(s)] assesses the recruit's strengths and weaknesses. (Comment: yes)

Through testimonies of group members, the denigration of the group's "competitors" (e.g., other religious groups, other therapists), the tactful accentuation of the recruit's shameful memories and other weaknesses, and the gradual indoctrination of the recruit into a closed, no falsifiable belief system, the group's superiority is affirmed as a fundamental assumption. (Comment: yes)

Members' testimonies, positive reinforcement of the recruit's expressions of trust in the group, discrete reminders about the recruit's weaknesses, and various forms of group pressure induce the recruit to acknowledge that his/her future well-being depends upon adherence to the group's belief system, more specifically its "change program." (Comment: yes)

These same influence techniques are joined by a subtle undermining of the recruit's self-esteem (e.g., by exaggerating the "sinfulness" of experiences the recruit is encouraged to "confess"), the suppression or weakening of critical thinking through fatiguing activity, near-total control of the recruit's time, trance-induction exercises (e.g., chanting), and the repetitive message that only disaster results from not following the group's "change program." These manipulations induce the recruit to declare allegiance to the group and to commit to change him/herself as directed by the group. He or she can now be considered a convert embarking on a path of "purification," "enlightenment," "self-actualization," "higher consciousness," or whatever. The recruit's dependency on the group is established and implicitly, if not explicitly, acknowledged. Moreover, he/she has accepted the group's authority in defining what is true and good, within the convert's heart and mind as well as in the world. (Comment: yes)

The convert is next fully subjected to the unrealistically high expectations of the group. The recruit's "potential" is "lovingly" affirmed, while members testify to the great heights they and "heroic" models have scaled. The group's all-important mission, e.g., save the world, justifies its all-consuming expectations. (Comment: yes)

Because by definition the group is always right and "negative" thinking is unacceptable, the convert's failures become totally his or her responsibility, while his or her doubts and criticisms are suppress or redefined as personal failures. (Comment: yes)

The convert (kept off balance) experiences increasing self- alienation. The "pre-cult self" is rejected; doubts about the group are pushed out of consciousness; the sense of failure generated by not measuring up to the group's expectations is bottled up inside. The only possible adaptation is fragmentation and compartmentalization. It is not surprising, then, that many clinicians consider dissociation to lie at the heart of cult-related distress and dysfunction (Ash, 1985). (Comment: yes)

The convert's self-alienation will tend to demand further psychological, if not physical, alienation from the non-group world (especially family), information from which can threaten to upset whatever dissociative equilibrium the convert establishes in an attempt to adjust to the consuming and conflicting demands of the group. This alienation accentuates the convert's dependency on the group. (Comment: yes)

The group supports the convert's dissociative equilibrium by actively encouraging escalating dependency, and by providing and positively reinforcing ways in which the convert can find a valued role within the group. (Comment: It was considered a privilege to be appointed or offered a position in the group, especially when "fallen ones" left. Some were give positions and even made Ministers without qualifying for the position)

The group strengthens the convert's growing dependency by threatening or inflicting punishment whenever the convert or an outside force (e.g., a visit by a family member) disturbs the dissociative equilibrium that enables him or her to function in a closed, no falsifiable system (the "dread" of DDD). Punishment may sometimes by physical. Usually, however, the punishment is psychological, sometimes even metaphysical. Certain fringe Christian groups, for example, can at the command of the leadership immediately begin shunning someone singled out as being "factious" or possessed of a "rebellious spirit." Many groups also threaten wavering converts with punishments in the hereafter, for example, being "doomed to Hell." (Comment: loss of soul, fall in vibration) It should be remembered that these threats and punishments occur within a context of induced dependency and psychological alienation from the person's former support network. This fact makes them much more potent than the garden-variety admonitions of traditional religious, such as "you will go to hell if you die with mortal sin."

The result of this process, when carried to its consummation, is a person who proclaims great happiness but hides great suffering. (Comment: this was evident to the extreme in Sorcerer's Apprentice, which exposed Carlos Castenada) I have talked to many former cultists who, when they left their groups and talked to other former members, were surprised to discover that many of their fellow members were also smilingly unhappy, all thinking they were the only ones who felt miserable inside.

Ways to evaluate a group's control over person freedom

[From Chapter Four of Combating Cult Mind Control (Park Street Press, 1990) by Steven Hassan] Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four basic components, which form the acronym BITE:

1. Behavior Control

2. Information Control

3. Thought Control

4. Emotional Control

These four components are guidelines. Not all groups do every aspect or do them extremely. What matters most is the overall impact on a person's free will and ability to make real choices.

