Legally released from an unenforceable NDA, the former 2016 campaign staffer discusses the cult-building tactics, Russian interference, and the who’s who of bad actors behind the scenes of the Trump campaign.  

Alva Johnson, a former large-scale event producer, found herself thrust into the midst of a presidential campaign after taking on what she thought was a short gig to assist with coordinating one rally. The massive success of that one rally eventually led to Alva becoming deeply involved in the Trump Campaign in 2015 and 2016. Now, Alva is speaking out. After a four-year legal battle, Alva’s Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) with the Trump organization was deemed legally unsound and unenforceable by the courts. Today, she aims to show how the Cult of Trump operates, the power players to watch behind the scenes, and explain how Trump rose to power despite being initially seen as an unlikely candidate. Joining the campaign when then-candidate Trump was polling last in the GOP field, Alva is one of the very few former campaign staffers who worked under Corey Lewandowski, Paul Manafort, Dave Bossie, and Steve Bannon. Alva recently won a four-year arbitration battle to terminate her NDA, which stated she could not criticize the former President, his organization, his family or speak negatively of him for a lifetime. Freed from the legal ramifications of an NDA, Alva wishes to help “reverse engineer” how the Trump campaign reached and recruited millions of Americans- with the help of Russian agents, data targeting, and money. Alva quit Trump the day the Access Hollywood tape was released, as she experienced remarkably similar behavior towards her from the candidate as described in his Access Hollywood hot mic.

As she was an experienced event planner with impressive accomplishments, I was curious to learn from her. After reading The Cult of Trump, Alva told me she was able to identify many of the tactics used to build MAGA as cult techniques. She also stated that reading The Cult of Trump resonated with her prior role as the primary Event Producer for Brazilian faith healer John of God. John of God was an international spiritual healer endorsed by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Paul Simon, Shirley McClain, and Naomi Campbell. She had been hired as the event producer to bring him to the United States for the first time and was a part of his inner circle from 2004 to 2007. There are many similarities between both powerful figureheads that have each amassed millions of followers, including the use of secrecy (NDA), sexual violence as a control tactic, recruiting unsuspecting yet high-functioning individuals to carry out their plans, amassing financial opportunities to lure and maintain loyalty, and their predatory nature on empathetic people.  

Data Collection to Target Specific Demographics 

Did you know that the Trump campaign created an app called CallFire to gather data and influence their base? Alva unofficially became a part of the Trump campaign in late 2015 and, by January 2016, was a part of the group of some of the earliest paid staffers. Alva was hired as The Director of Outreach and Coalitions for the state of Alabama and the principal strategist for North Alabama, delivering Trump the win over the endorsed candidate of Congressman Mo Brooks and his machine. Immediately, Alva was promoted to a leadership role on the National Strike Team, working in some of the most critical primary states during the election. Having worked under Lewandowsky, Manafort, Bossie, and Bannon, Alva is one of the few people who understand the differences between the campaigns under each leadership, especially the running of the ground game and using voter data.  

As an incredibly early staffer and a Director of Outreach and Coalitions, Alva was instrumental in working with Trump Tower to identify potential interest groups such as Women for Trump, Veterans for Trump, Latinos for Trump, and Bikers for Trump. Fast forward two years later, and the growth of those interest groups has become essential in, forming sub-cults under the umbrella of the Cult of Trump. These grassroots organizations gradually isolated individuals from their families and friends as their social circles became centered around the organization and spending time with like-minded individuals. Many of these interest groups became a recruiting center to pull people into other dangerous cults like QAnon. Initially formed online, these groups were encouraged to meet in person, organize events, and meet weekly. Alva spent years witnessing the growth of these groups in horror, unable to speak out until she fought against her NDA. 

During the 2016 general election, Alva created one of Florida’s most successful voter engagement projects. Cleverly, she organized the Recreational Vehicles (RVs) program, which she utilized as mobile offices and met over 275,000 potential voters. It was not until the Mueller investigations that Alva learned that many of the events requesting the RVs were actually being coordinated by Russians trying to infiltrate the campaign.  

Hypnosis and Mind Control Tactics in the Trump Campaign  

After reading my books, Alva recalls the rallies as hypnotic, utilizing repetitive words that functioned as cue words for participants, such as “lock her up” and “build a wall.” As my blog explains, this repetition served as a form of meditation; here, hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming can be powerful tools in many high-control groups. It can allow for programming certain code words in individuals’ minds without their awareness. People are led to say or do things when they hear these cues. Alva remembers witnessing Senator Jeff Sessions, the first senator to endorse Trump, surprise himself and everyone present by standing up and declaring his endorsement of Trump for President. She recalls how Senator Sessions left the stage, stood beside her, and confided in her that he did not know why he had spoken those words. He had no plans or expectations to do so; he had only intended to give an introduction. 

Influence of the Russian Government in the Trump Campaign  

Upon leaving the Trump organization, Alva discovered that some of the people she had worked with, including Susan Wiles, had been lobbyists for Putin. Wiles’ ex-husband had worked on overturning the Magnitsky Act, a significant role in Putin’s agenda. Magnitsky was a Russian attorney who was tortured and killed because of his work to expose Putin’s corruption. Bill Browder has worked tirelessly to persuade governments to freeze billions of dollars of Putin’s assets outside of Russia.  

 A published report by the Select Committee on Intelligence reveals how the Russian government conducted an aggressive campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election and polarize Americans against each other. This campaign resulted in people becoming isolated and turning against their loved ones due to differing political views. In my studies, I discuss how radicalizing someone against their loved ones unfreezes their identity, as explained here. Russian politics have a long history of employing hypnotic tactics and cues for manipulation and used these to abuse power in the past.  

Weaponizing Information Warfare in the Trump Campaign  

Once in power, Trump could change the mindset of many American voters on critical issues using cult-like methods. He consulted with an American military strategist who had developed the concept of psychological operations (psyops) warfare and incorporated some of his ideas. This approach involved delegitimizing experts, science, and democratic institutions, branding them as untrustworthy, and spreading the notion of “fake news.” Trump attacked experts and denied global climate change and the severity of COVID-19. This deliberate strategy creates confusion, and a person in a position of authority, like the Oval Office, disseminates misinformation, people tend to follow the seemingly legitimate figure. 

Media literacy and fact-checking are crucial tools in combating the spread of misinformation and propaganda. Alva emphasizes the importance of teaching critical thinking skills, sharing the BITE model of authoritarian control, and encouraging individuals to question the sources of information they encounter. By promoting media literacy, people can become more discerning consumers of news and less susceptible to manipulation. 

Having worked at the apex of the Trump campaign, Alva understands the tactics Trump and his campaign have used to manipulate the media. She warns of his ability to utilize non-sensical phrases to distract the media into repeated loops of confusion. This non-sensical loop further pushes his followers into cognitive dissonance as they hear phrases like “covfefe, alternative facts” on a constant loop, even on mainstream media sources.  

Strategies for engaging in productive conversations with individuals influenced by the Cult of Trump and other high control groups

After leaving the Trump organization, Alva became aware of the methodology employed to create community groups for the campaign. As a result, she can provide insights into how people can work together to neutralize the adverse effects and empower individuals. Alva had previously been involved with a cultic group called John of God, a faith healer using spiritual healing practices. She has firsthand experience of being part of a high-control cultic group through her involvement with John of God and later with Trump. Alva now aims to assist others by emphasizing the importance of educating people about mind control by showing empathy and compassion when engaging in difficult conversations with your loved ones affected by the Cult of Trump. She believes understanding the psychological mechanisms can help break through the barriers created by cult-like thinking. 

Reflecting on her journey of breaking free from the Cult of Trump, Alva acknowledges the role of cognitive dissonance in keeping individuals trapped in the mindset. Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds conflicting beliefs or values, causing discomfort and a desire to resolve the inconsistency. In the case of the Cult of Trump, individuals may find themselves confronted with evidence that contradicts their beliefs about Trump or his policies. Alva encourages open dialogue and provides alternative perspectives to help individuals reconcile their conflicting thoughts and challenge their preconceived notions. 

Alva’s reflections on the broader implications of the Cult of Trump and the need for collective action to protect democracy

Alva believes that the proactive engagement of people who have been co-opted into politically siloed but cohesive right-leaning and autocratic cults is vital. The division has been key to cult tactics. Clearly, it is a major concern going into the next election. Without reconciliation–which may be on issues previously considered trivial or frivolous but now considered of electoral importance, the political center will continue to fracture.  

Alva highlights the practical complexities of the above. However, noting the immediacy of the next election urges the need for near-term action. While on a basic level, engagement with family and communities is critical, addressing the problem is unlikely to succeed without broader support from social media and traditional media organizations.  

Alva also highlights the importance of building resilient communities that can withstand the influence of manipulative tactics. We must foster critical thinking skills, promote diversity of thought, and encourage open dialogue. By creating spaces where individuals feel safe to express their opinions and engage in respectful discussions, communities can become more resistant to the divisive tactics employed by cult-like groups. Unfortunately, anyone can fall victim to a cult, especially with the growth of social media and the Internet. 

Empathy and compassion play a crucial role in helping individuals recover from the effects of manipulation. Alva’s friends were the ones who assisted her by not allowing her to become isolated in an echo chamber of disinformation. Alva emphasizes the need to approach your loved ones, whom the Cult of Trump has influenced, with understanding and empathy rather than judgment or condemnation. By creating a supportive environment, individuals are more likely to feel comfortable questioning their beliefs and seeking alternative perspectives. 

The Cult of Trump has broader implications beyond the individual level. The same tactics are being utilized today to continue to isolate people into sub-cults through social media sites like Twitter/X and TikTok. Alva warns of the erosion of trust in democratic institutions and the potential long-term damage to the fabric of society. She calls for collective action to protect democracy and ensure that the principles of truth, justice, and equality remain. This includes holding leaders accountable for their actions, media transparency, and actively participating in the democratic process. Likewise, this includes supporting civil liberties principles that were hard fought for in the history of the United States.  

In conclusion, Alva Johnson’s experiences within the Cult of Trump shed light on the tactics employed by such groups and the impact they can have on individuals and society. By sharing her story and insights, she hopes to raise awareness, promote critical thinking, and foster empathy to counter the influence of cult-like thinking. Through education, media literacy, and resilient communities, Alva believes individuals can break free from manipulation and work towards a more inclusive and democratic society. 

Resources: 

Follow Alva on Twitter (X): @ThatAlvaJohnson 

A Lawsuit by a Campaign Worker Is the Latest Challenge to Trump’s Nondisclosure Agreements | The New Yorker 

All the President’s Women | Hachette Book Group For additional details about Alva Johnson in All the President’s Women, see pages 86-87, 254. 

