As the U.S. Senate has agreed to hear the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford about the alleged sexual assault incident that happened years ago with Judge Brett Kavanagh, people’s attentions are back on women’s […]
Beginning to Doubt and Question There are moments when almost anybody can become disillusioned when in a totalistic, or rigid and intolerant, group (or controlling relationship). Losing one’s “faith” can happen for a wide variety
Tired of Being “On The Fence” With Your Life? Read More
Steven Hassan speaking at 2018 ICSA conference July 12, 2018, 2018 ICSA Annual Conference Last week, I was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and gave a talk on the Freedom of Mind Approach to helping people raised
Freedom of Mind Resource Center: Mid-Year Update 2018 Read More
Dr. Zimbardo photographed for his Heroic Imagination Project. Credit: Ferne Millen Photography July 2, 2018: At this moment, there appears to be a media attack on the reputation of Dr. Philip Zimbardo, Professor Emeritus of
Dr. Philip Zimbardo’s 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE): A Response to Critics Read More
Development of the Strategic Interactive Approach Family members and friends often feel angry, confused, hurt, frustrated and helpless when they realize a loved one has gotten involved with a controlling person or group. They often
The Right to Believe Anything vs. Reality-Testing Freedom to believe is only a real freedom if you also have the freedom not to believe. Having the right to believe something carries with it a presupposition
Errant Belief #5: “He Has the Right to Believe What He Wants to Believe” Read More
Having exited the Moonies in 1976, following an intervention performed at the request of my family, I have been so grateful to regain my life. I refer to the group as “the Moonies,” because when I was a member, the term was initially coined and Sun Myung Moon loved the term. We even wore tee-shirts and had mugs made with “I Heart the Moonies.” When Moon was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Federal government and filing false income taxes, resulting in 13 months jail time, a PR campaign ensued costing, from my recollection, an estimated 30 million dollars. This branded Moon as a persecuted preacher from Korea. They started criticizing anyone who used the term Moonies and referred to the term as the “n” word used with African-Americans. Not. I do not wish to play by their propaganda rules.
The Moonies and TM Attempt to Reinvent Themselves Read More
Combating Cult Mind Control For over forty years, I have endeavored to help people understand my own cult experience- being recruited into a front group of the Moonies in 1974 while a student at Queens
2018: Looking Forward to Helping People to Help Themselves and Others Read More
This past weekend, I attended and spoke at a conference at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. This one-day event was sponsored by MeadowHaven, The Protestant Chaplaincy of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Dartmouth Bible Church,
Recovery from Spiritual Abuse and Healing Oneself to Trust Again Read More
The 48th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots is coming up on June 28, and many cities in America are holding Gay Pride parades and festivals around this time. With the Trump election and Mike Pence as Vice President, all the accomplishments advancing human rights seems like they are in jeopardy. This week, I attended the Pride Day celebration at Newton City Hall and Mayor Setti Warren created a liaison position and appointed trans activist Holly Ryan. Bob Parlin, founder of the Gay-Straight Alliance was recognized and given commendations from the Legislature. I’ve written before about how important it is to protect the freedom of mind for LGBTQ youth. Now, I’d like to go into more detail about a serious form of undue influence which uniquely affects the LGBTQ community: conversion therapy (also referred to as reparative sexual orientation therapy).
“Conversion Therapy” is Dangerous and Abusive Read More
What can we do to protect the American public from attacks like the one that occurred at the finish line of the Boston Marathon? Some have suggested increasing surveillance—more police and cameras in our nation’s
Protect Americans from Terrorism- Looking Beyond Boston Marathon Bombings Read More