1. Behavior Control

A person's uniqueness, talents, skills, creativity, and free will should be encouraged, not suppressed. Destructive mind control seeks to "make people over" in the image of the cult leader. This process has been described as "cloning". This "cult identity" is the result of a systematic process to dissociate a person from his or her previous identity including important beliefs and values as well as significant relationships. The result is the creation of a dual identity, what I refer to "John-John" and "John group-member". (Comment: The story and language are slowly learned through contact with leadership in the training. Lev 3 students learn not to "preach" and under the "privilege of silence" they are told not to reveal the teachings/language. They of course try to share with others, who do not have a clue as to what they are talking about. The teacher then gets to reinforce that this is indeed special privileged information that no one less than their vibration can comprehend. This causes a 'split' life, further divisiveness between the students and their families and worldly environment. They are taken out of the world, separated into an "elite" system with its own rules and language. In Lev 4, this continues with a more severe admonition threatening loss of soul if they reveal what others have no context for, thus it is a danger to others to reveal the teachings/language. Again, a division, an us/them split that conditions them into an elite position of power. At this level they are told they are on the leading edge of a wedge of consciousness led by the founder and leadership, who has taken the brunt of the battle and has protected them, held position for them. This creates loyalty and sets the tone for how 'service' is defined: devotion to the organization and the leaders who have worked so hard on their behalf. After this conditioning, students are convinced they are "the way" and proceed to adopt the beliefs of the founder and leadership. It was said often that the founder is "cloning" herself: "You will be me")

Members feel pressured to choose group over personal time, little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations (Comment: pressure is always there, for those who do give all of their time must make others feel guilty for not helping with the "cause".)

Major time commitment required for sessions and group events (Comment: excessively so)

Need to ask permission for major decisions (Comment: not as overt as some groups in this way, but people are rewarded with time and attention if they act dependent on the expert advice of leadership, and are certainly given more approval the more they decide to devote to the training, and the more they copy upper levels)

Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors (Comment: this is very rewarded, it shows they are doing their 'work'; leadership encouraged to report "trouble makers"; ministers told to "Watch" people who did outside work, it Reiki or other healing systems)

Rewards and punishments (Comment: behavior modification techniques- positive and negative, approval/disapproval by group leaders is a strong factor in this training, it has been demanded, in a wrist-slapping or angry manner that students respect and honor leadership, for they work hard and have "held the line" for them.)

Individualism discouraged; group think prevails (Comment: This is done with sometimes subtle but strong built in adherence to what a leader thinks; dissent kept at bay)

Rigid rules and regulations (Comment: arbitrary and constantly changing by leadership)

Need for obedience and dependency (Comment: in only one of many such in incongruent practices, it is said that one must be obedient only to God, but in practice, those who voice concerns or questions are addressed from the position of "power" rules, and students expected to listen. If a student voices a difference of opinion or goes outside the story, shame, humiliation and disapproval get them back "on board". Leadership deflects, or redirects blame onto the student: ie the expression "look in the mirror" is used often)

2. Information Control

Access to former members, critical information is minimized or discouraged (Comment: there is an underlying energy of right vs. wrong, us vs. them that keeps people either away from former members or those who do remain in contact with former members hide the fact.)

Keep members so busy they don't have time to think (Comment: or keep them in the group think to such an extent that thinking anything other than what the group thinks is unthinkable!)

Compartmentalization of information:

Outsider vs. Insider doctrines

Information is not freely accessible

Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid

Leadership decides who "needs to know" what

Reporting of deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership

Unethical use of confession (Comment: confession then used to "assess" people, students expected to take advice from upper levels, who mold them into the group rule book of "power", proper language and practices.)

3. Thought Control

Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"

Map of Doctrine = Reality

Black and White thinking (Comment: students told that truth is black and white, not gray, see consciousness level 250- neutrality on the Power vs. Force page; the only truth is the power training story)

Good vs. evil (Comment: again, Training in Power vs the rest of the world, they are not as good, enlightened, or in power as us)

Us vs. them (Comment: inside vs. outside, divides and causes uncompromising win/lose rather that the seeking of solutions; alienates from those outside)

Adoption of "loaded" language (Comment: characterized by "thought-terminating clichés", reduces complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words". Within the group this stops dialogue and creates hierarchy: "You're not in power", you're in denial, you're out of position, look in the mirror, have all been used to deflect scrutiny of an issue that is brought up. The language list is long, many common words become ingrained with training meaning.)