 Trump Campaign Owes $300,000 in Legal Fees After Another Failed NDA Case – The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

Trump Campaign Loses Legal Dispute, Ordered to Pay Ex-Staffer $350,000 (newsweek.com) 

Select Committee on Intelligence Reports on Russian Emphasis and Interference in the 2016 Election Campaign 

Russian Influence on Trump and World Politics: American Kompromat with Craig Under and ex-KGB Yuri Shvets 

Putin Navalny Ukraine and Russian Influence: Part Two with Yuri Shvets and Craig Unger 

Russia, Trump, Propaganda, and Disinformation: Discussion with Investigative Journalist and Analyst Kseniya Kirillova

Confusion Techniques Can Control Minds 

4th Generation Warfare and The Christian Right: A Discussion With James Scaminaci III 

What is Hypnosis? Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)? Scientology and more! 

The Horror of School Shootings and Where We Go from Here – with S. E. Cupp 

Freedom of Mind: The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control 

The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking, and the Law 

NXIVM & the BITE Model

Is ‘John of God’ a Healer or a Charlatan?

Dr. Steven Hassan talks with Alva Johnson and Rich Logis at the Women Fired Up and Friends Zoom Party

The post Breaking the Silence: Alva Johnson’s Journey as a Director in the 2016 Trump Campaign appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Human trafficking is defined in international law as the use of fraud, force, or coercion to enslave people. It is a scourge that operates not just through physical coercion but through the devastating use of mind control, a method of psychological enslavement. Rebecca Bender is a courageous survivor and advocate who works tirelessly to empower survivors, train law enforcement, do expert witness work, and assist policymakers. She created the Rebecca Bender Initiative and the online Elevate Academy, which empowers trafficking survivors over the age of eighteen to move forward with their lives. She found encouragement and mentorship from Carissa Phelps and Rachel Thomas, who, with me, developed the Ending the Game ten-session program for trafficking survivors under the age of eighteen. 

Bender’s narrative symbolizes hope and fortitude, offering a guiding light for others. Elevate Academy is a testament to the potential of survivor-led initiatives—transforming personal struggle into collective empowerment and setting a precedent for how lived experience can ignite significant social change. Through such leadership, survivors are not just reclaiming their narratives; they’re redefining the very battle against trafficking. Understanding the tactics traffickers use is critical for prevention, as well as escape and recovery. My discussions with experts and survivors are not just academic; they are practical resources that shine a light on the manipulative strategies used in trafficking. Knowledge of these tactics can be lifesaving for anyone at risk or currently trapped. In this exploration, we delve deep into the intricate web of human trafficking, examining the various manipulative tactics employed by traffickers and the significant role that education and empowerment play in the recovery process.  

Understanding Trafficker Typologies: 

It is critical that we have good insight into the typologies of traffickers, which are pivotal in understanding the complex dynamics of human trafficking. By understanding some differing types of traffickers like ‘Romeo,’ ‘Gorilla,’ and ‘CEO,’ Rebecca sheds light on the varied and manipulative strategies used to recruit and exploit victims. ‘Romeo’ traffickers use romantic manipulation, creating emotional bonds to control their victims. This tactic is particularly insidious because it blurs the lines between affection and exploitation, leaving victims confused and often unwilling to recognize their circumstances as abusive. ‘Gorilla’ traffickers rely on intimidation and violence, instilling fear to maintain dominance. This approach is brutally straightforward, creating an environment of constant terror where the immediate need for survival drives compliance. In contrast, ‘CEO’ traffickers deceive their victims with false promises of lucrative opportunities, exploiting their aspirations. These traffickers create elaborate ruses, often presenting sophisticated business models or career opportunities that are entirely fraudulent, trapping their victims in exploitative situations under the guise of professional advancement. Understanding these typologies equips all stakeholders with the tools to combat different forms of trafficking more effectively. It offers survivors a framework to understand their experiences and begin the healing process. For professionals in the field, this knowledge is essential for recognizing signs of trafficking, tailoring their response to specific situations, and providing practical support to those affected. 

Empowering Professionals: Specialized Training: 

In addition, Rebecca Bender’s role in educating professionals about human trafficking is pivotal. Her specialized training sessions for law enforcement, FBI, Homeland Security, and medical professionals are tailored to impart an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of human trafficking. Her training covers a range of critical topics, including recognizing signs of trafficking, understanding the psychological impact on victims, and learning effective communication strategies to support survivors. These sessions are crucial in fostering a more informed, sensitive, and effective response from those on the front lines, enhancing the overall efficacy of trafficking prevention and intervention efforts. 

Advocating for Legal Change 

The necessity of expanding the legal framework to encompass the psychological dimensions of coercion that traffickers utilize fully cannot be underscored. The law, as it stands, inadequately addresses the invisible bonds of psychological control that are just as restrictive as physical restraints. By advocating for legislative change, my goal is to integrate a more comprehensive understanding of coercion that includes the sophisticated psychological tactics of mind control and manipulation. 

Such a legislative evolution would mark a monumental shift in how justice systems perceive and prosecute human trafficking, providing a more holistic approach to the crime. It would acknowledge the deep psychological scars inflicted upon victims and recognize the complex strategy of domination that traffickers employ. If the law can be updated to reflect these realities, it would enhance the protection of victims and ensure that traffickers are held accountable for the entire scope of their abuses, not just the physical. This change is not merely theoretical—it is a critical step towards dismantling the sophisticated networks of human trafficking and freeing victims from the comprehensive shackles of their oppressors. 

The Role of Survivor-Led Initiatives: 

Initiatives spearheaded by survivors like Rebecca Bender offer an authentic and powerful perspective essential in this battle. Survivor-led programs tend to be more empathetic and effective, drawing on real-life experiences and understanding of the victim’s journey. These initiatives also play a crucial role in providing support and rehabilitation to other survivors, creating a network of empowerment and advocacy that is instrumental in the broader fight against trafficking. 

Integrating Diverse Approaches: Rachel Thomas and Paul Chang: 

Complementing Bender’s insights are the contributions of Rachel Thomas and CODIS Phelps, along with Paul Chang’s implementation of the BITE model in the context of labor trafficking. Thomas’s 10-point program “Ending the Game” and Phelps’s work provide additional layers to understanding and addressing human trafficking. Similarly, Chang’s use of the BITE model for training against labor trafficking exemplifies the diverse and interconnected approaches required in this field. These varied strategies, ranging from survivor-led education programs to behavioral models in professional training, underscore the multifaceted nature of combating human trafficking. Such diverse approaches are crucial in building a comprehensive and holistic response to this complex issue. 

The battle against human trafficking demands a multifaceted approach, encompassing awareness, legal reform, and comprehensive support for survivors. Survivor-led initiatives, specialized training for professionals, and understanding trafficker typologies are all critical components in this fight. By empowering survivors and equipping professionals, efforts to eradicate trafficking become more targeted and effective. 

Offering a Lifeline 

For those affected by human trafficking or seeking help, resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline provide crucial support. Additionally, initiatives like Elevate Academy offer educational and empowerment opportunities for survivors, reflecting the importance of comprehensive care in recovery and rebuilding lives post-trafficking.  

Resources: 

The Rebecca Bender Initiative website 

The Elevate Academy

Sex Trafficking in Plain Sight | Rebecca Bender | TEDxDavenport 

In Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant by Rebecca Bender 

Ending the Game program 

Human Trafficking – Survivor Voices are Critical: A Conversation with a Survivor Attorney Carissa Phelps 

https://rebeccabenderinitiative.org/

The post Breaking the Chains: The Role of Mind Control in Human Trafficking with Rebecca Bender  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

I had the opportunity to meet Paul Jensen at the 2023 International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) annual conference, where he delivered a captivating presentation titled Discovering the Worst-Kept Secrets of My High Demand Church. He shared his journey of discovery after growing up in the Assemblies of God, the world’s largest denomination of the Pentecostal and Charismatic “Spirit Led” movement. In his talk, he revealed the little-known authoritarian cult roots of the Assemblies of God and how the church has created an official narrative that conceals its true history.  

Paul is a successful entrepreneur, strategist, and communications expert who’s worked for more than 20 years in the field of global health. He’s the founder and principal of a communications consulting practice called Etalia, which specializes in helping health and science organizations enhance their communication and research dissemination efforts to reach a wider audience. Additionally, he is a sought-after ghostwriter and has written for multiple heads of state and other elected officials, a Nobel Peace Laureate, heads of UN agencies, and several international leaders in the health sciences.  

Growing up in the Assemblies of God, the second-largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States with approximately three million members, Paul witnessed firsthand the controversial culture and beliefs that define this religious movement. Founded in 1914 and initially considered a fringe group by mainstream Protestant denominations, the Assemblies of God gradually gained acceptance. However, as Paul discovered, this movement’s high-demand culture and questionable history are often concealed from public scrutiny. 

Controversial Beliefs of the Assemblies of God 

Paul Jensen delves into several core doctrines within the Assemblies of God that are deeply ingrained in the church’s culture. These Pentecostal beliefs, which deviate from traditional Christian doctrine, include speaking in tongues as a sign of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Tongue-speak or glossolalia is perceived as a spiritual milestone and a way to draw closer to God, serving as the first evidence of spirit baptism. While speaking in tongues is only sporadically evident in early Christianity, it was adopted as a core doctrine and practice by radical evangelicals who became known as Pentecostals in the early 1900s.  Followers of this movement believe that speaking in tongues traces back to the book of Acts. Paul explained that linguistic research conducted by experts in modern tongue-speaking has revealed that the phonemes used in contemporary tongue-speaking among English speakers are not derived from supernatural languages but rather resemble English phonemes. Many other Christian denominations reject speaking in tongues, believing this was a gift reserved for the early church.  

Paul shares another core belief within Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God: the belief in supernatural healing through the Holy Spirit. This belief centers around the radical power of healing physical ailments, with followers believing God can work through individuals to provide healing prayers and cast out demons. To date, there does not exist any medical evidence to corroborate claims of supernatural healing.  

The history of Pentecostalism will detail persecution by mainline denominations of Christianity for their beliefs. However, Jensen explains that when he looks back at the literature, it shows a different story. While his research confirmed they did not condone Pentecostal ideas, the views they were against were extreme and outlandish. For example, these denominations were unwilling to accept people claiming to be the physical embodiment of Christ or other prophets. 

