All posts tagged: Mind Control

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton on Trump, Democracy, COVID-19, Climate Change Crisis and the Election

If you are interested in the field of cults, Chinese brainwashing and thought reform, as well as apocalyptic cults, like the terrorist cult Aum Shinrikyo, then you already know some of Dr. Lifton’s many important contributions. My previous interview with Dr. Lifton was in July 2020 when we discussed Trump, COVID-19, and racism. Since then,

Steven Hassan, December 24, 2020

Starting to Question if You Are in a Controlling Group or Relationship?

Have you recently started questioning your life and how you are spending your time and money? Have you read a book or article, listened to a podcast, or watched a documentary about a cult such as NXIVM and saw parallels to your own life circumstance? What about engaging with a former member? Perhaps you have

Steven Hassan, November 26, 2020

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

Update: January 2021: Dissertation has been published. <https://www.proquest.com/docview/2476570146/> In 1976, I was deprogrammed from the Moon cult. Since then, I have helped thousands of individuals leave and recover from the harmful influence of destructive cults. I have written four books, published a peer-reviewed article, conducted multiple scientific research studies, and spent decades learning and educating

Steven Hassan, November 18, 2020

People of Praise Covenant Community: BITE Model of Authoritarian Control Evaluation

Since Judge Amy Coney Barrett was nominated to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Republicans are seeking to fast track her confirmation before the end of October. The Trump administration and its Senators are trying to frame some of the opposition to her nomination as religious intolerance.

Steven Hassan, October 10, 2020

Undue Influence, Judge Barrett and the People of Praise Covenantal Community

Update: Letter to the Senators on the Judiciary Committee Concerning the Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett In an AP article written about Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court and her involvement with the People of Praise, Vice President Mike Pence was quoted from a television interview as saying, “The intolerance expressed during her

Steven Hassan, October 4, 2020

“New Age Cults” With Joseph Szimhart–Artist & Cult Information Specialist

  The internet provides an ideal breeding ground for groups with concerning beliefs and practices to recruit unsuspecting people who are confused, frustrated and wishing to find a way to have hope for the future. Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton wrote about the profound psychological effects that the invention and use of nuclear bombs had on

Steven Hassan, September 29, 2020

A STUDY TO ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY KEY PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE, WHO WERE ONCE INVOLVED WITH CONTROLLING GROUPS OR PEOPLE

Title of the study: A study to attempt to identify key psychological issues that people may have, who were once involved with controlling groups or people (Original Post: https://freedomfromundueinfluence.org/a-study-to-attempt-to-identify-key-psychological-issues-that-people-may-have-who-were-once-involved-with-controlling-groups-or-people/)   Here is a brief intro to the study, which is completely anonymous to protect your privacy. As we know, research is so critical for our understanding of

Steven Hassan, September 17, 2020

The Cult of Trump Book 2020

  The Democratic and Republican conventions have now ended. The differences between the two events were so clear for anyone watching them both. By looking at the Influence Continuum, one party was emphasizing love, compassion, science, diversity and coming together as Americans.  The other was about Donald Trump and how great, kind, empathetic, and compassionate

Steven Hassan, September 1, 2020

What to Do About the QAnon and Those Ensnared in It? Interview with Travis View

Q is a high-security level clearance given to Intelligence operatives. Supposedly, QAnon was started by such a person. However, Gregg Housh (whom I met in the context of his organizing protests against Scientology all over the world), one of the original Anonymous founders, told me he knows the people who started QAnon! It was intended

Steven Hassan, August 22, 2020

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

Additional Reading: What to Do About the QAnon and Those Ensnared in It? Interview with Travis View QAnon: What Is It About? A Discussion With Conspiracy Theory Researcher Travis View Conspiracy Theories, Cults and How to Help Friends and Loved Ones with Debunker Mick West UFOs, Anti-Government Conspiracy Theories, Covid-19, and Indoctrination With Author and

Steven Hassan, August 21, 2020

Sex and Labor Trafficking Awareness, Survivor Empowerment, and Saving Children From Abuse: A Discussion With Rachel Thomas, M. Ed.

This week, I interview Rachel Thomas, who is not only a survivor of human trafficking but an author, teacher, speaker, and mentor. I have known her for years. We met through Carissa Phelps (founder of runawaygirl.com) at a Joint Regional Intelligence Center training for approximately six hundred law enforcement, including members of Homeland Security, the

Steven Hassan, August 14, 2020