Only "conforming" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged. (Comment: by upholding the robotic rule book, leadership gives approval for conforming and disapproval for disagreeing. This behavior is seen as strong authoritarian and "in power")

Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism. (Comment: again, deflective statements that reduce communication stop criticism; outreach lost most of its student body because issues were deflected back onto the lead. 'You're out of position' has been used often to deflect a problem just because someone is too emotional about it; it's your problem. The attitude is that if you are critical you are against us. A brick wall method that is supposed to be used to cut through a student's "bullshit", yet most times it's actually used to stop free expression, or self discovery. This authority position undermines self trust and self awareness, again creating dependency on the authority of the group.

No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate (Comment: across the board this is the general operating style of Training in Power)

No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful (Comment: leadership upholds that no other system has "power", a power 'construct' or the whole truth, and that people are wasting their time doing any other work. Students believe this, and of course when they go to other workshops they report back that they saw no power or construct etc. People are told to go out and try other things, and that they will come back when they see the truth.)

Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader's or the group's. (Comment: consistently, to the point of using rage, shame, humiliation. Screaming at students was justified because of what the students 'do' to the founder. I witnessed years of verbal abuse at students, and when they tried to protest or discuss the issues, after being shamed or humiliated, they were then ignored, banished, soldier-gathered against and made to feel they were attacking the founder or people who supported the founders beliefs.)

4. Emotional Control (Comment: all these tactics were used)

Guilt

Identity guilt

Who you are (not living up to your potential)

Your family

Your past

Your affiliations

Your thoughts, feelings, actions

Social guilt

Historical guilt

Fear

Excessive use of fear (Comment: students are warned about fear and guilt in the beginning, and they so believe in the training and the people that they cannot see that their fear comes not from their wounding but also from the built in web of fear in the training itself. When told fear is being used, they disassociate and justify it, or say it doesn't affect them, that they don't participate in it. This is also a type of disassociation that by ignoring it, not speaking to leadership about it, they give their support for it to be done to others. The training is seen as so valuable that those who wish to continue must ignore/deny/avoid that which is controlling and hurtful, which is mostly justifiable by saying it is "for their own good". I see now that if as a teacher/leader you can produce fear and compliance in students, the founder thinks you have power; fear is thus an implicit mechanism in the structure of the training and assumes students need fear in order to change. This method further drives students away from their inner process and externalizes them into the training story of power and dependency.)

Fear of the "outside" world

Fear of thinking independently

Fear of enemies

Fear of losing one's "salvation"

Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group

Fear of disapproval

Extremes of emotion. Extremes of emotional highs and lows. (Comment: exalted by "power transfer" and into the training story, where they are bonded by drama (grief of people leaving, camaraderie of the battles, the common bonds of "confession" etc.)

Ritual and often public confession of "sins". (Comment: It is said that the training does not do ritual, which is rote, yet repeats and builds upon, level after level, compliance to the a fabricated story of power. Students are rewarded for upholding these 'power rules' and eventually step into authoritarian, self interpreted and arbitrary dispensation of the story. Since they are holding an authority position, when faced with truth they must uphold the rote story, and therefore miss reading the true energy! Basic meditations are built upon level after level to build the same story people are expected to progress and adhere to. I would say that this is ritualistic programming by reward and punishment. To be witnessed by others as you reveal your pain has been found to be helpful to healing. In the monthly meetings in this training, this vulnerable place is closely linked not to self realization but to what meeting leaders 'see' and insist the students 'get'. Protest is not allowed by saying the student is "in denialâ" . Students who do not agree are "resisting. In this vulnerable place, the ritual of the 'story' and the 'construct' of the training is reinforced. )

Phobia indoctrination. Programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader's authority. The person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group. No happiness or fulfillment "outside" of the group. (Comment: as the story is learned through the levels, people get more and more convinced of the truth, more in alignment with upholding the story for others coming up in the levels behind them, and more rigid in denying the abuse that is used to control themselves and others. Those who do leave the group are in trauma for a long time)

Consequences. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; "10,000 reincarnations"; etc. (Comment: inferred that you will lose vibration, fall, get sick, get fat, throw away your spiritual journey if you leave. I often heard it said about those who left: if they had stayed they wouldn’t have died, they got fat, look terrible, are in denial, evil. People are reminded over and over the only reason they are alive is this training; they believe this and repeat the story, as testimonial and in tearful thankfulness. Members are often asked to recount how they 'found' the training, and the more thankful they, the more they touch people with their story, the more accolades they get)

Shunning of leave takers. (Comment: they're said to be "fallen" which ties into students fear of being rejected by the group, fear of being fallen etc. Leave takers are 'evil' and trying to "take down the training")

Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group's perspective, people who leave are: "weak"; "undisciplined"; "unspiritual"; "worldly"; "brainwashed by family, counselors"; seduced by money, sex, rock and roll. (Comment: consistently true)