Critical to the Assemblies of God movement is a belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ in the bodily form. Paul explained there is an emphasis on the urgency that this could happen imminently, and if you have not chosen to be ‘born again’ before this happens, you will not get into heaven. Jensen found that this feeling of impending armageddon was underlying in the movement. He said this fear of the end times meant that ‘there was no long-term planning…because Christ comes back at any moment’. As a young adult, this resulted in Paul finding it difficult to think long-term or plan due to his upbringing.  

New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) 

The Assemblies of God are increasingly influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) network. While not doctrine, they have become a core part of the culture, Jensen explains. Due to the congregational nature of the churches, there is no filter or guidance between churches and leaders regarding the level of influence NAR has. In churches influenced by the NAR, the extreme literal interpretations of the bible and the language of biblical warfare are used to affirm the reality of a spiritual war of followers against the world, the flesh, and demons. If you’re having issues evangelizing, it could be because a demon has legal rights to oppress that area, and you would have to first defeat this demon in the spirit world. He explained the belief that a person could, ‘enter into spiritual warfare…against the territorial principality or the strongman demon who governed over this area to get a heavenly restraining order against him or  get a legal decree that said he no longer had rights to oppress the people in this area.’ The core belief is that the spiritual realm is more ‘real’ than the material, as it is for eternity rather than temporal. Paul explains how NAR also teaches that heaven will come to Earth when followers make the culture of Earth mirror their culture of heaven to such a degree that Jesus will return and finish the work. Followers who helped annihilate the wicked will co-reign with Christ over this new heaven. Problematic leaders can exploit this eschatological view of the end times and the granting of power to further cult-like agendas. 

Controversies Surrounding the Founders of the Assemblies of God 

Controversies surrounding the founders of the Assemblies of God and the core beliefs have also come to light. Charles Fox Parham, the founding father of modern Pentecostalism, sought to restore what he believed to be ‘real Christianity’ based on the practices described in the Book of Acts, notably the speaking in tongues. Parham gathered his followers in Topeka in 1901, where Agnes Ozman reportedly spoke in various languages, including Chinese, for three days. However, Paul Jensen’s research revealed that these claims were widely reported in Topeka newspapers. Jensen even discovered old newspaper articles and images of the scribbles on paper that were purported to be Agnes Ozman’s Chinese writing. He consulted a Chinese scholar at SUNY Binghamton University, who confirmed that the scribbles did not resemble the Chinese language. 

Below is the Supposed Chinese Writing by Agnes Ozman under the Holy Spirit. This was circulated by many sources worldwide, and an official history book, released by the Assemblies of God’s in-house publisher in 2014, continues to claim that this “writing” is Chinese:  

Despite this, the event was broadcast as miraculous evidence of ‘signs and wonders’ and accelerated the movement. It was the foundation for the belief in Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God.  

Furthermore, Charles Parham’s ideas and beliefs were influenced by his association with Frank Sanford, a cult leader whom the Assemblies of God credits with paving the way for the movement in Topeka. Sanford used funds from his cult to embark on a missionary journey along the coast of Africa in 1911. When one of the boats ran aground, those aboard transferred to the second boat. Knowing this boat did not have enough provisions for all on board; he kept them out to sea until people starved while he remained well-fed. When he returned to shore, he was arrested and went to federal prison. Paul Jensen looked up the newspaper reports and photos of when people came off the boat and even located a diary of one who died onboard to confirm the events.  

However, as Paul explains, the Assemblies of God claims that ‘disaster struck’ out at sea and omits to tell followers about the willful imprisonment, starvation, and federal indictment due to Sanford causing death. Frank Sanford was a convicted felon who imprisoned and starved children and adults on his boats to death. However, Assemblies of God publications Sanford as a founding father. They present him as a critical figure in the movement’s history and gloss over and omit his crimes. 

The Seven Mountain Mandate (7M)

A worrying aspect of the belief in the kingdom of God being here on Earth, which is critical to the New Apostolic Reformation and the Assemblies of God, is the need for power. Because of the belief that a change in the Earth’s culture needs to occur before Christ can return, followers think they have to influence and change the modern world and gain power over it to lead. Strategies such as the Seven Mountains Mandate aim to take over every segment of society, from law and government to education and the arts, as these are ‘pillars’ that make up the thoughts and behaviors of a society.

The seven spheres—or “mountains”—according to the seven mountain mandate are:

1. Education
2. Religion
3. Family
4. Business
5. Government/Military
6. Arts/Entertainment
7. Media

I write about the Seven Mountains Mandate in this blog. Popular in Pentecostal churches, advocates of the movement wish to ‘invade’ these spheres to transform and control society. This authoritarian movement influencing the Assemblies of God is worrying for democracy. Using this movement, cult-like leaders claiming God is speaking through them could encourage people to turn over their power and consciousness. A figure in this position could easily wield authoritarian control and commit atrocities. 

In addition to his research, Paul Jensen raises awareness about high-demand religious groups such as the Assemblies of God. He has become a vocal advocate for ex-members and works to educate the public about the tactics and dangers of these organizations. In an age of misinformation, we must be careful, as this high-demand church conceals many of its controversial core beliefs to the public. 

Resources: 

Etalia 

Daniel & the Lion’s Den – The Official Forum for Chi Alpha Spiritual and Sexual Abuse

The Growing Rift Inside the New Apostolic Reformation with Frederick Clarkson and André Gagné 

Christian Right Denialism is More Dangerous Than Ever: A Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation Part I  

When it Comes to Societal Dominion, the Details Matter: A Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation Part II 

The post The Assemblies of God; Secrets of a High-Demand Church with Paul Jensen  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Katherine Spallino, the author of a new book, The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology’s Sea Organization, has had quite a life journey. Katherine grew up on a secluded ranch within the cadet org, Scientology’s Sea Org school for children. At a young age, Katherine began to journal about her day-to-day life, capturing the thoughts and experiences of a child coming of age in a cult. Katherine’s background offers the rare opportunity to tell the story of the hundreds of children who rarely saw their parents and were indoctrinated to become future Sea Org members.  

After my deprogramming from the Moon cult in 1976, I learned about Scientology as a destructive authoritarian cult through a former member and Paulette Cooper, who wrote The Scandal of Scientology. Over the decades, I have had extensive experience helping former members and being harassed (fair gamed) by the cult. In 1989, I befriended Jon Atack, author of Let’s Sell Them a Piece of Blue Sky and Opening Our Minds. I was a guest on Leah Remini and Mike Rinder’s A & E show Scientology and its Aftermath and interviewed Mike on his fine book, A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology. Rinder was in the cult for 46 years and was one of their top officials. 

The Sea Organization is considered the elite group, and members are made to commit to a billion-year contract. In other words, this lifetime and many future lifetimes. Potential Sea Org members take part in both manual labor and indoctrination classes. Katherine’s book is unique because it is told by someone who journaled as a child.  

Indoctrination and Imprisonment 

As a child, Katherine’s playfulness was seen as rebellious. She wanted to spend time with other kids, not listen to rambling lectures. She was punished with isolation, a behavioral control technique I discuss in the BITE Model. During our interview, she told me that the BITE Model has been helpful to her in explaining her childhood to others. With adult eyes, she can put her experiences into the framework and see the extensive use of cult propaganda, the thought-stopping techniques that wear down anybody who questions the party line, and the disruption of family bonds to make sure there is nothing more important to a cadet than Scientology.  

From the age of six, Katherine was separated from her parents. She lived in a dormitory and only saw her family occasionally. Thankfully, Katherine told me, she formed tight bonds with the girls in her dorm, many of whom have since exited and remain her friends to this day. Still, as a mom of three young boys, Katherine is struck by the stark contrast between her upbringing and the tenderness that was taken from her. This is a common cult tactic. I mentioned that other authoritarian religious cults pressure members to shun former members, including making them believe it is a crime to even associate their own children. The sting of this cruelty is felt on both sides. I encourage anyone physically separated from their family by a cult to attempt whatever form of contact they safely can, even if it means standing on the sidewalk opposite your children’s house holding a sign that says you still love them. Even that small gesture can cause dissonance and keep a foot in the door for change.  

After a close friend of hers spoke out publicly against Scientology, Katherine’s parents cut her off. Katherine theorized that what they had been taught to believe about reincarnation helped them rationalize their decisions. In their minds, they had lived and had children before. They would again. They would have a billion years to get it right. 

Telling Her Story 

One of the things that kept Katherine sane throughout her childhood was journaling. This allowed her to hold onto her authentic identity while Scientology strove to assign her a cult-approved pseudo-identity. As she got older, writing about her experiences helped her process what had happened. She hoped that publishing her writing might help others get perspective on what’s going on in their lives. Most people who are under undue influence don’t realize it. Perhaps even more significantly, many high-control groups are not recognized as cults. A friend of Katherine’s raised in a strict Baptist family identified with her story and saw that the environment hadn’t been good for her. I got the same response when I first published my book, Combating Cult Mind Control. People wanted to hear a story about the crazy Moonies cult but recognized patterns from their own lives. The power of telling your story has spread to the internet with many ex-member sites and groups. These resources teach survivors how to write as part of their recovery and bring awareness to the reality that intelligent, capable people can still be taken advantage of (and can still recover to live fruitful lives).  

Following the catharsis of telling your survival story, actively rejecting cult conditioning can be helpful. This might come as removing the phrases associated with your time in a cult from your vocabulary. It can also be helpful to do visualization exercises, imagining what you now would say to the abusive authorities you faced then or what the kind of loving authority you needed would have said to keep you safe in vulnerable moments. Katherine noted that while you should leave behind the conditioning, you don’t need to abandon everything. She still treasures the memories of her friendships with the other girls in the dormitory. Katherine wrote this illuminating book because she, too, wants to shed light on child abuse in this destructive cult. She joins me in desiring to see its tax exemption revoked and hopes that everyone will get out of the psychology slavery. Of course, Katherine is no longer a Scientologist and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, happily raising three rambunctious boys.  

Resources: 

Katherine Spallino is on social media @badcadet on Instagram and Twitter.  

Bad Cadet is available at Amazon.com. 