Thought Control in Group Movements

Since the early 1970's there has been a burgeoning not of governments, but of independent entrepreneurial groups going into the mind manipulation and personality-change business. Myriads of faddist, cultists, quacks and "new age" and "new-movement" groups have emerged using Orwellian mind manipulation techniques. The groups recruit the naive, the unaffiliated, the trusting and the altruistic. They promise intellectual, spiritual and self-actualization utopias whereas the pied pipers of the past promised primarily social and political new worlds. The New Age pied pipers offer pathways to development, enlightenment and egalitarianism. Many later subject their followers to mind-numbing controls that discourage dissent and subjugate free will in a context of a strictly enforced hierarchy. (Comment: consistently true)

1. Type of members.

There are many types of members, each with their own motivation. First of all there the ones who have been moved to do so out of a genuine spiritual aspiration, prepared to sacrifice. Other members may have been searching for a truth behind the dreadful aspects of life around them and an escape there from.

People who wrestle with a psychological problem seek (unconsciously) a key or solution to it in a particular teaching or discipline.

Then there are those that did so out of a feeling of isolation and loneliness. Lack of true companionship may have made them long to be taken up in a fraternity of kindred souls.

People will be drawn to a brotherhood whose aims are within their reach of comprehension and nearest to their hearts. A religious background may make them veer towards a sect that accommodates nostalgia, like the Jehovah Witnesses. (Comment: yearly Level 6 retreat with its "first life" story gives the group a common story)

For younger people it may be an escape from having to enter into a harsh materialistic society. They are in an idealistic life-cycle, prepared to give up their study and career to a worthy cause. Some older people can never make up their minds and wander from one cause to another.

The weaker the individual's independence, the more will he be tied to the group. Members who understand group-mechanisms, prepared to cope with them in order to direct their attention to the spirit, will benefit most as they are selective in picking up the cream of what is given and taking the rest with a grain of salt.

2. Leader/founder

New religious movements arise usually around a father/mother figure who has gained authority after receiving a special revelation, communication, truth or insight. His/her charisma will vouchsafe loyal followers, even if his/her lifestyle may give rise to severe doubts by some. He may boost his prestige by claiming to follow the footsteps of an esteemed spiritual teacher, represent an esoteric tradition, be of noble descent, or channel the wisdom of a great mind. (Comment: yes)

He represents an archetype in member's subconscious minds. That of a wise father, or mother. He will have a compelling influence on followers who project their father/mother complex on him/her.

During his lifetime the leader will act as a moderator and steer the movement. He will re-interpret his teachings as he sees fit from the responses he receives. The death of the founder marks a turning point. His teachings will become inflexible, as no one dares to temper with them as he did himself. A rigidity may enter, unless another figure arises that leads the movement in a different direction, for better or for worse.

3. Doctrine/teaching

The teachings are secretive. The pronouncements are characterized by great certainty and authority as if it was the word of God. In some cases it is presented as such. The more incomprehensible the secret doctrine of the master the stronger its appeal. After all it is beyond reason and should appeal only to the heart. An exception should be made for true mystical literature based on inner experience which can hardly be expected to appeal to the intellect, but be appreciated intuitively, especially by those who had similar experiences. Members may adopt fresh meanings to words, talk to each other in a jargon that the outsider can hardly follow (group-speak). The result being an inability to relate in speech, or explain new concepts to the outsider (Fourth Way). (Comment: Language above Level 1 becomes exclusive; level 3 and beyond secret and filled with the founder's particular jargon.)

4. Uniqueness of the movement

Movements will extol their benefits over others usually. After all there should be a strong reason to join that particular group. Some present themselves as being the sole way towards salvation, the only or best way. Others make a promise of a benefit that is only reserved for members of that sect. To avert attention some pride themselves for absence of a teaching, or their openness and democratic rules.

In short new movements will advance a variety of reasons for their uniqueness. Herewith a few:

Never before has mankind been offered through the leader this discipline/interpretation/insight.

Do not pour new wine in old bottles. (Comment: "cast not your pearls of wisdom before swine", Level 1)

God's, or a celestial, new message to mankind for this particular time.

Impending disaster (pollution, atomic explosion) calls for drastic measures. Salvation only reserved for faithful members.

Fresh interpretation of holy book thanks to insight/revelation of founder.

Esoteric tradition, once accessible to adepts only, now revealed. (Comment: never before taught on the earth plane; Level 4 and up).

Only those following that particular work on self, discipline, or belief, will reach eternity, be released from earth's evils, cycle of rebirths, etc.

Preparatory group to make way for the coming of the new messiah/world-teacher/avatar. (Comment: the students are taught in to the 'world teacher' and avatar positions in higher levels - they are the savior)

Noteworthy is the vehemence with which groups stress differences between each other. The closer movements share an outlook the more virulent the attacks on their rivals become, seemingly more than on groups which follow a completely different belief. This manifests itself especially when original groups split. In Christianity one could not steep low enough to attack other followers of Christ, who held a slightly different opinion. It resulted in disastrous wars.

Attacks against spiritual movements, for instance by SCICOP, are reminiscent of the zeal of a Christian crusade, be it that they have their roots in humanism and its rationalistic/materialistic outlook of the turn of the century. Consequently they are not much different from the movements mentioned here. The psychological background will be discussed further under points 10 and 11.

5. Probation and conversion

Many movements will put up a barrier by means of an initiation to test the probationer's fitness to become part of the group. Henceforth they will play an important pioneer-part in the foretold future. Having reached such coveted stage members will not fail to follow what they are being told for fear of expulsion.

The new member may undergo a conversion, gaining a completely new insight in the meaning of life, see it in a way the group does. His previous life with all its relationships has become meaningless. He may have turned himself inside out by a confession of his previous "sins". He may have 'cathartic' emotional releases marked by a feeling of peace, happiness and transcendence.

6. Belief versus intellect

Intellectual analysis of belief is tantamount to heresy. Often disciplines followed in the movements are accompanied by a lowering of the threshold to the unconscious mind. Suggestion will begin to play an important part. Precepts are being experienced as the truth.. There is no element of doubt anymore about assumptions and speculation often without any factual foundation. (Comment: again, incongruity: it is taught that students are coming out of belief into their own "knowing" yet they are actually trained to believe in a particular "power" story that they must act as if they believe in and understand, which causes them to doubt any critical thoughts.)

7. Common practice, work and ritual

Communal singing, ritual and (incomprehensible) practices are strong binding factors that keep followers emotionally tied. Others are a special food regime, a new or secret name, or a common grudge or cause to work against. Joint work for the benefit of the group gives the feeling of a common endeavor and unites the participants. So does proselytization to get people in the group and excessive volunteer work unite and bond. There is a thin line between true participation and exploitation.

Dubious was the practice, common in the seventies, to incite members to criticize one of them to an extent that he/she would break down under the weight of often absurd allegations and insults, resulting in a brain-wash effect.

8. Sacrifices, financial secrecy, favours to the rich.

Finances are always a ticklish matter. Human groups always wish to grow. Finances are important. Accountability is often not considered appropriate. Danger arises that members of the inner circle become lax in expenditure of members' contributions. Ambitious schemes call for a constant need for funding. This is the ideal breeding ground for favours to wealthy members. Those who contribute generously stand more chance to be taken in confidence and admitted to the inner circles.

Members will often be expected to offer services to the group. However, if they also have to work for practically free while others benefit it becomes dubious. Movements that gather wealth at the top at the expense of their members are questionable. Seldom or never requests for return of contributions/investments are honoured. (Comment: long documented history of money problems in the training; anger, shame, humiliation directed at those questioning the money policy; severe battles between US/CAN boards, people speak out then recant or withdraw when reprimanded. One tactic was to use their past to remind them of their errant thoughts. The pyramid scheme of compensation for teaching was as controlled as the information that was taught. There was a great manipulation of teachers and who got to teach in outreach, outreach was given then taken away to prevent dependency of students (which is the very thing created in the training!). This sabotaged the teacher's building of an area. Continual non resolution, non acceptance of suggestions for change kept inept leaders in control and everyone without a cogent system to operate within. People expected to give time and money constantly as a service to the organization.)

9. Reprehensible behaviour amongst members.

Man in a herd may not show the best side of his nature. Unconscious drives may reign his behaviour. This is applicable especially in circumstances that man strives for the spiritual. He may tend to show split-personality behaviour. On one hand the spiritual personality which is supposed to have come to terms with its animal nature. It is wise, friendly and compassionate on the outside. In the shadows lurks the personality that has been forced into the background, still ridden with all the expulsed human frailties. In moments of weakness it will see its chance to play its tricks. It will do so without being noticed by the person involved.