Steven Kent’s article, Brainwashing in Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project Force

Jon Atack’s books on Scientology, Let’s Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky and Scientology; Cult of Greed

Scientology indoctrination methods deconstructed, a video demonstration with Steven Hassan, Jon Atack, Christian Szurko, and Chris Shelton

The post Finding Her Way Out of Scientology’s Infamous Sea Org with Katherine Spallino   appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

The term ‘gaslight effect’ was introduced by Dr. Robin Stern in her 2007 book to describe the long-term consequences of persistent gaslighting, a subtle and often hidden form of emotional abuse. Gaslighting is a devastating form of undue influence. It occurs when an individual manipulates another person by distorting, twisting, and dismissing their experiences, making them question their memories, perceptions, and reality. Gaslighting can occur in a romantic relationship, among family members, in the workplace, within mind control cults as well as by politicians. As a result of enduring gaslighting, individuals experience constant self-doubt, difficulties making decisions, and feelings of instability. I was eager to learn from Robin about her work in this area, especially regarding what people can do to protect themselves from gaslighting.  

Robin Stern, Ph.D., has been a practicing psychoanalyst for over thirty years and is the co-founder the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She’s the author of The Gaslight Effect and the newly released The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide. Robin Stern invited me to be a guest on her podcast The Gaslight Effect Podcast, and learned of her longstanding interest in cults. I read her books immediately thereafter and asked her to be my guest. 

Understanding the Stages and Impact of Gaslighting 

Robin observed in her practice that strong, capable, and self-assured women were experiencing mental health struggles when involved with highly confident men dictating their thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. Intrigued by this phenomenon, she decided to investigate further, talking to many people who had experienced this. Robin explains that gaslighting is a gradual manipulative process, with the perpetrator being certain, persistent, manipulative, and exquisitely attuned to their target. This ‘certainty factor’ is also a common tactic used to recruit people into cults and to keep them indoctrinated. When someone confidently looks you in the eyes and tells you that something is the truth, it is easy to experience self-doubt.  

Individuals who gaslight others can be any gender and are not born this way. Instead, they often learn to manipulate others through social conditioning or as a coping mechanism for unresolved childhood trauma. This differs from the intentions of a typical malignant narcissist predator who seeks power, money, or sex, like many cult leaders.  

Robin identifies three stages of gaslighting: disbelief, defense, and depression. In the disbelief stage, the victim initially dismisses the manipulator’s lies as a misunderstanding or an isolated incident. As gaslighting persists, the victim enters the defense stage, where they start questioning their perceptions and defending themselves against the manipulator’s false claims. Eventually, the victim may reach the depression stage, feeling overwhelmed and powerless, as their self-esteem and confidence have been severely damaged. In this stage, the victim sees themselves through the eyes of the perpetrator, internalizing their perspective and dismissing their own. 

This gradual process that results in neglecting one’s own reality and inner voice is similar to the mind control process in cults. Members are indoctrinated and conditioned to abandon their previous thoughts and behaviors and adopt a new ‘cult identity.’ This pseudo-self becomes like a clone of the leader, and the cult member comes to accept a new reality, suppressing their authentic self.  

Social and Political Instability is Fertile Ground for Gaslighting 

Robin and I discussed how recent social and political instability has provided fertile ground for gaslighting. During the Covid pandemic, individuals were grappling with unpredictable circumstances, and the media was adding to the confusion by presenting conflicting realities. This was compounded by the fact that people have been losing faith in their leaders and institutions, making it difficult to know where to turn for reliable information.  

The use of fourth-generation warfare tactics, a psychological warfare paradigm that attacks science, institutions, and experts, has added to people’s confusion. This approach creates uncertainty and polarization, making individuals more susceptible to the influence of authoritarian figures who promise certainty and stability. In this environment, individuals who have ‘lost their compass’ may be drawn to charismatic leaders who offer a sense of security, despite their lies and manipulations.  

In my book, The Cult of Trump, I wrote about how Donald Trump leveraged this environment to gaslight the American people. When a person with presidential authority tells blatant lies with conviction and discredits respected news sources, people question their perception of reality and discourage them from seeking the truth. Trump’s manipulative techniques mirror many of the thought-stopping tactics employed by cult leaders, who use emotional manipulation to gain sympathy while fostering animosity toward critics. The overwhelming flood of contradictory information, with occasional bits of truth, undermines critical thinking, making it difficult for people to discern reality from falsehood. 

Practical Advice to Protect Yourself from Gaslighting 

What I love about Robin’s book, The Gaslight Effect, and the Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide is its practical advice to identify and cope with gaslighting. Some of the tips we discussed were: 

• Use opting-out statements during a controlling conversation, such as “We’ll have to agree to disagree” or “Let’s pick up this conversation at another time.” 
• Document conversations and seek outside validation and corroboration of your perspective. 
• Learn to recognize the signs of gaslighting and identify and avoid the perpetrator’s triggers. 
• Avoid spending time with the person who is gaslighting you. In my TEDx talk on How to Tell if You’re Brainwashed, I speak about how one of the first steps to knowing whether you have been subject to mind control is to take a break and get away from the person or group that is influencing you so that you can gain more clarity of thought.  
• Seek support from people who love and care about you, who can provide a different perspective and help ground you in reality. 
• Engage in activities that help you manage your emotions, such as sleeping, exercising, or listening to music. 
• Develop skills to gather your thoughts, establish boundaries, seek information from reliable sources, and trust your own reality. 

Robin said that educating the younger generation is key to immunizing people against gaslighting. To this end, she has co-developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, the RULER program, an evidence-based approach to teaching social and emotional learning in schools. The acronym RULER stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotion, and it aims to help students develop emotional intelligence. 

An essential part of breaking free from gaslighting is acquiring freedom of mind. By knowing oneself and taking control over one’s own mind, body, and life, individuals can avoid turning their power over to an external authority figure or group. By practicing self-kindness, surrounding oneself with supportive people, and learning the dynamics of gaslighting manipulation, individuals can empower themselves to take charge of their own reality and break free from its damaging effects.  

Resources 

Robin Stern’s Website 

The Gaslight Effect by Robin Stern 

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide by Robin Stern 

The Gaslight Effect Podcast hosted by Robin Stern

How We Feel- free app 

The Cult of Trump by Steven Hassan 

The Public Health Disaster of Donald Trump, a Narcissistic and Sociopathic President 

Fourth Generation Warfare and the Christian Right: A Discussion with James Scaminaci III 

TEDx Talk on How to Tell if You’re Brainwashed Steven Hassan 

The post The Gaslight Effect: Protecting Yourself from Emotional Abuse with Dr. Robin Stern  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Working with people in cults or who have escaped them requires empathy, compassion, and knowledge to help free them from indoctrination. Rachel Bernstein has all those and more, which she’s used for the last 30 years in her work in cult intervention and re-acclimation.  

Bernstein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) from Los Angeles, California. She serves on the advisory board of the International Cultic Studies Association and has worked with the Department of Justice, providing support to cult victims who testify against their perpetrators. Bernstein and her father have known and worked together for decades now.   

She appeared (as do I) in the documentary SEDUCED: Inside the NXIVM cult and the Netflix series Unwell in addition to many media appearances over the years. She is the host of IndoctriNation: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control, where she has interviewed hundreds of cult survivors, journalists, and experts. Her webinar lecture for cult survivors entitled “Living In Freedom” is available at Rachelbernsteintherapy.com. 

Missing Civility 

We discuss the need to bring civility back to the social discourse because that can help us understand each other and the issues affecting us all. Bernstein discusses needing less of a torches and pitchfork mentality and more common sense in the approach we take to the issues defining our world, so we have less polarization and more productivity in moving forward.  

We discussed Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the negative experiences some had with it, including Gina Catena, who was raised in it, and talked about the abuse of children within that environment. I shared Gina’s story in the updated Combating Cult Mind Control edition. 

Switching Off the Soul 

We talk about the difficulties of seeing our loved ones in cults and the changes they undergo, making them almost unrecognizable to the person we know. It’s as if the lights that brighten their soul are turned off, but when they come out of the cult, the lights come back on. We discuss how scary it is to know that the connectedness with the self can dissolve when someone is in a cult environment. There is something very dark about the people we share space with on the planet being willing to freely abuse their power for their personal gain or, worse, their entertainment.  

Conscience Disconnection 

Bernstein discusses her background being raised in an activist home where she was taught that if something matters to you, you do something about it, you say something about it. Bernstein and I talk about the Nazi rallies and how there is not much difference between those and the cult events, such as the Scientology rallies. Bernstein remarks There is a lot that can work people up and “make them disconnected from their own conscience.” We talk about how kids are taken to church events in the mountains, and their understanding is they are going on a weekend away but cannot answer questions about the organization’s name, whether their parents know they’re going, and so forth. It’s easy to draw people in with little information given. People are inherently trusting and sometimes do not ask the questions they need to be asking.  

Bernstein talks about seeing this play out repeatedly in various situations in her life, telling the story of working at the now-closed Cult Clinic at the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. Her first client was a Scientologist who climbed out of a window in one of the buildings. She was on the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) and was “scared out of her mind.” At that time, Bernstein didn’t know much about Scientology, and the woman explained it to her. She asked Bernstein if she was going to put electrodes on her because that was something she had been told would happen by the cult.  

What are you going to do? 

She tells us about the various things she did to help the woman feel comfortable, including keeping the door open as many former cult members are held against their will. Bernstein tells the story of her father being harassed by cult groups, including three groups that called her home in the middle of the night. She remembers being shaken by this and asking her father what he was going to do. His reply was, “I’m going to go back to sleep and not let the bullies win. What are you going to do? And there was something so calm about that.” Bernstein remembers those words from her father when her current work brings the bullies out.  

We talk about the burnout among therapists who take the most traumatized clients, which cult members often are. It’s vitally important to balance this work with time to recharge and work with people who are not cult members to balance intense and less intense clients.  

Bernstein talks about remembering to check in with herself and asking others to check on her as well when she might not be remembering how difficult, scary, or intense something is to hear about on her podcast. She’s heard the stories and worked with them for years, but other people don’t have that lens and may hear it for the first time, which can be traumatic.  

There are Answers 

We talk about the belief that some people hold about the issues presented, not having answers when they do because, as Bernstein states, “…if it hasn’t been offered before, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” She talks about the reassurance she gains from her podcast guests, the professionals doing this work, and the people who have lived experiences of being in cults and getting out. She feels reassured knowing there are people working on these issues and hopefully making inroads. We talk about a support group she facilitates and seeing attendees finally relax in an environment where other people get it, they understand. No one needs to explain themselves or be concerned about being dismissed or misunderstood.  

Grouping Up 

We discuss the importance of vetting group members, and Bernstein tells us stories of cult members trying to infiltrate the support groups and how she managed that. We talk about group dynamics and issues within groups, including the fear people have of attending, being late, and being chastised for it. Bernstein talks with us about questions from group members, such as ensuring confidentiality and how that isn’t possible within a group setting as we can ask/require it, but that doesn’t mean people will do it, so understanding that is helpful for group members to discern what they want to share. 

We talk about the different approaches to healing and helping former victims. There is sometimes a belief that therapists must be former cult members to help those who are, but this isn’t the case. A high degree of empathy, compassion, and listening skills are necessary, but a lived experience as a cult member is not. Bernstein adds humility is also necessary because we can’t assume we understand someone’s experience. We need to know that going into the interaction. Instead, we can be a resource in helping them understand their experiences and working out what that means for them going forward. 

Department of (In)Justice? 

Bernstein talks about her work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and our goals to change the laws around undue influence and its consequences. She shares the discussion on her podcast with Carol Merchasin, an attorney focusing on spiritual abuse cases, and her own experiences working in this field of law.  

Bernstein talks about a case she had with the DOJ. She was contacted through the Victims Assistance Program to assist a woman who had been in La Luz del Mundo, a group that was sex trafficking young girls and women. They were indoctrinated at ages 8, 9, and 10 years old. As young women 18-20 years old, they are trying to rebuild their lives to understand what happened to them. Bernstein counseled them, and many opened up to her immediately but were still cautious because their families didn’t know they were speaking to a therapist.  

Unfortunately, about five months before the court date of the cult leader, Naasón Joaquín García, the DOJ cut off funding. The survivors were left with no resources except very old therapy contacts given to them, many of whom were out of business or had no background in cults. Bernstein decided to continue working with them for free. García was ultimately sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison, a pittance of time given all the trauma he inflicted on these women.  

Legal Matters 

We talk about the difficulties within the law regarding child victims of sex crimes within cults. They don’t understand what happened to them sometimes well into what we consider adulthood, but given that the frontal cortex doesn’t fully develop until around 26, we need to change the statute of limitations for bringing suits against people perpetuating these crimes.  

Exiting the Cult, Entering the Field 

We discuss the importance of entering the field of undue influence and working toward bettering society for survivors. There is a huge need within the psychology field for people who understand cults and mind control techniques, who can work with people who have survived these horrific situations and help them find their way back to a free life. There is much work to be done, and everyone can play a role, whether that is a therapist, funding the organizations working with survivors, or spreading the word about these organizations. We all have a part to play in freeing people from undue influence.  

Resources: 

Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd website 

IndoctriNation podcast 

IndoctriNation cited in the New York Times: 6 Podcasts About Cults and Their Enduring Sinister Attraction 

The post Freeing People From Indoctrination With Rachel Bernstein, LMFT  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

[As approved by Professor Scheflin. Taken from Jon Atack’s Opening Our Minds: avoiding abusive relationships and authoritarian groups (Trentvalley ltd, Colchester, 2021) with permission from the author.]

Law Professor Alan W. Scheflin coined the phrase “The Myth of the Unmalleable Mind” which is the basic belief that we are in control of our own minds and cannot be unfairly influenced outside of our awareness. This is a comforting thought; however, history has shown that this “comforting thought” is a myth. Most readers of this book have come to this understanding the hard way. 

Let us suppose you believe that you have been a victim of an impermissible form of mind manipulation or coercive thought control. And you now want to sue the perpetrators. The first problem you will encounter is finding an attorney sufficiently qualified to handle these very specialized types of cases. 

While “cultic” organizations and other persuasion groups are armed with attorneys well versed in defending their clients in these cases, there are very few lawyers with expertise in advocating for injured parties such as yourself who have been the victims of such organizations. Once you have found an attorney willing to take your case to court, there are new hurdles to conquer. 

In the past, judges have refused to step into litigation that involved topics such as “brainwashing” or “mind control” or “thought reform.” What plaintiffs needed was a recognized legal theory that would open the doors to the courtroom. They found such a theory in the concept of “undue influence,” which has been recognized for hundreds of years as providing monetary relief for people who have essentially been swindled out of their money. 

Fortunately, in recent years legislatures have added new laws making it easier to obtain financial compensation when “coercive control” or “predatory alienation” has been involved. 

At this point, the attorney must prove that you, the plaintiff-victim, were taken advantage of in such a manner that justice demands relief. To accomplish this goal, Professor Scheflin created the Social Influence Model (SIM) in 2015.

Professor Scheflin’s inspiration came from a section of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “My Six Servants,’ published in Just So Stories (1902): 

I keep six honest serving-men 

They taught me all they knew; 

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who. 

The Social Influence Model (SIM) has these six components: 

1. Influencer [Identity and Status] [Who] 

2. Influencer’s Motives [Purpose] [Why] 

3. Influencer’s Methods [Techniques] [What/How] 

4. Circumstances [Timing & Setting] [Where/When] 

5. Influencee’s Receptivity/Vulnerability [Individual Differences] [Who]

6. Consequences [Results] [What]

The SIM is designed to be a benefit to five different audiences: 

1. Victims – You are going to court because you have been made a victim by the person or organization you are now suing. In order to assist your lawyer, you will need to provide him or her with a factual description of what happened to you over the course of your mental enslavement. Interestingly, the Kipling poem is taught in journalism courses as a guide for reporters to be able to present the most instructive and compelling story. Readers of such stories will have the most complete understanding of what happened when each of the Six Servants is represented. 

In bringing a legal case, you are the reporter of your own story and need to provide to your lawyer each of the Six Servants in order for him or her to present the facts by which the judge and jury can comprehend fully the circumstances that have brought you before them. Your lawyer will want to know what happened to you, when it took place, where it took place, how it happened, why it happened, and who was involved in making it happen. It is always advisable to put your presentation into a chronological format and to state carefully the various details, both factual and emotional, of your experience. This process should help clarify the experience you had and enable both you and others to view it clearly and dispassionately.

2. Lawyers – A good lawyer must make your case come alive in the hearts and minds of the jurors and the judge. Factual evidence and scientific evidence must be woven together to fit into the legal theory your lawyer will present. Every legal theory has certain elements which must be proven before financial compensation can be awarded. 

For lawyers, the SIM has several purposes. Lawyers prove their cases by presenting witnesses to explain the facts and experts to explain the science. A lawyer could make a chart of the SIM and include the information you have provided and the testimony witnesses and experts will give. Lawyers long ago discovered that the eye is more powerful than the ear. While jurors can hear evidence, it is much more dramatic if they see a visual representation of it. For example, in a case involving an automobile and locomotive collision, a lawyer in a courtroom brought in a full-sized model of the front of a train engine, which had a much more formidable impact than just referring to the train. In another case involving overcrowding in prisons, a lawyer constructed a life-size mock-up of a prison cell so jurors could see how physically confining it was when an excessive number of prisoners were put into it. 

Similarly, charts and graphs in which evidence and science have been summarized into categories are more compelling than jurors being asked to remember hours and hours of often technical testimony. The SIM also focuses the lawyer’s attention by directing the jurors’ attention to each element that must be proven in order for you to prevail. Indeed, most presentations given by lecturers involve some type of PowerPoint or similar computer-assisted visual presentations. A further benefit is that the organization of each of the elements aids the jurors in providing a structure for their deliberations.

3. Experts – It is the job of expert witnesses to explain science to the jury and judge. With regard to cases involving allegations of some type of mind control or undue influence, technical scientific data can be more easily structured using the SIM. For example, the Influencer’s Methods may involve a variety of psychological persuasion techniques carefully used on innocent victims unaware that they are being manipulated. To take an easy example, in cases involving various aspects of child abuse and seduction, an expert might present evidence of what is called  “grooming,” with the accompanying scientific literature supporting how what seems to start as an innocent introduction to someone leads to their mental and physical domination. 

Another example involves the Influencee’s Receptivity/Vulnerability. It is well known that people have different personality styles. Some people are more susceptible to influence than others. This is often called Individual Differences. 

There are various scientific testing instruments that can determine a person’s receptivity to suggestion or influence. These scales often appear in cases involving hypnosis and cases involving police interrogation. Because expert testimony is often the most difficult for jurors to process, the SIM provides a visual reminder of why jurors are hearing this particular expert testimony and why it is relevant to the resolution of the case. 

There are volumes of books and manuals for salespeople and telemarketers where they are taught a variety of techniques for keeping a potential customer engaged until the point of sale. In fact, this is another example of grooming. This knowledge is usually outside the realm of the victim’s conscious understanding.

4. Jurors – Jurors appreciate having evidence organized for them. In court, evidence is usually not presented in a sequential manner, especially given the fact that two sides deliver entirely different conceptions of what the case is about and the nature of the relevant facts. The SIM allows the jurors to take both sides of the case and understand how to make decisions about what evidence to accept or reject. It gives them a clearer path to the verdict they will reach. Jurors appreciate that.

5. Judges – For the same reasons that the SIM is persuasive for jurors; it is also persuasive for judges. A judge decides what evidence is admissible, what legal theories are permissible, and what jury instructions are acceptable. Jurors may ultimately decide the case, but it is the judge who is the gatekeeper as to what evidence the jury can hear and what expert testimony is relevant. The SIM is a useful structure for the judge to understand the significance of certain expert testimony that the judge might otherwise consider irrelevant. Judges appreciate when a lawyer has made their task easier.

Conclusion: We began with the Myth of the Unmalleable Mind and we conclude with the Myth of Irreversible Mind Control. This is the belief that mind control techniques turn people into human robots who cannot be salvaged. Just as people are wrong to believe their minds cannot be unduly influenced, people are wrong to believe that once having fallen under the influence, people cannot be brought back to their senses. Indeed, the SIM is part of the process of this reverse engineering. 

For many people, the greatest threat, often unthought and unspoken, is that other people can comfortably be doing their thinking for them. Group conformity is easier than individual responsibility, but it also diminishes the soul. We should concentrate less on teaching people what to think, and more on how to think. 

The United States Supreme Court in 1969 in Stanley v. Georgia [394 U.S. 557] said: “Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men’s minds.” Our whole human heritage should rebel at the thought of giving people the power to control men’s minds.^[i]

~ Jon Atack, taken from Opening Our Minds: avoiding abusive relationships and authoritarian groups (Trentvalley ltd, Colchester, 2021), with his permission

see also Jon’s YouTube channel, jonatack, family and friends.

^[i] See Scheflin, “Supporting Human Rights by Testifying Against Human Wrongs”, International Journal of Cultic Studies, Vol. 6, 2015, 69-82.