The result being: uncharitable behaviour, envy, malicious gossip, harsh words, insensitivity, unfounded criticism and even worse, not expected from such charismatic figure. It is one of the main reasons for people leaving a particular group in great disappointment. (Comment: harshness was considered 'good for us')

10. Fear of exclusion

The stronger members are tied to a group, the more the fear of exclusion lurks. They may have invested their life's savings in the work (Scientology), paid a percentage of their income, failed to conclude their study, or make a career, or sacrificed a successful one. (Comment: or just devoted years and years)

In many cases a member will have alienated himself from family and friends, who have not been able to appreciate his or her conversion. The accompanying fanaticism and urge to proselytize has shied them away. In turn the converted individual will seek comfort and understanding with members of the spiritual group. (Comment: What I have seen is that it was only after leaving the group that students again began to see their family members as people again, and these family members began to reveal how worried they have been about the member; how cold and clinical the member became, how separate and unapproachable they have been.)

Such isolation seems sometimes to be intentionally sought. Formerly, in the Bhagavan movement, members went about in red/orange dresses and wore mala's with a photo of their master, so setting themselves aside from the mundane world. The Hare Krishna movement goes even further when groups of members go out into the streets in their oriental dresses for song and dance acts. In most movements the alienation is far more subtle and the natural outcome of their general attitude towards the materialistic society.

The true nature of the so-called friendships within the group will only be revealed after a devotee has left the fold. Members have seen this happen, not giving it a thought at the time because it happened to someone else. Suddenly those expulsed experience the humiliation of not be greeted anymore, marriages split up - even children may not recognize a parent anymore. The outcast feels thrown in an abyss. To be cut off from social contacts, to see one's life crumble, is a desperate experience, the magnitude of which for the individual should not be under-estimated. He will feel deep shame. The expulsee, in his disappointment, may become embittered and even enter into a suicidal mental state. (Comment: those who leave are dismissed as 'fallen', friendships disintegrate under the us/them divide)

Those readers who have been a member of a movement may recognize some of the above psychological mechanisms. Their first reaction may be to vow never to enter a group. Let us bear in mind, however, that it should be considered a challenge to face these obstacles for the benefit that may result from association with kindred spirits. A prerequisite is that these conditions are being noticed, looked in the eye, and not denied. (Comment: leadership consistently denies the problems, and deflects back to the questioner or rationalizes the problem) The closer people live together, the more group-tensions will build up. Few communes are granted a long life as a result of one or more of the pitfalls summarized above. Headquarters, contrary to expectations. are known to be hotbeds of gossip, mutual repulsion and cynicism. Yet, do not be disheartened and join a group to your liking. After all people who marry also see the pitfalls around them, yet go ahead focusing on a happy union in mutual trust, without regard to the outcome. Involvement with other people will lead to personal growth if the consequences are anticipated. The more one stands on one's own feet the more benefit will arise from cooperating with others. It should be borne in mind that the saying "It is better to give, than to receive" is not merely a moral precept.

Cognitive Consistency

---Michael Rogge

A Quote from “Basic Psychology”, Henry Gleitman, Norton 1983

... people try to make sense of the world they encounter. But how? In effect, they do this by looking for some consistency among their own experiences and memories, and turning to other people for comparison and confirmation. If all checks out, then all well and good. But what if there is some inconsistency? The Asch study (Solomon Asch, 1956) showed what happened when there is a serious inconsistency between one's own experiences (and the beliefs based on them) and those reported by others. But suppose the inconsistency is among the person's own experiences, beliefs or actions? Many social psychologists believe that this will trigger some general trend to restore cognitive consistency - to reinterpret the situation so as to minimize whatever inconsistency may be there. According to Leon Festinger, this is because any perceived inconsistency among various aspects of knowledge, feelings and behavior sets up an unpleasant internal state - cognitive dissonance - which people try to reduce whenever possible (Festinger, 1957).

Cognitive dissonance is not always reduced so easily. An example is provided by a study of a sect that was awaiting the end of the world. The founder of the sect announced that she had received a message from the "Guardians" of outer space. On a certain day, there would be an enormous flood. Only the true believers were to be saved and would be picked up at midnight of the appointed day in flying saucers. (Technology has advanced considerably since the days of Noah's Ark.) On doomsday, the members of the sect huddled together, awaiting the predicted cataclysm. The arrival time of the flying saucers came and went; tension mounted as the hours went by. Finally, the leader of the sect received another message: To reward the faith of the faithful, the world was saved. Joy broke out and he believers became more faithful than ever. (Festinger, Riecken and chachter, 1956)

Given the failure of a clear-cut prophecy, one might have expected the very opposite. A disconfirmation of a predicted event should presumably lead one to abandon the beliefs that produced the prediction. But cognitive dissonance theory says otherwise. By abandoning the beliefs that there are Guardians, the person who had once held this belief would have to accept a painful dissonance between her present skepticism and her past beliefs and actions. Her prior faith would now appear extremely foolish. Some members of the sect had gone to such lengths as giving up their jobs or spending their savings; such acts would lose all meaning in retrospect without the belief in the Guardians. Under the new circumstances, the dissonance was intolerable. It was reduced by a belief in the new message which bolstered the original belief. Since other members of the sect stood fast long with them, their conviction was strengthened all the more. They could now think of themselves, not as fools, but as loyal, steadfast members of a courageous little band whose faith had saved the earth.