Resources:

Jon Atack’s paper, “Never Believe a Hypnotist“

Interview with Steven Hassan and Alan Scheflin: Evaluating Undue Influence: Scheflin’s Model as a Framework

Steven Hassan’s dissertation: The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking, and the Law

The post Professor Alan Scheflin’s Social Influence Model (SIM) appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

The digital age has brought about a massive change in the way we think, feel, communicate, and behave. For young people born and raised in a digital world, being online for an average of eleven hours a day affects not only their brain development, such as shortened attention span, ability to concentrate, social skills, and mental well-being. As well as this, young people’s need for connection and belonging is being exploited by unhealthy ‘influencers’ online, who are using the internet to indoctrinate and radicalize them. 

An international researcher and author, Chloe Combi, is a leading authority on Generation Z (those born between 1999 and 2009). Having interviewed over 10,000 members of Gen Z, she provides invaluable insights into what the next decade and beyond will bring.  

With a keen focus on the future, Chloe Combi is now turning her attention to the next generation – Generation A (Alpha)! She is a bestselling author, host of the #1 Apple Podcast You Don’t Know Me, a film director for Meta (formerly Facebook), a sought-after speaker, and a consultant for brands and political campaigns, including an American Presidential campaign. Her forthcoming book, How to Save the World, examines the impact of the internet and social media on young people.   

I was delighted to have Chloe on my Influence Continuum podcast to talk about these critical issues and to hear about what she has learned from interviewing thousands of young people.  

How the Internet and Social Media are Destroying Social Connections 

Chloe and I discussed how the ability of people to form deep social connections is majorly disrupted by technology. Ironically, while we can connect with other people via phone, text, or social media at any moment of the day, our ability to form strong bonds with others has drastically reduced. “The online world has completely failed to replicate real-life friendship groups,” Chloe said. “There’s a massive difference between friendships and an online tribe.” 

Last year, I also had the opportunity to interview Dr. Carl Marci, author of Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age, about this issue. Dr. Marci said that when children use technology rather than face-to-face interactions with friends and receive real-time reciprocal feedback, they miss out on the necessary connections needed for healthy brain development. As a result, we are being rewired in ways that are detrimental to our ability to socialize.  

Young people are increasingly seeing their online interactions, such as the number of Instagram likes or Facebook shares, as a measure of their relationships. But these are not real friendships. Real friends accept you for who you are; you can disagree, discuss unpopular views, and have diverse opinions. They may not agree with everything you do but still care about you fundamentally. On the unethical end of the scale, it is all about performance – you are liked if you toe the line and do what is acceptable. If you ask questions or challenge the status quo, then you can’t be part of the group.  

Chloe explained how this is particularly challenging for Generation Z, who have essentially been socialized online. Hence, their online world spills over into their real-world social activities. “That’s incredibly dangerous,” explained Chloe, “because then everyone exists in a kind of a social silo, whereby everybody thinks like them and talks like them… And, increasingly, people are unable to tolerate people who quite evidently have kind of pierced their social comfort levels.” 

QAnon, Andrew Tate and Online Recruitment  

Unhealthy groups and individuals are taking advantage of young people’s need for belonging to manipulate and control how they think, feel, and behave. Chloe gives the examples of Andrew Tate and how his followers – particularly boys and young men – genuinely believe they are part of this intimate tribe. They feel connected to others who think the same as them. Tate uses language that makes his followers feel special and ‘awake’ while everyone else is in the dark. He also plays on the fact that many young men are feeling disenfranchised and isolated, particularly post-pandemic. So for them, a robust, male ‘role model’ and being made to feel ‘part of the crew’ can be very compelling. “There is a viral need in humanity to be part of something,” she said. “And, unfortunately, quite nefarious people abuse that.” 

Chloe and I also talked about QAnon and how they use similar techniques to indoctrinate people online. QAnon is a psyop (psychological operation) and a political cult with a clear black-and-white, all-or-nothing, good vs. evil ideology – anyone who criticizes Donald Trump is labeled as a brainwashed agent of the left or a member of the cult of Soros. I have extensively researched QAnon and evaluated it with my BITE Model of authoritarian control as a destructive cult.  

Essentially, there is a digitalization of what cults are doing in real life, and groups like QAnon are simply replicating it online. The big difference is that political and cult groups now have access to people’s private information, unlike physical recruitment. It has been harvested online to create sophisticated psychological profiles that can more easily target and influence people. We are entering a whole new level of manipulation and mind control.  

How Can We Protect Young People from Unhealthy Online Influence? 

As a mental health professional, I am concerned about the potential for digital information to negatively impact individuals’ mental well-being through increased anxiety, depression, and radicalization. Therefore, I advocate for the regulation of social media and online spaces to prevent abuses of power. Additionally, regulations are needed to safeguard data privacy and hold platforms responsible for any adverse effects on people’s well-being.   

In today’s world, where technology is becoming more advanced, it is crucial to have a strong understanding of digital media to protect against manipulation and mind control. Furthermore, individuals should educate themselves on online influence and unethical manipulation tactics to inoculate themselves against it. 

Learning about the mind, being in our body, being in the here and now, developing critical thinking, and learning how to follow our heart and gut are all important things we can do to protect ourselves and others from undue influence. In addition, having a diverse social network, including those with differing perspectives, can aid in opening our minds to the possibility that our beliefs may sometimes need re-evaluating. 

Chloe suggests that parents assist their children in reducing excessive screen time by promoting alternative activities and fostering relationships with family and friends. The goal is not to eliminate phones and screens, as they obviously have benefits, but rather to be more mindful of excessive usage and intentionally replace it with face-to-face interactions with loved ones. 

Resources: 

Chloe Combi’s website 

Chloe Combi’s substack

You Don’t Know Me – the trailer

Generation Z: Their Voices, Their Lives by Chloe Combi  

Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age with Carl D. Marci, M.D. 

Social Media, Cyber Warfare, Data Mining, and AI Used to Target, Manipulate, and Control People 

QAnon and the BITE Model (Control of Behavior, Information, Thoughts and Emotions)    

The post How Online Spaces And Communities Are Indoctrinating Gen Z And Gen A With Chloe Combi  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Have you ever heard of the Council for National Policy? Wish to understand this alliance of far-right wealthy donors and operators? Anne Nelson talks to us about this and more, including her book Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right.

Nelson is a prize-winning writer, contributing to the New Republic, the Washington Spectator, and the Times Literary Supplement. She is also a research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.  

Damaged Goods

We talk about Donald Trump and his place in what Nelson calls “at least a three-ring circus,” including how he’s not the most significant ring at this point. She discusses his historical significance, but the timeline of what we see today goes back well over 40 years. She discusses how Trump was a “plug and play” for the Radical Right, but many of them now see him as damaged goods. 

While they may have moved on, Trump hasn’t. With or without Trump, they understand how destructive they can be in the House of Representatives and its management. The chaos around McCarthy’s speaker of the house candidacy shows us they are alive and well and looking to 2024.

Greedy Corporate Figures

Nelson goes into the history of the Radical Right, discussing with us the Powell Memo of 1971, in which “a bunch of greedy corporate figures wanted to figure out how to change the course of the U.S. government’s policies of providing entitlements and a social safety net, thereby lowering taxes on the wealthiest Americans.” Achieving this goal meant creating a voting block of people whom they could easily sway, which meant they would need to be people who were poorly educated. The Evangelical Christians fulfilled this role. Strategist Ralph Reed targeted  18 million Christians he believed could be easily manipulated.

The Council for National Policy (CNP) was formed in 1981, allowing major donors like the DeVos family of Michigan to have an umbrella group they could use to advance their agenda. The DeVoses and other prominent members funded partner organizations,  such as the Family Research Council, the Alliance Defending Freedom, and the NRA. They were able to work strategically on certain elections and lawsuits to allow for undue influence in the nation’s politics. 

Chaos and Distrust

Nelson talks about the manipulation that created chaos and distrust of experts and scientific institutions. This produced fear within people and their critical thinking skills were shut off in favor of doing whatever they were told would alleviate that anxiety. This allows an authoritarian personality to say, “trust me. We’ll fix this. I know what to do,” while the checks and balances within the system are being destroyed. Additionally, Nelson discusses the bald-faced lies sold to voters, which had to be done via a media system surrounding them with those lies. This is a strategy successfully employed in Nazi Germany, which Nelson discusses in her book Red Orchestra.

The consequences are enormous and far-reaching, with the U.S. Supreme Court influenced by those with the money and the lies. Nelson describes the current makeup of the judiciary as “the worst court money can buy.” We talk about the confirmation hearings in which many of the jurists lied or misrepresented their positions, and now, the American people are paying for it in draconian judgments.

Political Bad Actors

The use of religion in politics isn’t just confined to the United States. Of course, we discuss how it played a role in the recent uprising in Brazil. As in the U.S., some religious organizations are often the pipeline of influence for bad political actors who can prey upon the poor and uneducated with ease. In the U.S., the IRS has no real mechanisms to hold these organizations accountable, so their financial and political activities are unregulated, which allows them to continue with impunity.

Nelson discusses how people buy into these movements even though they ignore the core of Christianity, the basic principles of loving thy neighbor, welcoming strangers, and helping the poor. They cherry-pick what works for them within the dogma and leave the rest.

Hijacking Faith

For many religious leaders trying to do good work, it has become much more difficult as members of their congregations stop listening to them and start listening to QAnon. Nelson points out that a new organization called the American Values Coalition is dedicated to helping pastors respond to disinformation and QAnon in their congregations. There is also an offshoot of the Southern Baptist Convention who do not want politics hijacking their faith, so they moved away from politics and disapproved of the Trumpist movement within the Southern Baptist Convention.

Some commentators point out that right-wing politics are damaging Christian churches.  There has been a major exodus of young people from the churches in reaction to pollical extremism and reactionary social policies.  These include the Exvangelicals, many of whom are young people who realize they weren’t taught history, science, and women’s rights in their childhood schooling. The homeschool curriculum often doesn’t allow for teaching and discussing these subjects.

Defending Democracy – An Action Plan

Nelson lays out a three-pronged action plan to turn the tide on these atrocious activities of the radical right. She suggests starting on the local level, running for offices that aren’t glamorous but contribute to ground-level democracy. 

The second prong is national networking, joining organizations that connect people in various parts of the country. This allows for reaching out to people who may feel isolated. It also encompasses not writing people off who belong to traditionally conservative religious organizations, connecting with others as individuals to see where they are and whether they have good values. 

The third prong is to support the institutions that are pillars of democracy. Information is vital, including local newspapers that report at school board and town hall meetings—supporting local and state-level professional journalism via subscribing to the local paper and donating to non-profit outlets, writing letters to the editor, and praising and sharing good stories on social media.

Working from the Bottom Up 

Breaking through the disinformation systems requires working from the bottom up, but most importantly, we must fight together. We also must destigmatize buying into the false rhetoric because it can happen to anyone. It is not just the purview of the uneducated. We need to learn how to communicate with radicalized people respectfully and effectively. Nelson suggests watching the documentaries The Brainwashing of My Dad by Jen Senko and People You May Know by Charles Kriel and Katharine Gellein.  These films illustrate how this happens. Understanding it is the foundation for fighting it.

Resources:

Anne Nelson’s website

Anne’s author page at the Washington Spectator

A Rare Peek Inside the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. New Republic

The COVID-19 Pandemic the Religious Right and the Threat to Our Government and World Health: A Discussion With Anne Nelson

Bill Moyer’s interview with Anne Nelson about The Shadow Network

Thom Hartmann The Shadow Network Exposed (w/ Anne Nelson)

Commonwealth Club of California: Anne Nelson: Inside the Radical Right’s Shadow Network

Good Faith Media

American Values Coalition

People You May Know documentary

The Brainwashing of My Dad documentary

QAnon Chaos and the Cross: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories (book due out May 2023

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On January 20^th, 2023, Larry Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, violent crime in aid of racketeering, extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, tax evasion, and money laundering offenses. Daniel Barban Levin escaped the cult and used writing to process his mind control experience. He also wanted to do something to help his friends, who were still psychologically imprisoned. His memoir, Slonim Woods 9, published in 2021, was a revealing and poetic description of his time in a mind control cult. Former members sometimes utilize writing as a device to release painful experiences through journaling, poetry, and novels. I loved listening to this book. 

Levin holds an MFA from the University of California, Irvine. He is the recipient of several writing fellowships, with his work appearing in publications including Provincetown Arts, Bat City Review, and The Sarah Lawrence Review.  

Levin talks with us about his goal for his memoir of “walking people through the experience of being compelled by a powerful personality by making that experience relatable and legible.” He hopes people who have difficulty imagining themselves in that position will be able to understand how a master manipulator operates. He talks about indoctrination into a cult as not a simple flip of a switch but rather someone attempting to survive in the way that we are all trying to do. 

Living with the Enemy

Levin attended Sarah Lawrence College, and in 2009 during his sophomore year, he lived in a Slonim Woods 9, a house-style dorm with several friends. One of his dorm mates described her father, who had been framed and unjustly sent to jail, needed a place to stay for a few days. She claimed her father was an ex-Marine and had worked for intelligence agencies, among other amazing things.  

The students agreed to let him stay for a bit. He bought food for everyone and later got access to a Manhattan apartment where Levin and his friends ended up living. When Ray arrived, “he sort of took over the whole environment, the social group.” Levin describes Ray as a narcissist and megalomaniac who slowly started to suck in his friends by offering his help, support, and version of alleged “therapy.” He incrementally started to confuse and disorient everyone, making them do rigorous exercises in combination with sleep deprivation. He initially did love bombing, a common practice used by cults. 

Opening Up and Being Pulled In

Daniel and I talked about the inherent power imbalance–Ray was middle-aged compared to Levin and his friends, who were 18 and 19 years old. Ray acted like a father figure, making it easier to prey on Levin and his friends. Ray was the best man of disgraced convicted N.Y. police commissioner Bernie Kerik and claimed relationships with high-ranking individuals such as Gorbachev and George H.W. Bush. Kerik was pardoned by Trump. He conned everyone to believe he was a great counselor who could help the students with their childhood trauma or identity issues. There was trust created because of Ray’s certainty and claims of penetrating knowledge about human nature. Eventually, Ray demanded total obedience and punished the students if they hesitated or didn’t do what he told them they had to do. 

Levin had a long conversation with Ray one day, where Levin talked about his mother being sick all of his life and the insecurities Levin had about his body, sex and sexuality, and relationships. After leaving the meeting, Ray and Levin walked to a waiting limousine that all of Levin’s friends were in. He later realized they were waiting the entire time he talked to Ray, which was between six and nine hours. This is something Levin himself would later experience, waiting in cars for hours for Larry. 

Reality According to Ray

Ray used almost every element in the BITE Model of Authoritarian control and operated like a pimp and trafficker. He used confusion techniques, sleep deprivation, lying, gaslighting, and much more. For example, he would use shame and guilt constantly- accusing Levin and others of doing things to harm him. This co-opted their reality testing mechanisms that all healthy people need to understand what is really happening in their world. Hammering someone over and over with the idea that, in reality, isn’t true can cause them to believe it is, a mind control technique people like Ray are experts at employing. 

Ray perpetrated sexual and psychological manipulation and physical abuse on his victims. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York press release, he “extracted false confessions from the victims to causing purported damages to Ray and his family and associates and then extorted payment for those purported damages through several means.” 

Paying What You Don’t Owe

The press release discusses how Ray forced one female victim into commercial sex acts as a way to pay damages she didn’t actually owe. He ended up collecting millions in proceeds from the forced prostitution of this woman. 

Because Levin was living in Ray’s apartment and Ray was buying the food, cooking the meals, and providing for him, Levin was made to feel he owed Ray as well. At one point, he was sleeping “maybe four hours a night,” which contributes to the ease with which Ray could exert control and is also a common mind control technique. 

With this kind of continuous exhaustion, people just want the relief of being able to sleep and will start to admit to things they didn’t do because their minds are so muddled with exhaustion. They start thinking the cult leader is all-knowing, so maybe they did what they’re being accused of. It’s a vicious cycle. 

Later, Levin spent time in England, which gave him literal space from Ray, but he still felt that pull to his abuser. He didn’t trust his own feelings about what was going on, which was a part of the program he’d been indoctrinated into. His friends seemed to be learning and growing through this, so Levin felt something was wrong with him. He felt intense relief being thousands of miles away in England while also feeling deep dread and panic.  

Levin talks about returning to the Manhattan apartment and Ray increasing the intensity of the abuse, which Levin later saw as Ray testing the boundaries of what he could get away with. He discusses the hierarchy within the cult where someone always needed to be on the bottom, and it would rotate, which created a power dynamic in which everyone was desperate not to be on the bottom rung.  

Brainwashed

We discussed how we could know if we were being brainwashed and the Tedx talk I did. The first step is getting away from the environment, turning off your phone, and stopping doing the practice. Sleep, eat, listen to music, do things that connect you to your reality, and then learn about mind control paradigms. Net study models of mind control. Then deliberately seek out critics and former believers. Then honestly, reflect on your own direct experiences with this new information. Go back in your memory to the beginning of your exposure and ask yourself, “If I knew then what I know now, what would I do or say differently?” If the answer is that you would never have allowed the opening contact, then you know it is time to leave.  

When Levin began writing his book, his friends were not yet out of the cult, so he hoped they would read it and see the truth. He talks about not being able to ask one another whether something seemed off or weird while they were in the cult, but he surmises that maybe they were wondering those things privately, and his saying it in the book might help crack something open. Additionally, he participated in a New York Magazine article linked below, which helped break the story and begin an FBI investigation. 

Crossing the Gulf Publicly

Levin discusses the difference it made to him to be more public about his experience, how helpful this was to his mental health, and his feeling of being present. While he spoke about it in therapy to his parents and his girlfriend, being able to share it publicly helped him embrace it more fully. There was a gulf between him and others while he lived with the secret, but crossing that gulf, while scary, was life-changing. 

Vulnerability

The conversation with Levin and how he got in, got out, and recovered from mind control can be life-changing for everyone who reads his book and watches the HULU docuseries,  STOLEN YOUTH: INSIDE THE CULT AT SARAH LAWRENCE. We must remember that people involved in cults are not stupid. They are vulnerable and being human means being vulnerable at various points in our lives. It’s worthwhile to understand that this could happen to any of us and to learn about the techniques used to pull us in so we can avoid it and help others do the same.  

Note: Lawrence Ray Sentenced For 60 Years-Long Predatory Crimes Against Students At Sarah Lawrence College And Others

Resources: 

Slonim Woods 9: a Memoir by Daniel Barban Levin 

Website for Daniel Barban Levin 

The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence What happened to the group of bright college students who fell under the sway of a classmate’s father? By Ezra Marcus and James D. Walsh April 2019  

A New Documentary Grapples With the Sarah Lawrence Cult  

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence HULU docuseries 

WBUR Here & Now part one: How did a group of Sarah Lawrence roommates end up in a cult? ‘Stolen Youth’ charts terrifying path

WBUR Here & Now part two: How easy is it to get trapped in a cult?

WBUR Here & Now Op-Ed: Hulu’s new cult doc ‘Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence’ proves what Trump and QAnon know: It’s actually very easy to manipulate people’s minds

Hulu’s Impact x Nightline episode 16: “Under his Spell: Sarah Lawrence Dad Turned Predator” with Steven Hassan and survivors Daniel Barban Levin and Felicia Rosario

Impact x Nightline Podcast: “Under His Spell: Sarah Lawrence Dad Turned Predator” (podcast version of above)

Feb. 14, 2023 legal statement by former member Claudia in response to 4 year sentence of Isabella Pollack

The post Recruited at Sarah Lawrence College Into The Larry Ray Cult With Daniel Barban Levin  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Michael Cohen is a two-time New York Times best-selling author, first with his book Disloyal: A Memoir, and now with his latest book Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the Department of Justice Against His Critics. Cohen is famous for being the former attorney and personal ‘fixer’ for Donald Trump (2006-2018) and has testified for congress as well as New York’s Attorney General’s office and confessed he was in “The Cult of Trump.” I wrote about him in my book, and he is a courageous whistle-blower who, like me, has devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to shedding light on the disgraced and twice impeached former president.

Cohen admits that Trump influenced him and was willing to do things for him that he knew were wrong. I was delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Michael Cohen on my Influence Continuum podcast to hear about his unique experience within the cult of Trump, which has come at a high cost to his personal and professional life. 

Since his dramatic exit as Trump’s attorney and advisor, Cohen has faced up to the mistakes he made under Trump’s direction with sincerity and remorse. He is now working to become an agent of change, advocating for justice reform, exposing corruption, and educating people about what he calls “the cult of Trumpism.” He is the host of the top-rated news podcast Mea Culpa which I regularly listen to as he offers a former insider’s view, which is invaluable. Cohen also owns and operates the management consulting firm Crisis-X.

Undue Influence within The Cult of Trump

As one of Trump’s closest confidants for more than ten years, Cohen was one of Trump’s fiercest defenders. He offered him absolute loyalty and even said he would take a bullet for him. He explained that he had become “mesmerized” by his charismatic boss. 