Coercion

Most people who brainwash use methods similar to those of prison guards who recognize that physical control is never easily accomplished without the cooperation of the prisoner. The most effective way to gain that cooperation is through subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the victim, who then becomes a psychological, as well as a physical, prisoner." From an Amnesty International publication, "Report on Torture", which depicts the brainwashing of prisoners of war.

Isolation

Deprive individual over time of social support, effectively rendering him unable to resist. It makes the individual dependent upon interrogator. Develop an intense concern with self. Once a person is away from longstanding emotional support and thus reality checks, it is fairly easy to set a stage for brainwashing. Spiritually abusive groups isolate individuals from friends and family, whether directly, by requiring the individuals to forsake friends and family for the sake of the "Kingdom" (group membership), or indirectly, by preaching they are "sick", unhealed, evil, uninformed, abusive, etc. (Comment: students were driven more and more away from friend and family support; the longer they were in the training the more the divide, as they had the 'truth' and others outside didn't.)

Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking, insisting that members find all comfort and support and a replacement family within the group. Cut off from friends, relatives, previous relationships, abusive groups surround the recruits and hammer the "story", rigid ideologies into their consciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines and requirements of the group.

Isolated from everyone but those within the group, members become dependent upon group members and leaders and find it difficult if not impossible to offer disagreement to group teachings. They become self-interested and hyper-vigilant, very fearful should they incur the disapproval of the group, which now offers the only support available to them which has group approval.

The seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of a member, insisting he be active and calling him to account if he isn't, is critical or disapproving of involvements with friends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking that members not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or teachings with outsiders, is openly, publicly, and repeatedly critical of other churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only one which speaks for God), is critical when members attend conferences, workshops or services at other churches, checks up on members in any way, i.e., to determine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makes attendance at all functions mandatory for participating in church ministry or enjoying other benefits of group fellowship.

Once a member stops interacting openly with others, the group's influence is all that matters. He is bombarded with group values and information and there is no one outside the group with whom to share thoughts or who will offer reinforcement or affirmation if the member disagrees with or doubts the values of the group. The process of isolation and the self-doubt it creates allow the group and its leaders to gain power over the members.

Leaders may criticize major and minor flaws of members, sometimes public ally, or remind them of present or past sins. They may insult them or ignore them, or practice a combination of ignoring members at some times and receiving them warmly at others, thus maintaining a position of power (i.e., the leaders call the shots.) The sense of humiliation makes members feel they deserve the poor treatment they are receiving and may cause them to allow themselves to be subjected to any and all indignities out of gratefulness to belong to the group. When leaders treat the member well occasionally, they accept any and all crumbs gratefully

Monopolization of Perception

This fixes attention upon immediate predicament, it fosters introspection which eliminates stimuli competing with those controlled by group and frustrates all actions not consistent with compliance. In the overall scheme of things, does it really matter what is demanded? In fact, in the long run, the member begins to reason, it is probably good to learn these disciplines, and after all, as they have frequently been reminded, they are to submit to spiritual authority as unto the Lord.. Soon it becomes apparent that the demands will be unending, and increasing time and energy are focused on avoiding group disapproval by doing something "wrong." There is a feeling of walking on eggs. Everything becomes important in terms of how the group or its leaders will respond, and members' desires, feelings and ideas become insignificant.

Eventually, members may no longer even know what they want, feel or think. The group has so monopolized all of the members' perceptions with trivial demands that members lose their perspective as to the enormity of the situation they are in. The leaders may also persuade the members that they have the inside track with God and therefore know how everything should be done. When their behavior results in disastrous consequences, as it often does, the members are blamed. Sometimes the leaders may have moments, especially after abusive episodes, when they appear to humble themselves and confess their faults, and the contrast of these moments of vulnerability with their usual pose of being all-powerful endears them to members and gives hope for some open communication.

Threats (overt or covert) sometimes accompany all of these methods. Members are told they will be under God's judgment, under a curse, punished, chastised, chastened if they leave the group or disobey group leaders. Sometimes the leaders, themselves, punish the members, and so members can never be sure when leaders will make good on the threats which they say are God's idea. The members begin to focus on what they can do to meet any and all group demands and how to preserve peace in the short run. Warning signs:

Threats of God's wrath if group rules are not obeyed, a feeling of being monitored, watched constantly by those in the group or by leaders. In other words, what the church wants, believes and thinks its members should do becomes everything, and you feel preoccupied with making sure you are meeting the standards. It no longer matters whether you agree that the standards are correct, only that you follow them and thus keep the peace and in the good graces of leaders.

Induced Debility and Exhaustion

People subjected to this type of spiritual abuse become worn out by tension, fear and continual rushing about in an effort to meet group standards. They must often avoid displays of fear, sorrow or rage, since these may result in ridicule or punishment. Rigid ministry demands and requirements that members attend unreasonable numbers of meetings and events make the exhaustion and ability to resist group pressure even worse.

Warning Signs: Feelings of being overwhelmed by demands, close to tears, guilty if one says no to a request or goes against a church standards. Being intimidated or pressured into volunteering for church duties and subjected to scorn or ridicule when one does not "volunteer." Being rebuked or reproved when family or work responsibilities intrude on church responsibilities. (Comment: this is very subtle at times because members are so rewarded for performing for the group, being led to believe that the only way to true service is doing and promoting the training.)

Occasional Indulgences

This provides motivation for compliance. Leaders of abusive groups often sense when members are making plans to leave and may suddenly offer some kind of indulgence, perhaps just love or affection, attention where there was none before, a note or a gesture of concern. (Comment: making someone a Minister who does not meet previously set qualifications) Hope that the situation in the group will change or self doubt ("Maybe I'm just imagining it's this bad,") then replace fear or despair and the members decide to stay a while longer. Other groups practice sporadic demonstrations of compassion or affection right in the middle of desperate conflict or abusive episodes. This keeps members off guard and doubting their own perceptions of what is happening.)

Some of the brainwashing techniques described are extreme; some groups may use them in a disciplined, regular manner while others use them more sporadically. But even mild, occasional use of these techniques is effective in gaining power. Be concerned if you have had an ongoing desire to leave a church or group you believe may be abusive, but find yourself repeatedly drawn back in just at the moment you are ready to leave, by a call, a comment or moment of compassion. These moments, infrequent as they may be, are enough to keep hope in change alive and thus you sacrifice years and years to an abusive group.

Obviously by cutting off and isolating critical members, the leaders of don't have to deal with dissent and don't need to worry about the subsequent effect it may have regarding other members. This makes damage control within the organization comparatively easy.

Disfellowshipping essentially often replaces the need for leaders to have any meaningful dialog with members that don't agree with them.

Devaluing the Individual creates fear of freedom and dependence upon group. It creates feelings of helplessness and lack of faith in individual capabilities. Warning Signs: Emphasizing helps or service to the group as a prerequisite to participation. This might take the form of requiring that before exercising any gifts at all, members must demonstrate loyalty to the group by faithful attendance at all functions and such things as tithing. No consideration is given to his age or station in life or his unique talents or abilities. The rules apply to everyone alike. This has the effect of reducing everyone to some kind of lowest common denominator where no one's gifts or natural abilities are valued or appreciated, where the individual is not cherished for the unique blessing he or she is to the body of Christ, where what is most highly valued is service, obedience, submission to authority, and performance without regard to gifts or abilities or, for that matter, individual limitations.

Next: Group Leaders

I recommend "A New Earth, Finding Your True Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle as a model for spiritual growth and evaluation of spiritual leaders.

Possibilities for why some leaders do what they do can be explored by examining current literature on cults, narcissism, borderline personality and prophetic charisma. A narcissistic personality lacks empathy and will deny the validity of feedback from others, and a charismatic personality can create intense emotional loyalty to any truth they believe in while obscuring any truth other than their own.

You might examine personality characteristics of leaders who believe they are right to:

• Condition students into the "truth" that the world is a never ending "battle" against evil, in which they are constantly under attack, and the more attack they have the more important they are
• Impart to students they have come here to this planet to join the teacher's elite force of warriors
• Say they are here to "wake up" as many as they can from the sick ˜fabric' of reality on this planet, yet admonish students for not waking up according to their own specific "rules"
• Create great sympathy for, protection of, and alliance to their position as the one who is here to bring the only truth to mankind
• Create a strong belief that their teachings create "miracles", thus exploiting the power of prayer, while students continue to suffer physically, mentally, emotional and spiritually, and call it 'attack'
• Tell students their courses aren't for everyone, and that only those tough and intelligent enough will understand, causing students to comply rather than be seen as not intelligent
• Make students wrong for giving opinions or feedback calling for accountability