In my book, The Cult of Trump, I explain how Trump employs many of the same techniques as prominent cult leaders – lying, insulting opponents, sowing fear and confusion, demanding absolute loyalty, shunning and belittling critics and former supporters, distracting and presenting competing versions of reality to confuse and coerce his followers. 

During his testimony before Congress, Cohen described how Trump never directly ordered him to lie but, like mob bosses, would make his wishes clear by speaking in “code” that those who worked with him understood. Trump would praise Cohen as a great lawyer one moment and then humiliate and criticize him the next. Alternating praise and criticism is a common technique in cults and other relationships involving mind control abuse.

How Mind Control Alters One’s Moral Compass

Cohen experienced Trump’s willingness to mislead, manipulate, and coerce first-hand. In his book, Disloyal: A Memoir, he also describes Trump as “a cheat, a mobster, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, and a con man.” 

When Cohen spoke at the House Oversight and Reform Committee in 2019, he seemed bewildered and expressed disbelief at how he had been so mesmerized by Donald Trump that he was willing to lie for him and do things that he knew were absolutely wrong. He reminded me of myself after I left the Moonies cult and how I had to grapple with the reality of my involvement. It was difficult to accept that I had become a fascist who would have obeyed any order from Sun Myung Moon or my superiors, including breaking the law.  

Government Corruption, Misinformation, and Threats

When Cohen left the cult of Trump–not through his own volition but through a form of ex-communication due to the legal proceedings – his real ordeal started. In our discussion, Cohen describes how:

• He wasn’t guilty of all nine counts against him but had to plead guilty
• Misinformation was fed to the media to discredit him in case he provided testimony and inside information about Trump
• He was put back in jail for failing to waive his First Amendment constitutional rights
• The Government failed to cooperate with his Freedom of Information requests
• His family was intimidated and threatened
• He developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Sadly, these are the type of situations that can occur when a leader, who believes themselves to be above the law, decides to go after their critics or former supporters. When the leader in question is a President of the United States who has psychological sway over his followers and other politicians, the checks and balances of a healthy democracy have clearly been eroded. 

In his latest book, Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the Department of Justice Against His Critics, Cohen discusses how the Department of Justice (DOJ), led by then AG Bill Barr, was weaponized to harass, threaten, and attempted to deprive him of his First Amendment right of Free Speech when he wanted to publish his first book. Cohen pled guilty to charges to protect his wife and survived 51 days in solitary confinement. For what? Lying about the number of times he spoke with Trump about the Hotel project in Russia. Disgusting, and Cohen is suing the government to do what he can to prevent the DOJ from ever being misused like this again. 

I believe that we can counter the threats to our democracy by becoming well-informed citizens, making careful judgments about the information we are exposed to, speaking out about the need to protect our democratic institutions, and remaining committed to the public good. As Cohen said, we are responsible for ensuring that our children and grandchildren “live with the same rights and even more rights than what we grew up with.”

Resources

Michael Cohen’s Mea Culpa podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher

Michael Cohen’s Mea Culpa Episode. Special Report!! The Making of a MAGA Fanatic + A Conversation with Cult Expert Dr. Steven Hassan

Disloyal: A Memoir

Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the Department of Justice Against His Critics

The Cult of Trump 

The post Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen on His Experience in The Cult of Trump  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.

Photo courtesy of Jordi Play

Conspiracy theorists are often thought of as people on the fringes of society, believing ridiculous stories and wearing tinfoil hats while living in their parent’s basement. However, conspiracy theorists have become mainstream, and the damage they do is monumental. I spoke with Dr. Michael Shermer about this and his new book, Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational. Dr. Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of the podcast The Michael Shermer Show, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, where he teaches Skepticism 101. For 18 years, he has been a monthly columnist for Scientific American. 

Conspiracy Theorist In Chief in the White House 

I regularly use Shermer’s book, The Believing Brain, in many of my cases. This year, Dr. Shermer published this latest, perhaps his most important book, because “it was time obviously with the conspiracy theorist in chief in the White House.” He talks about how having a conspiracy theorist in the White House made the January 6^th insurrection at the Capitol possible and the need to understand that we are not separate from those who stormed the Capitol. They are regular people with jobs, families, and careers, and they are white-collar workers, ex-military, and ex-police. Understanding what they were thinking and how they got there matters in knowing what steps to take to stop it.

What’s Next? 

Dr. Shermer talks about the beliefs of the insurrectionists not being well thought out, as there was no plan for what would happen afterward. If they killed Nancy Pelosi and hanged Mike Pence, what was next? Dr. Shermer discusses that a lot of beliefs are like this, they are not carefully thought out, and they are something of a mob mentality where people believe what they have been told by the leader and go along with it without considering the end results and what those will mean.

We talk about the fact that people don’t join cults. They join groups they feel will be a good experience for them. Dr. Shermer discusses the idea that people do not think, “I believe this crazy idea because I’m crazy.” They think it’s true, and they are on the inside with secret knowledge, much like QAnon operated in getting the Q drops, which made people believe they had the “real knowledge” that no one else did.  

The Biology of Fear and Belief 

Dr. Shermer discusses how the biological evolutionary importance of reacting to a perceived threat works within conspiracy theorists, as well as type one and type two errors and how they play into the beliefs. He talks about it being a signal detection problem, stating when someone believes a conspiracy theory is true and it’s not, that’s a type one error, a false positive. A Type two error is a false negative, which in this context means a conspiracy theory is true but is not believed to be correct. This is seen as the more dangerous error to make because that could cost a person the ability to flourish in their life or even their life itself.  

Dr. Shermer discusses the idea that we evolved this propensity to make more type one errors and to assume more conspiracy theories are true, even if they’re not, because it’s a low-cost error to make compared to missing an actual conspiracy theory. Additionally, because there are conspiracy theories that turned out to be correct such as COINTELPRO and MK-Ultra, there is a distrust of the government, making believing in false conspiracy theories much easier.  

Proxy Beliefs 

It’s important to understand these beliefs are sometimes a proxy for something else, such as the belief in Pizzagate really being a proxy for hating democrats because if someone truly believed there was a pedophile ring in the basement of a pizza restaurant, they could call the police, but that is not the action that is taken. Pizzagate had momentous consequences for everyone involved, including the innocent bystanders who suffered the trauma of having a gunman enter their workplace/the place they were enjoying an evening of pizza and games with family and friends. 

This is why it’s paramount to understand how to discern healthy sources, how to think critically, using the prefrontal and frontal cortex to analyze beliefs. Dr. Shermer talks about truth mattering because people act on what they believe regardless of whether it’s true or not. This means knowing how to work through with someone whether what they believe is true. Dr. Shermer recommends showing them why the idea is wrong, that what they believe is actually false, so they don’t need to act on it.  

Elements of Truth Should Be Evaluated 

Dr. Shermer talks about criteria when evaluating a claim of a government coverup.  For example, consider how many people would have to be involved. The more people who would need to be involved, the less likely it is true because of the elements that would need to come together to make it true and the near impossibility of all those elements and people aligning as they would need to. 

A good example of this is the 9/11 conspiracy theories and how the criteria of the number of people involved and elements necessary would make it impossible to actually execute. Given the number of people that would need to be involved, at least one person would likely have come forward to talk about it, or someone around those involved would have done so, but that hasn’t happened, which lends credence to it not being a conspiracy.  

Dr. Shermer talks about it being an essential criterion for conspiracy falsehood when people refuse to respond to evidence. An example of this was the “birther conspiracy” regarding President Obama’s birth certificate. Regardless of his providing both the short and long-form of it, people continued to believe it was fake. Many people would need to be in on that if it was actually fake, secretly planting evidence and making fake birth certificates. And yet, no one was caught doing so. The actual birth certificate was validated, and yet some people to this day this Obama was born in Kenya or is a Muslim. Neither is true.

Trusting Those in the Know and Using the Scientific Method 

Facts matter from trustworthy sources and invite fact-checking. Shermer quotes from Jonathan Rauch’s book The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth. It discusses knowledge as a defense of truth, free speech, and open inquiry and how the rules and standards of evidence help understand how to get someone to the truth behind their beliefs. These include fact-checking in journalism, blind and double-blind studies in science, and peer review. Dr. Shermer discusses the need to trust institutions because it’s not possible for every person to have the breadth of knowledge that people in a particular field have. The rules that govern that field and the competitiveness of those within the field typically mean they achieve consensus, and thus, the likelihood increases that they are correct with their hypotheses. 

This is why the assault on experts in science is so concerning. Authoritarians who want to practice mind control can easily cause confusion, overwhelm, and exhaustion within people. They are doom scrolling on their social media, which reinforces false beliefs through repetition.   

Questions and Answers: Debunking Conspiracies through Active Listening

We can hope to positively influence people by asking questions about how they form their beliefs and engaging with them in their process to understand rather than lashing out at them for believing something in the first place. Asking for sources and then asking how they know it’s true and what the counterarguments are, walking someone through their belief system from start to finish can be helpful in debunking false beliefs. The main and possibly most important component of all of this is respecting the other person, not allowing emotions to come into it, so you demonstrate you are open-minded. Additionally, repeating back to them what they said shows you are listening and paying attention to their arguments, which invites them to listen and pay attention to yours.  

Undue influence is very much alive and well in our society. The internet makes it much easier to target people, particularly with it being so omnipresent and available. It’s important to understand how people become connected with these conspiracy theories and how to help them find a way out, and Dr. Shermer’s work is an excellent partner in this battle.  

Dr. Shermer received his B.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University, his M.A. in experimental psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and his Ph.D. in the history of science from Claremont Graduate University. He has been a college professor since 1979, also teaching at Occidental College, Glendale College, and Claremont Graduate University, where he taught a transdisciplinary course for Ph.D. students on Evolution, Economics, and the Brain. 

Resources:

https://michaelshermer.com/

Dr. Shermer’s Substack column

Why People Believe Weird Things

The Believing Brain, 

Why Darwin Matters

The Science of Good and Evil

The Moral Arc

Heavens on Earth

Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist

Follow Dr. Shermer on Twitter @michaelshermer. 

UFOs, Anti-Government Conspiracy Theories, Covid-19, and Indoctrination With Author and Journalist MJ Banias

Scripted Violence, Conspiracy Theories and Concerns

Conspiracy Theories, Cults and How to Help Friends and Loved Ones with Debunker Mick West

The post The Allure of Conspiracy Theories and How to Dispel Them with Dr. Michael Shermer  appeared first on Freedom of Mind Resource Center.